Forested Hills & Fall Foliage

[Drew1125]

Someone asked earlier how I made trees for my N scale layout, so I thought I'd post this.
(bear with me here, there are about 11 photos that go with this)

My current layout is set in the Appalachian Mtns, so I will never have too many trees!

I started with some of that Wooland scenics clump foliage in fall colors

 

[Drew1125]

These were a little too intense for me, so I cut each color with some burnt green by mixing them in a blender...I ended up with the four WS fall colors, in assition to the burnt green, & some dark green for representing evergreens. I put each of the six colors in a plastic grocery bag...

 

[Drew1125]

Next, I take a bag of WS Poly-Fiber, & pull a small tuft between my index finger & thumb...

 

[Drew1125]

Next, I pull the tuft out into a random shape, roughly the size of a golf ball..then I spray it with some cheap flat black spray paint...

 

[Drew1125]

While the paint is still good & wet, I roll the tuft in one of the bags of the foliage...

 

[Drew1125]

As I finish each tree, I toss them onto a piece of wax paper to dry...

 

[Drew1125]

To 'plant' these on steep hillsides, I stick sectios of toothpicks, about 1/4" long into the hill, to act as "cleats" to hold the trees in place...

 

[Drew1125]

Then, using full-strength white glue, & working from the bottom up, I attach the trees to the hill...
This looked OK, but I really thought it needed something more... the "forest" just wasn't "branchy" enough...

 

[Drew1125]

The solution came in the form of this stuff I found at Wal-Mart in the dried flower section...I think it's called "candy tuft", or something like that...(?)

 

[Drew1125]

I cut tiny sprigs of this stuff, & put as dab of glue on them, & just stick them here & there in among the PF trees...

 

[Drew1125]

For adde effect in the foreground areas, I put in some full-scale trees, made from seedum & crepe myrtle, in front of the PF "forest"...
When viewed from this angle, it looks like you're peering into a heaviky wooded area...

(here's a link to how I make N scale trees from seedum)
http://www.the-gauge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3060&highlight=Trees+Cheap+Fast+Easy

 

[jon-monon]

You DA MAN, Charlie! You da Fall Guy!

Thanks for posting that!

 

[interurban]

Well done Charles Master fall tree maker. I love them colours. Fall is MY Season.

 

[Tyson Rayles]

A great how-to Charlie!

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

Another great how to. I love it.

 

[Drew1125]

Thanks everyone!
This scenery stuff is one of my favorite parts of the hobby!

 

[jawatkins]

Thanks for sharing

your techniques on tree making. I like how you come up with the different colors for fall. I tried using the WS fall colors at first and didn't like them either. But never thought of what you are doing. I have used the blender to chop up dried moss to make great ground cover.

Great idea!

 

[Drew1125]

Thanks Judy!
I've used my blender for things like that too...I've used it to chop up dead leaves for griound cover.
NOTE: do not use the household/kitchen blender for scenery!
I went to the thrift store & bought myself one for $3.00 that is strictly for scenery. It's been a great little tool to have!

 

[jawatkins]

Originally posted by Charlie
Thanks Judy!
I've used my blender for things like that too...I've used it to chop up dead leaves for griound cover.
NOTE: do not use the household/kitchen blender for scenery!
I went to the thrift store & bought myself one for $3.00 that is strictly for scenery. It's been a great little tool to have!

Know what you mean, Margaritas are never the same after using the kitchen blender

 

[Jim Cullen]

Charlie & Judy,
I'm impressed by your use of Fall colors which I think look really great. On my last layout the bushes and trees were a half-dozen shades of green. I think the Fall colors look so much better that I might do it myself. The only problem is that I would have to re-do my backdrop colors. Have to think about that as I'm not a painting "artist" type. hmmm.... Jim