Creating a dead tree trunk and base roots

[Lemosteam]

Overall a prett6 cool and simple project, that I think turned out OK.

I started with a large deciduous WS tree and snipped it off above a couple branches.

I cut one branch off that will be glued back after install to simulate a fallen brands that tore away from the trunk at its crotch, and bent the others into shape.



After drilling the trunk from the top and splitting it open, I used black hot glue to create a more real trunk root system. I also used my soldering iron to melt more realistic grooves onto the hot glue which is bulbous after laying it down and part way up the trunk. Dirt and moss will be blended into it once the dead tree is installed.



After coat of Tamiya gray primer:



Adding sepia India ink over the grey primer.







The ink dried vey glossy, so, this is after Dullcote. I love the way the Dullcote dissolved the ink on some ridges. I did not even have to dry brush any white on the tree!

[peteski]

The texture on the trunk and larger branches looks really good, the smaller branches to me don't look like anything you would see on a tree.  Kind of like straight pointy daggers.  Unnatural. I know it is a dead tree which doesn't have any finer branches, but it still looks weird. Would it be worth the trouble to cut them off and replace them with something more branch-like?  Not sure what. Maybe some small pieces of real twigs transplanted into holes (and an angle) drilled in the large branches?

[Lemosteam]

The texture on the trunk and larger branches looks really good, the smaller branches to me don't look like anything you would see on a tree.  Kind of like straight pointy daggers.  Unnatural. I know it is a dead tree which doesn't have any finer branches, but it still looks weird. Would it be worth the trouble to cut them off and replace them with something more branch-like?  Not sure what. Maybe some small pieces of real twigs transplanted into holes (and an angle) drilled in the large branches?

Double the critique!

See my response in my layout thread.

[peteski]

I guess last night seeing this same write-up in 3 different threads, I didn't realize I already commented on it in one of those other threads.    Actually I had a feeling that I did comment already but couldn't find it. Shame on my for having a "senior moment".  I've been having them more frequently lately.