Trees

[jimmo]

Hey Karin, those are some of best, most realistic trees I've ever seen, and I've been looking at models trees for over 50 years! I have got to try this technique. Absolutely stunning. How about a step-by-step?

[pennsyfan1361]

Karin,

Your trees look GREAT. I would also like to see a step-by-step on them. I wonder if you could do the same with fall color leaves and have good color? and do the leaves stay colorfast or do they fade in time? Thanks Rich

[Lemosteam]

 
Hi Doug, we started collecting colorful leaves that fell from trees in the fall. However, I found out that most of them ended  up a brownish to reddish brown so I looked for the brightest green bushes and leaves then cut them right off of the source wherever I could (is this even legal?  ) Baking them also changes the color a bit. You are on the right track if you go this route plus, to my eyes, it looks best. The expense would be the box of raw Super Trees but the yield is pretty good. http://www.scenicexpress.com/supertrees.html Just go out and cut samples and do the baking thing, then you'll know which plants in your area will work for you.

Here is a nice N scale tree that I had in a box. Hubby is a died in the wool Z modeler and is a bit worried about what I will be transforming the storage room into, hehe.

Gotta have a step- by-step of this tree.  WOW!  Absolutely majestic.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have looked at the Super Trees stock but shyed (sp) away due to the price.  Also, many of the "trunks" are way too big for N-Scale so there could/would be a lot of waste.  I guess if you can get a fair number of trees out of a bag it would be worth it.

incorrect. The big trunks are really good. Modelers have been making their trees too small for a long time.

[Philip H]

incorrect. The big trunks are really good. Modelers have been making their trees too small for a long time.

Agreed. Most of the live oaks I have planted on my layout are twice to 2.5 times as tall as an average boxcar sitting on the rails.  Most conifers need to be 2-5 times as tall to be realistic.  Thus bigger trunks are good.  Some Alders, elms, and birches are an exceptions to this rule.

Karin,
Your trees are Da Bomb!  I've never tried the ground dried leaf method since I model early summer, but your methods seem like they might work.  And, given Ed's Tree Corollary to Ed's Law (!), I'd say your trees are probably appropriate fro the husband's z scale pike!

[bbussey]

So, this foliage you cut never loses its color?  ...

That would be my concern as well.  As "ground cover", the leaves already are brown so it isn't an issue.  Does the baking of the leaves in the oven prevent them from changing color?

[SkipGear]

I was wondering about the fading or browning of the leaves also. I seem to remember from a leaf collection that I did in school that if you picked the leaf off the tree and dried it, they maintained their color. I looked up a few sites on dried flowers and they mention the sun as the worst problem. Drying them in a cool dark place preserved the colors. Not sure how long they will last at that, I guess time will tell.

[Blazeman]

Not tried the ground leaves for ground cover approach as I don't have a suitable blender and I'm reluctant to employ the wife's food processor. Have tried tea grounds after letting bags dry. Decaf tea seems to be a lighter shade (orange pekoe/black tea blend) than regular tea. I'm satisfied with that ingredient both for color and size/texture.

But I would think there's nothing better than real dead leaves to simulate real dead leaves.

[Lemosteam]

Not tried the ground leaves for ground cover approach as I don't have a suitable blender and I'm reluctant to employ the wife's food processor. Have tried tea grounds after letting bags dry. Decaf tea seems to be a lighter shade (orange pekoe/black tea blend) than regular tea. I'm satisfied with that ingredient both for color and size/texture.

But I would think there's nothing better than real dead leaves to simulate real dead leaves.

Blazeman, You can get a small 1 cup salsa processore for around $15:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Decker-Handy-Chopper-Plus-1.5-Cup-White/11186318

[Philip H]

old coffee grinders work too - and you can often get them for $3 or so at goodwill.

[wazzou]

Not tried the ground leaves for ground cover approach as I don't have a suitable blender and I'm reluctant to employ the wife's food processor.

Try a garage sale or two.  You'd be surprised how cheap you can find a blender and/or coffee grinder.   

[Blazeman]

Thanks all for the suggestions on leaf choppers. Have been keeping an eye out at the local Goodwill store with no success as yet. Come to think of it, the wife has a little grinder for walnuts that reduces them to a powder. I'll have to negotiate.

[Alaska Railroader]

As much as I would love to do a thorough tutorial all I can offer you is a PDF that I put together on making Super trees and with real leaves if you want to. Just not enough time in the days. I don't know how to insert a pdf so you can email me and I'll be happy to pass it along. or, maybe someone could tell me how to put a one page document in a thread post.

[Alaska Railroader]

Oh, sorry. My email is contact@stonebridgemodels.com
There a some illustrations too.

[Catt]

Karin, if the PDF is on the Stonebridge site you can just put the link in a post.