Trees from roots

[chuck geiger]

Saw this video and thought of Ed:

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What is that stuff? I need some of it. It looks really good.

[Blazeman]

Congratulations! This presentation single-handedly has put the firms making deciduous trees out of business unless they adopt this technique and mass-produce product.

[chuck geiger]

I started digging up the neighbors bushes and he yelled at me, looking for roots.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I found The Roots.

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Sadly, while the song is amazing, they're not making me any trees.

[DeltaBravo]

I may have to try this. Results are really cool.

[grove den]

BTW roots ( buxus sempervirens) can also be used as dead shrubs/bushes. it needs some preparation before hand!



Jos

[Cajonpassfan]

Making trees from roots is not exactly a new idea, but these do look very nice. Nice tutorial, too, thanks!
One question: since roots are organic, do they not need to be treated first for both longevity and fungi or similar nasty little organisms? Some kind of a dip to give them strength and kill the bugs? Or did I miss that part?
Otto K.

[nkalanaga]

Roots are basically wood, so they should be as durable as any other wood used for models, as far as decay or "critters".  They're probably fragile, due to the small diameter, but I have no idea what one would treat them with for that.

[peteski]

Roots are basically wood, so they should be as durable as any other wood used for models, as far as decay or "critters".  They're probably fragile, due to the small diameter, but I have no idea what one would treat them with for that.

IIRC, you boil lichen in glycerine to preserve it and make it soft. Would something similar work for roots?

[grove den]

@peteski:

IIRC, you boil lichen in glycerine to preserve it and make it soft. Would something similar work for roots?

Of course it will work!
Planted some fine Buxusroots on a module for 12 years and still "flexible"!
I also put the roots/twigs  in a mix of terpintin and brown/black oilpaint - of course first they have to  dry after the bath with the glycerine...-for about 24 hours.
again let it dry and than only a litlle bit of drybrushing.
Btw they don't have to last forever! my experience is that after 10-15 years you mostly chanche/update the scenery....( skills improve!)

Jos

[nkalanaga]

Part of the reason for treating lichen is that it doesn't have a permanent "skeleton" like wood.  When lichen dries, it basically crumbles, so needs to be preserved.  In wood, the cells dry and dehydrate, but the dead wood retains its strength.

On the other hand, if boiling them in glycerin makes them flexible, that would be helpful, as very small pieces of wood are still fragile.