Anyone here use Super Trees? They recommend painting the stalks. Couldn't one tint the diluted matte medium to a brown or whatever? I dipped some trees and let them dry and they looked pretty white from the glue, I would guess they would take the color.

Also, anyone have any thoughts between using fine-leaf foliage and clump foilage? I have the clump, but don't really like it but was wondering if it would be worth it to buy some of the fine leaf. I am modeling in N. Thanks.

I haven't used them yet but they sue do look pretty in magazine photos of layouts I've seen.
Ralph

I have a box of super tree material. Only made maybe a dozen so far though. I just used flat white paint on the branches and really like the way that works, but it might be worth trying to tint the medium. Post back how it works if you try. As for cover I am using woodland scenics course turf, and it seems to look great, but Im modeling ho. And from what Ive seen in magizines and pictures, a finer product would probably be more appropriate for n scale. Ive always really learned though that with scenery you really wont find two people that do the exact same thing, most everybody can offer advice, but the best way to learn is to just do and see how it fits what you are looking for. So maybe experiment a little and post back on how it all came out.

KevinKrey Wrote:from what Ive seen in magizines and pictures, a finer product would probably be more appropriate for n scale. Ive always really learned though that with scenery you really wont find two people that do the exact same thing, most everybody can offer advice, but the best way to learn is to just do and see how it fits what you are looking for. So maybe experiment a little and post back on how it all came out.

Hey the more ideas from people the better. I guess I am looking for ideas on what is a good material to use that I will need alot of and won't cost me an arm and a leg. With the clump foilage, it just doesn't look right to me and I have to tear it into bits because the clumps are so big. I don't know when I am going to have time to work on these now. Very busy with work. But when I get back to dipping trees I think I am going to throw some brown tint of some type in the mix. Any ideas on what would be good for that? I would want something that would be about like food coloring, because I think the paint would be too opaque. I wonder how much food coloring would be needed to tint a gallon.

And the Super Trees seem to be a good product. Better than armatures for sure.

The super trees seem to be a great product. What afout trying fine turf from WS? In reality a leaf in N scale would be prettty darn small. But I really like the tinting idea, i want to see how that works, would be great to eliminate a step.

The "old school" method for coloring scenery materials was Rit Dye.

Russ Bellinis Wrote:The "old school" method for coloring scenery materials was Rit Dye.

I just got some yesterday. I'll get to it sometime this week.

Well, I put some glue, dye, and water in a jug. It looks like it might just work. If it does, I'll post pics. If I get really good results after I get my flocking on, and I get good feedback, I'll make a tutorial. Making these seems easier than what I expected, and if you're willing to buy in bulk, you get a decent amount of trees for a good per tree price, at least in N.

I'm not familiar with these "Super Trees" - what are they, a tree kit?

The only trees that I've made, so far, are polyfibre over natural armatures. Generally, the thinner you're able to stretch the polyfibre, the better your tree will look. While I'm modelling in HO, I've found that using the fine ground foam tends to make most trees look too homogenous unless it's used in conjunction with medium foam. Even then, I use it mostly for shadow or sun highlights only, varying the colours, of course. Use at least two colours (I use three or four) for all of your trees, and generally, apply the darker colour first, and the lightest last. The dark will create the illusion of shade on the lower branches and on those in the interior, while the lightest will give the impression of sunlight on the highest or protruding branches (a dusting of fine yellow works well). Vary the proportions to get the appearance of different species, in addition to making different shapes, of course.








(I knew I shoulda finished that fence! Dang LPCs (little plastic cows) ate all the grass, then left for greener pastures.)

Wayne

doctorwayne Wrote:I'm not familiar with these "Super Trees" - what are they, a tree kit?

The only trees that I've made, so far, are polyfibre over natural armatures. Generally, the thinner you're able to stretch the polyfibre, the better your tree will look. While I'm modelling in HO, I've found that using the fine ground foam tends to make most trees look too homogenous unless it's used in conjunction with medium foam. Even then, I use it mostly for shadow or sun highlights only, varying the colours, of course. Use at least two colours (I use three or four) for all of your trees, and generally, apply the darker colour first, and the lightest last. The dark will create the illusion of shade on the lower branches and on those in the interior, while the lightest will give the impression of sunlight on the highest or protruding branches (a dusting of fine yellow works well). Vary the proportions to get the appearance of different species, in addition to making different shapes, of course.

Your trees look great. Super trees are just a plant that you can snip off parts and make trees. The thing I like about them is your tree will have many branches that collect flock when you sprinkle it on making a fuller tree. I've seen the poly fiber, but have not worked with it and I'm afraid that it will be more work to stretch the material as opposed to sprinkling on flocking. Also, the results one gets in HO using one method may not give you the same effect in N. It's probably a little trial and error. I've also thought about how much to vary the color, but will have to see what my tastes are once I get going.

doctorwayne Wrote:I'm not familiar with these "Super Trees" - what are they, a tree kit? The only trees that I've made, so far, are polyfibre over natural armatures. Generally, the thinner you're able to stretch the polyfibre, the better your tree will look. While I'm modelling in HO, I've found that using the fine ground foam tends to make most trees look too homogenous unless it's used in conjunction with medium foam. Even then, I use it mostly for shadow or sun highlights only, varying the colours, of course. Use at least two colours (I use three or four) for all of your trees, and generally, apply the darker colour first, and the lightest last. The dark will create the illusion of shade on the lower branches and on those in the interior, while the lightest will give the impression of sunlight on the highest or protruding branches (a dusting of fine yellow works well). Vary the proportions to get the appearance of different species, in addition to making different shapes, of course.
Wayne

Looks like we use the same basic tree technique. I use the WS coarse turf, sifted through a small flour sifter. The larger "chunks" of the coarse turf that are left, go on the ground. I also use clear lacquer spray (Ace Hardware etc.), as an adhesive for the leaves on the polyfiber.
Supertrees make great looking trees, but......I have found that the weight of the leaf material can cause branch breakage when the scene is moved.(as in modular scenes) As long as the trees are smaller, this isn't as great a problem, so using them for "new growth trees", and smaller shrubs, is a good idea.
I have a small handbook, "A Guide To Field Identification TREES of North America".
C. Frank Brockman.
I don't know if it is still available, but it's from Golden Press, and shows the general shape of each species, along with leaf shape, and fruit, nut or seed, along with a map showing area distribution. I find the "shape" and area distribution very handy.

Well, the dye didn't dye very well. I put a half jar of RIT into the gallon jug. It made all the branches very brown, but the stalk was still a light tan. I am going to put the other half of RIT and try again, but I'm guessing that it won't make much difference.

I've used the super trees quite a bit , generally I dip them upside down in a brown diluted dollar store paint and hang them to dry, I use poly fiber exclusively for ground cover , it makes a great starting point to build up the layers.

LynnB Wrote:I've used the super trees quite a bit , generally I dip them upside down in a brown diluted dollar store paint and hang them to dry, I use poly fiber exclusively for ground cover , it makes a great starting point to build up the layers.

One issue here with the leaves is the scale. In N, the one tree I did make with the foam looks real good. I am waiting on the mail to get more foam. I don't think that the results would be the same in HO.