Alan's Tree Growing Experience

[AlanG]

Just to give a little sense of scale. Tree next to a 1/35 StuG (calm down BattleshipBob )

[BattleshipBob]

Whats that green thingy behind that thing of beauty

[Jim R]

Hi Alan
That tree is good. A lot to add but fine at the moment. Many of the most impressive dios have height and trees do that nicely.
Jim

[AlanG]

Just about added all that i can now as i only dried a few cuttings out of the solution i have. The rest are still in the solution and need processing. This was just a quick test job. I haven't even stained/painted the tree trunk! But if i'm honest i'm quite impressed with it.
I think if i took far more time and was a lot more selective with my cuttings selection then the results would be a bit better.

[JR]

I realise you have lot more to do but what great result so far Alan.Most impressive:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:
Looking at photos of different types of pine can help with the branch formation from the trunk, that seems to be the trick iñto getting a realistic tree.

[rtfoe]

Hi Alan, it's looking good. I would normally pre-drill all the holes about six per level. The next level about 1 1/2 cm and progressively get shorter including the branches as you reach the top. The next hole in the level is drilled in between the last level holes so that you get good coverage. :thumb2:

Cheers,
Richard

[What?]

Wow happy to see this thread. I stepped away from aircraft and started doing dioramas and I picked some of this stuff when I was out mowing. I thought hey I know I can use that for something, maybe tropical plants. Now you have given me a direction to go with it, thanks.

[Jim R]

Hi Alan
That tree looks very good indeed. As you say the next one, taking into account what you have learned from this one, will be better still.
Jim

[AlanG]

So a little time (ok a lot of time) has past since i did this first experimental tree thing. But it has all faded now and the food colouring hasn't took to it. But i think that it is because i didn't use enough of it. Anyways. I thought about trying to make the branches a little more 3d rather than looking quite flat.

so i bought a really cheap pack of 1mm green static grass. covered one of the branches in PVA and covered it with the grass via my very cheap applicator. Here is the results. Might need another application but i'm quite happy with that.

[Jim R]

Hi Alan
Looks good. The only way to get something like this right is to keep trying new ideas.
Jim

[AlanG]

Gave it another coat and i think it looks well better. More dense and really gives it a pine tree look about it. will defo try this out again when it comes to making my Ardennes diorama.

[Tim Marlow]

Looking good Alan.

[JR]

Have to agree it look really good Allen .The 1 mm gives a nice thickness to the branch, as long as the extra weight doesn't effect the way the branch sits on the trunk I think you've cracked it .
Some reading this may think I'm being over critical on the weight, but the fern weighs so little and the stems are really thin a few grams of 1 mm scatter could bend the stem down .I hope not

Allen did you press the stems atall ? I left mine under some heavy books in-between kitchen paper for about a week .

[AlanG]

Yes they have been pressed John.

[AlanG]

Some reading this may think I'm being over critical on the weight, but the fern weighs so little and the stems are really thin a few grams of 1 mm scatter could bend the stem down .I hope not

Just had a quick check and whilst it is sagging a little, that is probably because of the way i stored it whilst it dried. So all in all it hasn't made that much of a difference. And to help it stay in shape for when i do it for real, i will dry them hanging down.