Hypothetical: manufacturing winter trees

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So, here's something I've been meaning to ask about.

With all the assembled brain power here, I think someone might come up with something interesting.

I want to find a way to make bare trees.

Supertrees are ok, but aren't perfect. Their trunk structure isn't great, their branches aren't quite fine enough, and they have all sorts of artifacts of being "natural" products (like vestigial seed pods).

I want to come up with something better.

With the advances in material science, 3d printing, etc... I believe there HAS to be something that can be done.

I feel like a 3d printer, printing the right medium, using some sort of fractal generator might be able to do something cool.

I'd be interested in seeing what the  brain trust comes up with when thinking about it.

[Hiroe]

While it is indeed true that trees follow fractal design in their growth, you're still fighting the minimum resolution for printing them in 3d.

[chuck geiger]

Try this professor: http://repository.cmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1376&context=robotics&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.com%2Fscholar_url%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Frepository.cmu.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1376%2526context%253Drobotics%26sa%3DX%26scisig%3DAAGBfm2rMKnQC4h5psXV-0HSidTgXEmXeQ%26oi%3Dscholarr#search=%22http%3A%2F%2Frepository.cmu.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1376%26context%3Drobotics%22

[wcfn100]

I feel like a 3d printer, printing the right medium, using some sort of fractal generator might be able to do something cool.

There have been tree generators for 3D programs like Studio Max,  for over a decade.  I think Shapeways will take 3ds. files too.


Jason

[Dave V]

Would be too delicate I would think.

Model Nebraska in the winter.  Paint a tree wind break on the backdrop.  Add snow.  Done.

[Sokramiketes]

But what do you do with a $600 RP tree that you can't cast to make duplicates?

[Chris333]

When will Kato make trees with scale eastern leaves 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Mike, exactly... they can't be that pricey, which means RP is out for now.

[robert3985]

Thought I'd throw this in.  Look here: http://www.ngineering.com/bare_trees.htm

Etched N-scale bare trees.  Etched oak leaves and branches.  Etched ivy/grape vines.  Etched maple/sycamore leaves and branches. Etched willow leaves and branches. 

Looks cool.  I haven't seen any actually made up.  Found some at the WGH Show, but didn't buy a fret.  Looked good however.

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Those are kinda hot, but even twisted around, won't they look kinda 1 dimensional?

[tom mann]

Those are kinda hot, but even twisted around, won't they look kinda 1 dimensional?

You could start with them, and then add the sawdust/glue mixture that is used for twisted wire tree making.

[jnevis]

The "How To" says they used caulk to fill out the trunk and larger limbs  It also has some closer shots of the process and what the trees look like without flocking. 

[Roger Holmes]

Those are kinda hot, but even twisted around, won't they look kinda 1 dimensional?

My wife was reading your post over my shoulder and accused me of looking at internet pron again

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Years ago, a fellow modeler sent me a box of "sagebrush" he had collected for tree use. I forget who it was. The twigs were not sagebrush at all, but looked more like blueberry twigs: gray bark, fine branch structure etc. They looked more "tree-like" than blueberry twigs though, with a more defined branch pattern and thicker "trunk" area.

When I used these to build trees, I combined several armatures using the pin and glue method. I then sprayed the branches with Elmers spray adhesive and dabbed Sweetwater Scenery branch fibers on the ends of the branches. This created the small branchwork missing from most model trees. Now I did this just to support ground foam for my summer trees, but I think the same process would work for winter trees as well. If only I could figure out what the damn twigs were called.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

On the 3D printer note... you would not need a very high resolution printout-in fact the uneven surface of 3D printing would have a realistic bark texture after de-waxing. Maybe there is a high strenth resin available for 3D printing that is cheaper and more durable than the stuff we are used to.

Other ideas:
Make a rubber mold of a tree trunk with a hole at the top. insert Supertree armatures, full cavity with resin and let harden. Bam: Supertree with realistic trunks.