thoughts about trees

[tom mann]

Scenic Express recommends SuperSage for HO and larger.  However, their tree kit for N scale produces trees that look too frail to me for their size, almost like if the 6' cherry tree in my front yard become 50' tall.  Has anyone tried the sagebrush kit to make n scale sized trees?

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=EX0240

[tom mann]

Ed, no thoughts?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh, you were talking to me? 

Originally I'd been really happy with the supertrees when they were flocked, and I feel like, so far, they're the best bet for making lots of winter trees while keeping your sanity, but I do agree, the trunks could use some work in the thickness and proportion departments.

I think they do an OK job of representing "trees", but not so much of representing individual real trees. I hate to say it, but if you want GOOD trees, go dig up some year or so old N Scale Magazines. I know we all poke fun, but Bob Hundman's "thing" about trees really did yield good results.

I wish I had the patience to do them.

As far as the super sage goes, I believe the way you're supposed to use it is to make trunks out of it, then glue on bits of supertree to make the branch structure. I don't know if I'd have the patience to do that, and I don't know if I'd be able to get them looking good enough to look BETTER than the supertrees alone when left bare. But if you're going to flock them, give it a shot.

I also think there are probably some real plants out there that will do a better job. Sadly, I just don't spend enough time outdoors to see anything.

[Iain]

Trunk size is almost perfect for the spindly pines common around here.

[tom mann]

Ed, I agree that your trees look fine as a group.  Nice distinction on tree vs trees.

I'll order the sage kit to experiment with*.  You're right, it's sage pieces that require the attachment of supertree material for more branches.  I wouldn't want to make 10,000-million, but just a few for foreground trees on a small module - a small 17cm x 45cm module to be exact.



*as I have absolutely no more projects to do in nscale and I'm looking to fill my time. ;D

[Ed Kapuscinski]

If you've got the time, I'm gonna need a bunch of foreground trees...

[tom mann]

If you've got the time, I'm gonna need a bunch of foreground trees...

Ed, I was kidding about being freed up. ;D  I'll let you know how it goes with the sage.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

1. cut the super tree to shape.
2. spray the super tree with elmers spray adhesive
3. add more super tree material to build up the brance structure, let dry
4. spray the super tree with the elmers adhesive again
5. wait till the adhesive is tacky and grap  clump of this material: http://www.sweetwaterscenery.com/ct_PR210865427.htm
6. blot the material on the upper branch structure. this will build a base for the ground foam to build on.
7. paint the tree gray
8. spray with adhesive one last time, add ground foam.

[Sokramiketes]

Have a friend in the Portland area that uses caulk to build up tree trunks to appropriate sizes.  Use a stiff brush and you can get some wicked bark lines too.  He mostly does it to hide bottle brush tree armatures, but theres no reason one couldn't use it on the Supertrees material.

[railspike55]

Tom
Check this out

http://www.upickers.com/knarly/knarly.asp


Edit..

The Sedum bush can be found anyware and easy to grow.



Top of bush after dried out...



I found some online to by already dried. Search for dried flowers..
Yarrow and Golded rod work as well. Just keep squrrels out of the train room.

[SAH]

The attached file shows first attempts at building trees using wooden trunks and branches.  I used some sort of boxwood hedge I found in the yard as a parts kit.  (The only good reason for doing yard work IMO.  ;D)  Poly fiber is painted green and stretched, foam attached with hair spray.  For comparison, the tree above the Rutland XM is Woodland Scenics fine foliage.

They’re OK for background trees.  I didn’t tease the fiber out enough and used too much hairspray but the technique has promise as far as making inexpensive good looking foreground trees of nearly any hardwood variety.  Some alternatives to foam may do the trick.  Yes, the old Hundman articles are excellent resources.

Yeah I know, the rolling stock is not weathered.     I had just purchased a digi SLR and was playing with the lighting adjustments, so grabbed some colorful subjects.

Steve


[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Umm, Steve, lets see more pics of your layout. That looked top notch.

[SAH]

Umm, Steve, lets see more pics of your layout. That looked top notch.

This corner is the only "finished" part of the layout and really was just a test bed to try some of the techniques and materials I've been reading about during my layoutless years.  Some worked out, others did not.  I have another shot or two I'll have to prep before I post.

Is it correct that to get an image imbedded in the message text the image must be on a website? 

Steve

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yes, you are correct, thats the way it works.

People have used things like snapfish, railimages, and I've never tried it, but I bet it'd be great, flickr.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oops, forgot photobucket too.