Meanwhile, at the cottage...a scratchbuild!

[ocalicreek]

Just a thought, sifting the ground foam, and applying in several coats, might give you more control of the density of the leaves, much the same as expanding the Polyfiber reduces the density of the branches. I've used that technique for several years now, and have been quite satisfied with the results. I also use a clear gloss spray, for the adhesive, which seems to limit the amount of foam that sticks in each application.

I'll have to try that next time. This time around I was using the WS tree kits where the foam and fibers are already together in a sheet that you stretch and tease. Much of the foam falls off during that stretching, I find, and so I did have to sprinkle quite a bit back onto the tree. I didn't sift it, however, and that may have made a difference.

Anyway, I'm not unhappy with the result so it's fine for now. I used a combo of Elmer's spray glue and a Matte finish clear spray when adding back the foam. The gloss added to the paint didn't quite give me the results I was looking for, so I may hit it quickly with a shot of a gloss coat (like the matte spray I used), or maybe not. We'll see after I stare at it a while longer.

Galen