How do I build tree's?

[Guest]

Hey, I'm making a massive diorama (2.5 metres x 1 metre), and I need to build 3 or 4 forestry blocks, so I will need about 60 trees. I was wondering, how can I make them at 1/72 scale? I would prefer it if they were pine trees, such as those found in Sennybridge, if you've been there.

[AlanG]

What type of trees you wanting? Fir or deciduous?

[Ian M]

A good cheap way is turn to nature. Does your mum have a butterfly bush in the garden? The flower heads have just the right shape and once they have died back you have just to cut the now dead flowers off, spray them with a spray type glue and then roll them in some of the static grass stuff you can my for model railway landscapes. Works in just about any scale as you can cut the flower heads down to size.

Ian M

[AlanG]

Cheapo pipe cleaners also work. If you need to add leave then get some old used tea bags. Dry the contents out then dye whatever colour you require, Glue the pipe cleaners and sprinkle on the coloured tea leaves

[geegad]

i use wire phone or any wire you can get your hands on you can make it as thick or as thin as you like with as many branches as you want as well

[Guest]

Ok thanks, I was thinking of the using branches and dipping them in the grassy stuff. I tried it last night on some random branches I trimmed and painted the ends in PVA and dipping them. It looked brilliant, but I just need some proper shaped branches.

[AlanG]

As John says above. Old electrical cables are very good for making trees. But you're going to need alot of them so this way would be very time consuming imho

[Guest]

I need about 60-70. Just wondering, how much is the grassy stuff for dioramas, where can I get it, and how much would I need to about 2.5 meters by 1 metre

[Guest]

Have a look on here- **** Treemendus Models - HOME**** i seen these at the National and was very impressed. i also like to have a nose om here www.ecscenics.co.uk

[Guest]

Don't know if anyone's mentioned seafoam, it's very good, quick and comparatively cheap

http://www.greatescapegames.co.uk/documents/Web%20Downloads/tree%20making%20guide.pdf

[AlanG]

Excellent link Andy

[yambam26]

Well i remember looking into this awhile back out of curiosity and well found this

Its certainly a quick way to make trees!

en.

[AlanG]

Now that really is good and quick Ben. Like it

[geegad]

Nice find I thinks I be using that soon

A few things around the house will be losing there flex cord

Geegad

[Guest]

Get some of those old wire bottle cleaning brushes, in the pound shop and shape the bristles to the way you want them. Or take a length of wire fold it in half and put one end in a vice and the other in the chuck of an electric drill, now add lengths of thin fishing line in between the two halves of wire, once done slowly turn the drill on so that it twists the wire and when done cut to shape.

scott