|
Model
tree-making tip from: Paul Templar
The need for tall trees on my
railroad, from 12" to 18" tall, led me a merry dance for many
weeks. I had used in the past dried fern bought from a florists. After
making many with this natural material, I found that even a slight knock
would damage this delicate fern. So, I looked around for another
material which wouldn’t break. An artificial flower specialist came up
with the idea of using a plastic type fern instead of a dried fern. The
only problem with this fern was in fact that it was a little thicker
than the dried fern and brown in colour. Anyway, I bought some of his
plastic and Light Brown coloured fern, re-painted them a dark green,
made a tree, then added glue and sprinkled on some woodland scenics
medium green flock. The outcome, not a bad representation of a tall
timber tree. Then, quite by accident, I stumbled across another way of
making a tall tree, and a better looking tree, (I think) than the dried
fern or for that matter, the plastic fern trees had turned out. But, I’ll
let you be the judge of my latest find by giving you both ways of making
the trees. The basic material for the tree trunk, and for both trees, is
3/8" diameter Balsa wood dowel. As these dowels come in
approximately 3 feet lengths, two or three trees can be made from one
length of dowel. As for the plastic fern, most artificial flower
specialists can order this fern for you. They come in packs of ten and
are not at all expensive.
Visit Paul's web site for more details on
tree-making: http://www.paultemplar.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
|
Other How-To Articles
make ballast
build caboose
foam scenery
GP35 Project
paint diesels
make trees
re-number boxcars
make yard lights
|
