Lets talk trees

[LIRR]

trees look good...well done

[spookshow]

This is a timely topic for me. I'm in the process of modeling a smallish lake that has a lot of scrubby/skinny trees growing up around it. Vis -



Tree-wise, my experiences thus far have been limited to the Woodland Scenics assortment of broad shade trees, but of course that's not going to work here. Any suggestions? 

Thanks!
-Mark

[mu26aeh]

Mark those spindly trees scream SuperTrees

[El4774]

My SuperTrees should be coming tomorrow!!! Mark FYI I've followed your website since I first started modeling. I love your locomotive reviews!!

[160pennsy]

trees look good...well done

@LIRR ...Thank you for the thumbs up. Unlike the Supertree material, I find the sagebrush branches to be very stout and not prone to breakage with normal handling. I do treat the finer Supertree branches by dipping them in flat matte medium, shaking or blowing away the excess and then laying them on waxed paper to dry. If you don't live out west the sagebrush armatures can be purchased online. Most of my sagebrush was "acquired"  free while visiting my daughter in Colorado. We would stop and gather up pieces along side roads we were driving or fields that we passed. You have to be mindful of tree trunk diameter in 1/160 scale when choosing which sagebrush material to pick.. Since I had roundtrip flights, trying to carry the plant material back home in baggage was not a good option. Ended up shipping the sagebrush armatures economically using a few large flat rate USPS boxes and the material sealed in some gallon zip lock bags.

[spookshow]

Thanks, I'll try the super trees. But good gravy, the shipping costs almost as much as the trees!

-Mark

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks, I'll try the super trees. But good gravy, the shipping costs almost as much as the trees!

-Mark

It's why I'm so sad that Scenic Express moved from Pittsburgh to Colorado. They used to show up at shows around here and I'd stock up then.

Some retailers might have a stash locally too. I know MBK carries them.

Also, if you just need a handful of small ones, I'll be happy to hook you up with the lightest UPS flat rate box ever shipped.

[mu26aeh]

We just got 4 big boxes in at the shop.  Glad to see them back in stock

[160pennsy]

Working on some more N Scale tree armatures. Next steps will be gluing on Supertree fine branches, spray painting the armatures & then adding Superleaf flocking. Just a reminder that these will all be used as detailed foreground trees - too much work to try and create a forest using these methods!



Macro photo showing realistic bark detail of sagebrush armature.



Different armature made from wound or twisted florist wire (using CA to lock in the the wire) and then WS fine ground foam glued on top to represent rough bark.

[El4774]

Working on some more N Scale tree armatures. Next steps will be gluing on Supertree fine branches, spray painting the armatures & then adding Superleaf flocking. Just a reminder that these will all be used as detailed foreground trees - too much work to try and create a forest using these methods!



Macro photo showing realistic bark detail of sagebrush armature.



Different armature made from wound or twisted florist wire (using CA to lock in the the wire) and then WS fine ground foam glued on top to represent rough bark.

Those look great!! I could see the diameter of the trunk being an issue. You wouldn't want something huge and disproportional in N scale. It would look funny. 

[dem34]

Honestly though bare Supertrees are often a bit too thin and spindly. Even for N scale.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Honestly though bare Supertrees are often a bit too thin and spindly. Even for N scale.

It's very true. They make ***** trees. A good forest, but ***** trees.

[Chris333]

Do you plant asterisk seeds to get those? 

[SAH]

This is a timely topic for me. I'm in the process of modeling a smallish lake that has a lot of scrubby/skinny trees growing up around it. Vis -

I've used caspia flower branches (sold as a bouquet at craft stores) combined with Supertree scraps for the filler at the base.  Cut out the best of the caspia branches, bundle them together until you get the desired tree shape, wrap the trunks with armature wire, spray the assembly gray and add foliage per whatever secret blend and method is in fashion at the moment.  Cheap and effective when you need a tree line but don't really want the trees to attract attention.

[mu26aeh]

Honestly though bare Supertrees are often a bit too thin and spindly. Even for N scale.

they might be spindly, but that's what is in Marks picture