I had tried so many ways to make realistic conifers. Nothing seemed to satisfy. They always had a toy appearance. Well, one day while making some deciduous trees from American Sagebrush, the bark sparked an empty hole in my brain! Suddenly, I had the answer. (at least for me anyway) I carve my trunks from square balsa strips. Generally 1/4 x 1/4. If I need trees with larger diameter trunks, I will glue these side by side to end up with 1/2 x 1/2 or larger. If taller than the strips come in, I will glue them in a stagger formation and side by side. Anyhow, once I have them all carved down to a generally round up to the tapered top, I will then use sagebrush bark to wrap the trunk with. The effect is truly amazing! I can, at a later date, do an sbs on how I do this, if it is so desired. I also see, from posting these, I have some learning ahead on how to post pics properly here. Dave HWCRR Seattle
Very, very nice! Those look like the Cascade foothills trees I remember so well! Have you done area deciduous trees, such as alder or maple?
Thanks for the comments everybody. I work in O scale. A 15" tree in O is a scale 60'. The largest I have built is 18", which is of course 72 scale feet. That would be a scale 120' and 144' respectively, in the HO scale. Large timber! It would get a bit oversize for N. As I live in Seattle, I base the trees on what we have here in the Cascades. Dave HWCRR Seattle
Thank you Jim for your comment. If I have everything convenient, it takes me about 45 minutes to make one tree. Dave HWCRR Seattle
conifers Well, I do pride myself on my patience. I am a very meticulous modeler. Probably anal. But, these trees are for the up close and personal front of the layout. The trees in the background, are not made this carefully. I have made exactly 117 of these. Dave HWCRR Seattle
Dacs, Those are some work of art trees and you do and outstanding job on them. I just wish I could do some "Z" scale trees like that 60' or 70' for me would be around 3inches or 4inched tall. Pretty small! thanks for the post and it seems to be a great way of doing trees and they do look real at that scale!
Where do you acquire sagebrush bark? A local vegetation? Being in the Midwest I can't say I have seen it anywhere. Nice work!
I realize the original poster has not returned and your comment is from months ago - but it's worthwhile, I think. Sage is a low, slow growing plant in dry areas - I lived on the dry side of Washington State, and can't go anywhere off the road without (literally) tripping over sagebrush. Never thought of using it for modeling - live and learn. I just thought it smelled nice after a rain!
Very nice detailed work. I, also, was wondering where to obtain the wrapping that you used to make the trees so appealing. Thanks for your post. I, too, am quite meticulous at modeling. I want everything to look as realistic as I can make it (prob. a little anal, as well)! Rusty
