You asked for it.

[AggroJones]

I've seen articles where people used filter peices for structure in a tree. But none exactly how I do mine. Here's how I make cheap conifers.

Things you will need include:
-Natural fiber filter (20"x30"x1" sheet from Walmart, like $4)
-Thick bamboo skewers (Big Lots $1 for like 100+ sticks)
-Strong sissors
-Hair spray
-Hack saw blade
-White glue
-Dark red-brown paint
-Various ground foams
-Dirty color acrylic wash

I begin by rubbing the thick bamboo skewers vertically with a saw blade. This adds needed texture to the trunk. Then stain the whole skewer with a dirty color acrylic wash. Brown, gray, what ever. Let that dry.
Natural fiber filter consist of layers of compressed thin blue wooden sticks. You must cut a jagged circle out of the sheet. You'll need some super sissors for this.When you have your blue cylinder-like chunk of filter, tear the layers apart by hand. It will seperate easy. This makes for uneven branch work on the tree.
Vary the size of your fiber pieces. The smaller ones will be towards the top of the tree.
Stick the bottom of the skewer into a piece of scrap foam or somthing. With the tip facing upward, pour undiluted white glue on the head. Peirce the skewer through the largest piece of filter. The glue catches on the filter and sticks to the trunk. Keep doings this, use smaller ones as you go up. You dont want them perfectly symetric. Peirce some off center and/or tilted. Make it look like a tree.
Once this tree "frame work" is up, let the white glue dry.

Next, take them bad boys outside and airbru***hem dark reddinsh brown. I use cheap acrylics from Walmart. Be careful not to hit the bottom of the trunk which will be exposed. Only spray the branches and top of the tree. This step will make any visible branches look okay and natural.
I let 'em dry for at least a day to completely eliminate any smell.

Here's some skeletons. unpainted.


Then I come in with a bottle of cheap maximum hold hair spray and hit all the branches. Again avoiding hitting the lower part of the trunk. While its still juicy, sprinkle your course foam on. Sprinkle from all angles. Shake off the excess. Spray it with more hairspray and set it aside in a safe place. When that dries, spray it again and add more foam. Repeat as necessary. At the end, add a darker, finer foam to the under sides of the canopys. Again, more hair spray. Trim any strange or unnatural looking protrusions with sissors.



You may be dissapointed in your first attemps. I was. Keep practicing and you'll get the hang of it. You can make a whole forest of conifers for just a few cents each.

 

EVEN MORE finished trees.

[mikebonellisr]

Nice looking trees Aggro.I'm going to print your post to save and try it out when I get some time after the holidays,...Thanks

[Anonymous]

Really beautiful trees, and the price is right. Thanks for posting the tutorial.

[Anonymous]

exellent trees thanks for posting

[Anonymous]

Excellent work, can't wait to try it myself! A few more questions:

1) What is your source for the ground foam in the list of ingredients - is it other than Woodland Scenics? (I use green floral-display foam blocks whenever I can get them.)

2) If not WS, does the foam have to be pre-painted?

[Anonymous]

Aggro, I saw your trees in another thread and I meant to say this then but forgot.
Your trees are some of the most natural looking trees I have seen and are very nicely done! Your work deserves very high compliment!

[eastcoast]

Awesome trees. MIne are still looking like the dead of winter.
I will save this thread and do what you recommend. Excellent
timing as I am trying to have some foliage on the E C R.

[Anonymous]

AggroJones I would just like to say nice job and how much will it cost me to get 20 made for me? Let me know and we can go from there. Thanks

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL INGENUITY! Do you have a solution to making homeade ground foams? I'm wondering if Parsley flakes would work for the trees?

