Lets talk trees

[El4774]

It's been awhile since I've been on here lately. Actually a few years. I'm modeling the EL in my local area Kent and Ravenna Ohio. I'm at the point where I'm planting trees in my scenery. I'm doing a fall scene and want it to look realistic. The woodland scenic trees to me are not that at all. What is everyone's recommendation for trees?

Thanks
Ryan

I'll be posting pictures of the layout coming soon...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Super trees!

Take what I talk about here: https://conrail1285.com/winter-trees-in-n-scale/

And then add super leaf. And then use an airbrush to weather them.
https://www.sceneryexpress.com/SuperLeaf/products/1289/

While not directly applicable, I created a Facebook group about modeling the "dead season" that might be helpful.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DeadSeasonModelers/

Oh, also, go get and read Kathy Millatt's scenery book.
https://www.kathymillatt.co.uk/scenery-book/

[mu26aeh]

Agree with Ed on the supertrees,  be like him and do a few trees every night 😁

Only issue right now is they are very difficult to get ahold of.  Though it does appear they are finally back in stock at Scenic Express

[learmoia]

All I know about Trees is one a day...

[LIRR]

[LIRR]

home made from some local dead plant.....

[randgust]

While you want to do fall - I have to admit that it's always struck me as one of the great ideas that's actually not that great.   If you're doing fall colors at their peak - the colors really compete with the trains for eye attention.

Actually I have the same problem with typical summer foliage and steam locomotives on my logging modules; black disappears in green summer foliage.   Because of that, I'm leaning toward 'clear cut' with mostly stumps, brown leaf clutter, and debris where my geared steam lives.

The late fall - bare tree scenery with residual color (oaks, beeches, that species) is really to be considered here.  Lance Mindheim started that in N with his Monon and what struck me was the combination of realism, yet excellent scenery not visually competing with the eye with the trains.

Years ago there was an HO Shawmut & Northern on the cover of RMC and the brilliant fall foliage was excellent, but it was just 'too much'.

I really love the EL, I really do, but gray and yellow will get lost in vivid fall colors, I'd go a bit later and minimize the contrast.   Not as bad with a more vivid scheme, even CR blue stands out more.

Remember the maples change first and tend to drop first, but there's always 'that tree' that changes late.   And higher elevations change before lower, maples run lower and more colorful.  I live in NW Pa near where the EL main crested at Bear Lake and Niobe, and it's beautiful in fall for that all-too-short period.  November however, into March, seems to last forever!

[Bill H]

Have to agree with Randy. Remember David Popp's old N Scale New England layout with the very bright, red and orange foliage? Sure, was certainly reflective of Autumn in New England. But IMHO, it made the layout almost look too toy like, rather detracted from the very fine work David did in general on the layout.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Have to agree with Randy. Remember David Popp's old N Scale New England layout with the very bright, red and orange foliage? Sure, was certainly reflective of Autumn in New England. But IMHO, it made the layout almost look too toy like, rather detracted from the very fine work David did in general on the layout.

Kind regards,
Bill

Haha, yep. It was the birth of a saying that floated around here for a while: "He went full Popp. You should never go full Popp.".
It was sadly a bit dismissive of his great talent but it sure was a meme for a while.

[El4774]

Super trees!

Take what I talk about here: https://conrail1285.com/winter-trees-in-n-scale/

And then add super leaf. And then use an airbrush to weather them.
https://www.sceneryexpress.com/SuperLeaf/products/1289/

While not directly applicable, I created a Facebook group about modeling the "dead season" that might be helpful.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DeadSeasonModelers/

Oh, also, go get and read Kathy Millatt's scenery book.
https://www.kathymillatt.co.uk/scenery-book/

I appreciate the information. I'll have to check out Kathy's book. I have the old scenery book from kalmbach and have been trying things out of it. I just don't have much experience with scenery and it is looking toyish which I don't want. Not when I spent all this time weathering buildings and cars and locomotives.

[El4774]

Here's where I'm at with my scenery. It is towners woods tower, "Bradylake tower" in Ravenna Ohio. Then the industrial spur is located off of Cleveland Rd, Diamond Street in Ravenna.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, you're on a GREAT path. But yeah, those trees are letting you down. Get that Woodland scenics stuff outta there

Make yourself some nice tall Super Trees. Use some subdued fall colors. And make sure to pay attention to what's UNDER the trees. Hint: it usually shouldn't be grass.

[Chris333]

I think the key is to not use a solid color or a color that comes out of the package. Mix a little of this and that in with it so the color aren't harsh. You can even air bursh trees if you think the color is off. Me, I'm too sissy to try fall colors 

[El4774]

Ok, you're on a GREAT path. But yeah, those trees are letting you down. Get that Woodland scenics stuff outta there

Make yourself some nice tall Super Trees. Use some subdued fall colors. And make sure to pay attention to what's UNDER the trees. Hint: it usually shouldn't be grass.

Oh totally that's what's frustrating me. Im like these things look like crap. I want to get a leaf brown ground cover to put under them. I might have to make my own concoction for fallen leaves to go under them. Getting the underbrush set and trying to get it realistic has been my downfall at this point. I'm still learning though but I've definitely gotten better since my first section I worked on. 

[grove den]

Yes fall is very difficult....because itcould  look very toy-isch/  with to- many!!-  vivid ( autum)ncolours.
I still strugle each time when trying to immitate fall.... On a sunny "indian summer"day ????or the light as if it could rain any moment? ( dark clouds)  or the sky totaly grey....?) btwThe "background and colour of the sky are too very important.

just some beeches and some spruce trees



or less is more....love the grey "sky"