Tree Trunk Color

[Anonymous]

While it's a given that tree trunks are not really brown their more of a grayish
color but if you look at them a little closer that gray has a slight geeni***int
to it. Has anybody out there messed around with this and if so what colors
did you use[?][?][?]

[ARTHILL]

I use acrylic artist colors. I mix on the pallet until its close enough for me. I use black, the umbers and sienas, yellow and red. If I had formulas it might be easier, but then it wouldn't be me. I do have a lot of colored pics laying around. I get a kick out of this part and so far I haven't had a botinist come aound and tell me something is the wrong color. They are not so kind with my branches on the white pines.

[Big_Boy_4005]

You may notice that greeni***int in the real world, when you get up close, but you have to remember that some things are lost when translated to a model. Even at the closest range of viewing, some details are too small to be seen or noticed.

When it comes to things like color matching, your results will be more pleasing, if you make your color selection while standing at a distance from the object in question. This will give you a more general impression, rather than the wide range of actual colors in the object.

Have you ever tried to mix flesh colored paint? I'm talking average white folks (not to appear racist). It helps to add a bit of blue, though it isn't the first color that comes to mind. You can mix red, white and yellow all day long, and not get close to flesh, but a drop of blue and it comes to life.

This green in tree bark is probably along those lines, and may help improve a good base brownish gray.

Have you ever gone to the paint store and watched them tint paint? You might be surprised at some of the tints that go into a particular color. I once bought some high hiding white paint which had to be mixed. They added a small amount of lamp black. Go figure.

Color is a tricky subject, especially when people see it differently.

[nsfantodd]

I use Woodland scenics trees. First I paint the trunks dark brown and follow with a light grey wash. I would post a picture, but cannot figure out how?!!

Todd Templeton

[twhite]

I model tall Sierra evergreens for the most part, and between 3,000 and 6,000 feet elevation (which my model railroad is set in), the trunks have a definite brown tinge to them, especially high-country fir and cedar. I usually begin with a red-brown light base (Krylon Primer) spray on the trunk, followed by very light gray and black, then finish up with a light coating of brown. It looks okay to me, when viewed at normal modeling distance.
Tom

[Anonymous]

For two weeks, since I posted my first pictures and noticed how bad brown tree trunks looked, I have been trying to get them right. I think I have mixed a dozen small batches starting with different grays and browns and adding different amounts of greens and even antique white and I have never hit one that I think is dead on. However the arrest is looking much better with all the different shades.

That might be the key. Mix it up. Even two maples standing next to each other won't look exactly the same.

[loathar]

Look at this
http://www.canyoncreekscenics.com/frm_supplies.htm
They have about the best tree colored paint I've seen. They have that green your looking for too.(check out Charle Comstocks Bear Creek layout while your there.They have a link to it. [wow][:O])