[dave9999]

Thanks Aggro,
Once again, your help is appreciated.[:D]
I have a lot of area to cover and a man could go broke trying to cover it with WS trees. Dave

[Anonymous]

Ive gotta try this. I already have my own technique for deciduos <(oh my go***he spelling![xx(]) trees. but a few conifers would look good on my new layout. Thanks for the tip.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenLarsen

Excellent work, can't wait to try it myself! A few more questions:

1) What is your source for the ground foam in the list of ingredients - is it other than Woodland Scenics? (I use green floral-display foam blocks whenever I can get them.)

2) If not WS, does the foam have to be pre-painted?

The foam is WS coarse dark green mixed with Senic Express fine "grass green". The blend is toned down with a brown acrylic wash. Once its all dry, I recrumble the foam down for scenicing use on whatever.

The mix varies trees so they're not too uniform in color or texture.

[jwar]

AggroJones

Your post was very timely for me. Trying your method and I like the result. Thank you for sharing this.

You Sir and others like you, is what makes this forum so great and the hobby so rewarding.

Thanks again...John

[Anonymous]

Let me just say this type of thing is the reason I would never buy a woodland scenics tree - I'd die trying to make them myself as good as Agro's first. The price is right.

This is good old fashioned modeling.

Nice job!

[twhite]

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU! You just created the Tahoe National Forest for me, and I can stop raiding the hobby shop for those Very Expensive evergreens from Colorado at eight bucks a pop. I've heard of this method before, but have never seen the results, so I've been a little skeptical. Not any more. Thanks again, Aggro--between those trees and your AC-5, you're quite a remarkable artist.
Tom

[Anonymous]

I've seen filter made conifers before, but most look inferior to yours. Thanks for posting. I'll try this ASAP.

[johncolley]

I have been buying trees like that at a lhs (60+ miles is local?) I think I will try making some that way as I have already thinned some out and used the scraps on more trees. One thing you can count on in modelling GN thru the Cascades, theres a whole bunch of trees!

[Anonymous]

Wow Aggro those are wonderful looking trees! I will definately be trying to make these in the near future!

Great Job

[Anonymous]

Question: Where in Walmart do I find these blue fiber filters? I've yet to locate them.

[AggroJones]

In my Walmart, its in the area where you find the air purifiers and air conditioner filters. It should be pretty apparent, its a giant dark blue mat. Easy to spot.

[PennsyHoosier]

This is great stuff, Aggro

[Anonymous]

What is Natural Fiber Fabric ? Do you have a breand name ? What department would you find this in at Walmart ?

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dentrainman

What is Natural Fiber Fabric ? Do you have a breand name ? What department would you find this in at Walmart ?

Its like a whole bunch of thin blue wood pieces compressed together to form a semi-solid mat. The manufacture is AmericanAirFilter, "Cut-N-Fit" type. Its in a thin clear pastic bag, so you can see a large blue mat.
In my Walmart, its in the air purifier and air conditoner filters section. Which happens to be next to the laxtex paints and house painting supplies.

[Anonymous]

how thick do the bamboo skewers have to be (i.e. what was the thickness of your trees?).

[AggroJones]

The skewers are about 1/4" or so. When planted, a large portion of the skewer is disgarded. Only 2" of trunk below the lowest canopy is visible. So their thickness isn't that apparent.
But I plan on doing a few special ones with 1/2" thick tapered down dowels for certain scenes.

[Anonymous]

I like about everone else that sees (or reads) this forum wants to say thanks for the great tip on making trees. I will be giving it a try.
ennout

[SilverSpike]

I have seen and bought that blue filter "cut to fit" stuff at Home Depot in the AC/HVAC section, and they sell it in various sizes too.

Many Kudos for the great tree building tutorial AggroJones!

[Fergmiester]

I asked about this and Ken Larsen dug it up for me. Thanks Ken! I think it's worth bringing to the fore front once again.

Fergie

[AggroJones]

More finished trees awaiting planting.


EVEN MORE finished trees.

[Fergmiester]

The kids are off for March Break next week. I think I'll introduce them to Tree Making 101. Once again Aggro many thanks. These are excellent looking trees.

Fergie