Monday, August 25, 2025

Trees

 I mentioned in my last post that I have a preferred process for making trees.
So here goes

I start with these lovely armatures from Model Builders Supply, sadly out of business right now but I've been chatting with the fellow who bought up the inventory.


 I clip off most of the branches


 And grab some of that lovely Super Tree material, AKA Seafoam, and cutoff smaller branch sized pieces and use ACC(Superglue) to secure to the trunk

Working my around the perimeter, bottom to top


 

Precision is not desired. The beauty of using the Seafoam this way is that there is a natural randomness that comes from using a natural material.
Once I'm happy it's off to the paint booth. The entire tree gets a quick coat of a medium grey


 

I have  Noch leaves in a variety of colours on hand
For these trees I started with a layer of Olive Green
The tree is sprayed with unscented hairspray, the cheaper the better, and while it's still wet the leaf material is sprinkled on. sometimes 2 rounds are required to the coverage desired



 

Once that's had a few minutes to dry, another coat of hairspray is applied and then a lighter colour of leaves is sprinkled on to the tree


 Poke some holes in the scenery base and plant away

The same process can be used on Woodland Scenics armatures, I find a very different looking tree results


 

There you have it
15-20 minutes a tree
I think they look great, and far more controllable than Polyfibre and groundfoam, in my opinion

1 comment:

Olympic Peninsula HO Model Railroad said...

Thanks! Nice technique and great looking results. Nice to see you enjoying the hobby.