Normandy Bocage diorama

[JR]

Looking good Alan , like the trunks and the use of moss . I actually soaked some in the glycerine treatment once , not much difference to some I haven't and have kept for some years !

[Ian M]

It's all good Al. Hope that you are not totally budgerigared by the snow storm and all are safe and warm.

[AlanG]

It's all good Al. Hope that you are not totally budgerigared by the snow storm and all are safe and warm.

Well we lost power for 24 hrs and got our water supply back after 65 hrs. So we're getting there. Just glad i had the log burner to get some heat into the house. The farm was a scary place to be in the winds. Had a few flying pig huts too.

[scottie3158]

Alan,

Looking good mate.

[rtfoe]

Cheers Steven. Seen it around when i've been out for walks with my family and dogs and always wondered if it would be good to use when dry. So i took some and have put it on here to see if it works. Looks ok to me. Needs some flock added to it to make some leaves but i think it's passable.
The biggest challenge will be the trees.

Sphagnum are great for bushes and the individual branches look like mini ferns.
I'd use sprinkled dried parsley for leaves.

Cheers,
Richard

[AlanG]

Started to cut and shape some lollipop sticks for my wooden gate. Working out the sizes was 'fun'. Got to have a think about how to make it look old(ish) and slightly worn.

I've looked into the white vinegar technique to grey the wood.

[Jim R]

Hi Alan
This is very interesting. Moss looks to be a most useful natural resource and as John says it can just be dried.

I've looked into the white vinegar technique to grey the wood

Intriguing - you'll have to tell all.
Jim

[AlanG]

Intriguing - you'll have to tell all.

Place steel wool (not the one with cleaner bits in it) into a spare pot (yogurt pots are ideal) and put in a measured amount of vinegar. Leave this to do its thing for at least 24 hours.

When ready add the same measured amount of water to the solution. So if you added 10 cap fulls of vinegar then add 10 cap fulls of water.

Use an old paint brush and brush the solution onto your bit of wood. It will turn from 'new' to grey. The longer you leave the solution the more it'll turn the wood grey.

[Jim R]

Thanks Alan. Looking forward to seeing your results, if you go down that route.

[Gary MacKenzie]

Emmanuel Nouaillier had some great articles on making wood etc look old.
Sent you a PM

[GerryW]

In the recesses of my memory, there's something about using grape 'tresses' for trees (what's left after eating the grapes) that was mentioned a while ago - I've a couple that are drying out, for when I'll need them, looking as though they'll need 'leaves' and possibly the parsley leaves sound like a plan!

[AlanG]

Well although i had trunks for the trees i've yet still to find the main branches for them. And those i have found need selecting carefully for sizes. So as a back up i picked some well dried broken branches i've had for a while. And if i am honest they already give the sort of look for the branches going over top of the road look, i want. They still need trimming to size in places but they are a good starting point.
I'll still need to add finer branches for the foliage and i'm thinking of going down the seafoam route for that.

[Mini Me]

That's shaping up nicely Alan. :thumb2:
Rick H.

[Jim R]

Hi Alan
Certain things in model making are very hard to make convincingly and trees are high up on that list. It looks as if you are well into this. Seafoam seems a good choice for fine branches and twigs.
Jim

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Alan. Not tried DIY trees yet...

Keep up the good work.

Andrew