Tree kits

[Anonymous]

I built several trees from a Woodland Scenics learning kit. The trees tend to "shed" -- to drop little bits of foliage over time. I remember reading to spray them with diluted matte medium to help adhere the foliage. I tried this and the foliage crumbled into a million pieces as I sprayed. I used medium viscosity matte medium (about the thickness of Elmer's glue); I mixed 2 oz matte medium to 12 oz water with about a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. What did I do wrong? Any alternative suggestions to secure the foliage? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Mike,
I have used hair spray and spray glue (3M in black can) to hold on foliage.

Dave

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips. I'll give them a try!

[sumpter250]

Mike,
I'm not sure how you constructed your trees, but I've had luck with this. Spray the 'armature'(trunk) with super 77 spray adhesive, dump it into a paper bag with some of the foliage,broken up, and shake. You can repeat to thicken the tree up. Hair spray can be used, BUT, be careful that it doesn't have too high a percentage of water. This is probably what went wrong with the matte medium. The weight of the water in the foliage,broke the adhesive bonds, and the foliage fell off. I use a little spray can of Testors glosscote. A light coat of that and when dry everything should hold together. It doesn't weigh everything down the way water does.
Pete

[Anonymous]

Joe Eckhardt
Mike,
Forget the kits and check out your backyard or local hobby shop that sells dried flowers. Butterfly bush dried flowers make great trees. You follow the same steps but because they are so full already, it doesn't take much work or overspraying to make them look realistic.
Dried weeds and flowers are great starters for trees.