wonwinglo
SMF Supporter
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 6,754
- Points
- 113
- First Name
- Barry
There are plenty of scale looking trees out there for model layouts but they are expensive,why not make your own ? once you grasp the principles they are not difficult to make,there are many different ways but this is the way the professional model makers go about the job-
Firstly procure some soft twisty wire,something like florists wire or even locking wire,start by twisting together several strands to form the trunk of the tree taking the branches out at intervals,study a real tree to see how the branches look but try and go for irregular shapes that fork out.
Once this has been done paint the tree with either enamels or acrylic paint streaking in different colours to represent the bark etc,now comes the interesting bit place the base of the trunk into the chuck of a portable electric drill,set the speed on low and with cotton wool loosely placed into any old tin or container plunge the tree quickly into the cotton wool,strands will be picked up by the whirling tree ! dont overdo it and tease the wool into place with your fingers,now mix up some very thin green paint ( acrylic artists colour is perfect ) and dip the top of the tree into the solution,hang inverted to dry,once set the adhesive like qualities will bond the wool to the branches.
You can produce whole forests cheaply in this way,bushes etc are done the same way by twisting and then lightly making saw cuts into the stranded wire,then pulling up areas to catch the cotton wool.
You need to experiment and practise to get the hang of things,have fun.
Firstly procure some soft twisty wire,something like florists wire or even locking wire,start by twisting together several strands to form the trunk of the tree taking the branches out at intervals,study a real tree to see how the branches look but try and go for irregular shapes that fork out.
Once this has been done paint the tree with either enamels or acrylic paint streaking in different colours to represent the bark etc,now comes the interesting bit place the base of the trunk into the chuck of a portable electric drill,set the speed on low and with cotton wool loosely placed into any old tin or container plunge the tree quickly into the cotton wool,strands will be picked up by the whirling tree ! dont overdo it and tease the wool into place with your fingers,now mix up some very thin green paint ( acrylic artists colour is perfect ) and dip the top of the tree into the solution,hang inverted to dry,once set the adhesive like qualities will bond the wool to the branches.
You can produce whole forests cheaply in this way,bushes etc are done the same way by twisting and then lightly making saw cuts into the stranded wire,then pulling up areas to catch the cotton wool.
You need to experiment and practise to get the hang of things,have fun.