Twisted-Wire Oak Trees

[mcfunkeymonkey]

So I finally figured out how to use my iPhone & iMovie, so I've posted a three-part step-by-step video series on how to make the N scale twisted-wire oak trees to my YouTube Channel.

[sorry the first one's not in HD: casualty of the learning process]

Don't have 30 minutes to spare?
Don't want to listen to me ramble for a 1/2 hour?
Don't blame you!

Here's a SIX-MINUTE "abridged" video: All the Oak, 1/5th the Fillibuster!

watch?v=7tnBIdbL9sY

I'll be uploading more "how to" videos to my YouTube channel as I make them.

While I built these for a Free-moN module set in the Sonoma area of Northern California, I thought people might be able to get & give ideas from all scales and "oak"ey dokie locations.

Hope you find them useful, and looking forward to hearing suggestions on how to improve the trees.

[trainnut1250]

Nice Job...Well done video.  How much time does it take to make a tree?

Guy

[PennCentral99]

Arghh....I fired up a pot-o-coffee , watched Parts I, II, III, the abridged version AND your e-z line fence video 

Just kidding, they're all informative and easy to follow.  Thanks for the ideas and instruction.  Your penalty for making me watch those......I SUBSCRIBED!! 

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks for the kind words.

Guy: twisting takes about 15-20 minutes, and applying the polyfill about the same, so about an hour a tree (not including drying times).
You can cut that time down a bit by doing 2-3 at the same time, but you fingers cramp up quick ;)

The polyfill works with N scale oaks due to their small size:

If I were to build oaks in HO I'd look into cutting up aquarium filter material like Jos (Grove Den, from the Netherlands) describes in his inspiring posts on how he builds his fabulous trees.

He also shows how to use floral wire instead of the stranded electrical wire that I use.

Check out post #49 for a great HO oak he made.

Sometimes modeling in N is easier because you just have to suggest details instead of actually spending all the time to do them ;)

Well, back to building bark!

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Let me revise that time: I just spent a good hour and a half sticking little wads of polyfill to the branches of three (3) trees.

It's amazing how polyfills up your time

[I hope that pot of coffee was irish coffee: my trees and videos look a lot better after a pot of irish coffee ]

[trainnut1250]

MC,

I figured there was some serious time in these.  Your foliage is quite good.  I have about 50 more Oakey Dokey Oaks and then I'm on my own (I need another 100 or so) - steady employment I figure..

Thanks for posting and the overall inspiration,

 

Guy

 

Here is a shot of the Oakey Dokeys (on left), your oaks compare favorably

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks, Guy.
I think yours looks pretty good!

After making a couple more, I've learned what NOT to do:
When spray painting the polyfill, just shoot from underneath, leaving the tops green.
On this recent batch, I sprayed Grimy Black from the top, too, and it didn't turn out so well:



The newer tree on the left looks more toy-ish & blobby, while the first tree (sprayed only from the bottom) has a better blended look.
It also helps to spread the polyfill out a bit more horizontally, rather than clump like q-tip heads around the wire branches.

Here's the "wrong" tree:



And here's the first one that turned out better, IMHO:



The other two I made the same "wrong" way turned out a little better, and I planted on the hill.
A couple more smaller oaks will help blend the scene better, so I'll post some picts when I get those built & planted.

Thanks for looking.

[grove den]

Thank you M C for your kind words about the modeltrees I try to make! =)

But for N scale trees you can use the aquarimfibers as well!

Overhere we have a simular product that is colered in all kinds of colors  and is used in the floristic industry and is called : "decotwister" or "wooly"

In combination with some 6 mm grassfibers and some 2 mm grassfibers the trees shown in the pictures are the results  of adding these kind of fibers for N scale trees.

 

 

the same trees without leaves and only the fibers....

Sorry about the preisermen...

The same for firtrees:

and...I am enjoying your threads overhere!!!!

 

Jos