What are the best N scale trees?

[SkipGear]

What do you guys think of the Grand Central Gems trees?

http://www.grandcentralgems.com/

I have used the GrandCentral trestle/bridge parts but not the trees. From the pictures, the trees look like Lee's Sedum trees. We have the JTT tree display in our shop and they have some very nice trees, and some not so nice. I'm not a fan of the Timberline trees as they look like a tree armature stuck in a stick, at least the ones we got in the shop.

I'm with Chris, the cheap China bulk trees aren't bad at all with some work.

All the trees in this shot are the cheap china trees reworked....



Sorry, it's HO but that was the first place I used them. These trees averaged around $1-2 each.

The one tree that is a bear to make right is a Birch. Woodland Scenics has a new line of trees that the Birch looks very promising. For high visibillity areas along my river, I will probably resort to them.

edited typos...

[Caleb Austin]

I'll throw in my vote for super trees as well.



You can also glue super tree bits to twigs or plastic armatures to make trees with thicker trunks.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've developed a theory for summer modeling.

When in doubt, do what Caleb does...

In fact, I'm tempted to do some winter ones that way.

What are you using for the "trunks"? Any old twig you find?

That last one is really good looking.

[Philip H]

I'll throw in my vote for super trees as well.



You can also glue super tree bits to twigs or plastic armatures to make trees with thicker trunks.

Those are HAWT!!!!! what's your per tree rate?

[Caleb Austin]

Thanks Ed and Philip.

Ed,

The twigs were just a suggestion, as I know some people(like Paul Dolkos) use them for armatures. I have rarely found any natural twigs small enough for N scale so I use Woodland scenics plastic armatures.

I explain briefly about the construction process here:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=108638&page=22

And yeah, they should work for winter trees, here is a shot before leaves are added.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeah, that'll do... that'll do nicely.

Now time to find some time to make some trees.

[Philip H]

SO looking at your Trainboard write-up (props for that too) I wonder if you could substitute WS Fine Leaf Foliage clumps for the armiture stups, as they have a branch structure already.  If i get about 2098765224 things done this weekend, Imay try to find out.

[unittrain]

Definatley going to go with the super trees!!! the scenery I've seen here is just amazing! The pepper grass I'll use for the backround it is'nt bad as far as the leafs go but the lack of trunks is what does it. But the super trees are outstanding.
Thanks

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I was just looking at the LL armatures, and it looks like there may be a problem. The tallest ones seem to be about 5", way too small for REAL N scale trees.

Does anyone know if anyone makes anything larger? I'm thinking in the 7-8" size?

[SkipGear]

Ed,
 The Lifelike barren trees (armatures to the rest of us) come up to 6" (433-1986), maybe 8". We have some of the 6" barren trees in the store and 8" trees with foliage so they might make barren versions also. I actually think they would be too busy for a bare tree. They work well for summer trees though. I have used them on an HO layout with good success.



The tree in the center of the picture is one of the 433-1986 armatures with some simple woodland clumps on it. Nothing fancy but it works. The lighter colored tree to the left is a China tree.

[chuck geiger]

See page 26 of the new Model Railroader. Vollmer had to do this. MR making
fun of themselves with an APRIL FOOLS JOKE.

[UP1996]

I like the Super Trees but, they are way too expensive for me. I roll my own using heather branches, WS poly, and ground foam.
For the conifers I'm using whittled dowels for the trunks, torn up scrub pads, and some flat black and brown cheap rattle can paints. Some get a light spray of camo green when done. I use pump hair spray and sprinkle ground foam over them for the flocking.

I need to make about a bazzilion more conifers. Sweet!

Here are some in various stages of completion and Bonzai.



Here's a almost complete conifer on the layout next to Scale Guy. The taller tree stands at about 6". I still need to add some dark gray to the trunks.

[MichaelWinicki]

What I've noticed is that contrast is really what makes your trees stand out.  Using different types of armatures, and foliage colors and textures, and varying the tree height can make a big difference...

[ednadolski]

These Tehachapi oaks are made from Woodland Scenics plastic trunks, with teased poly fiber and ground foam held on with pump hairspray.

The bare one is actually a small sagebrush armature, which also works in N scale if you can find 'em small enough.

[MichaelWinicki]

Ednadolski, those dirt roads in your pics are really terrific...

The grass growing in between gives it a great appearance.