I have been looking at some options for modeling eastern US type trees. I was wondering if it would be possible to use clump foliage as a quick and easy way to use trees. Any one use this method and get good results?
Do you mean clump foliage on its own without any trunks or branches? I have seen this done by just gluing clump foliage to the tree line along the backdrop or building some shallow contoured hills with foam, gluing those to the backdrop, then gluing the clump foliage to the hills. In fact, there was an article in a recent issue of Model Railroder that showed how to do this step-by-step with photos. As for using clump foliage "standalone" for other types of trees, I have not seen this done. I think it would get pretty expensive to use clump foliage on its own to make trees (like using the puff ball tree technique with only clump foliage). Jamie
Check out the last few pages on Jerry's ATSF thread to see how good clump foliage can look. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=87641&page=248
Dave, I am sticking by my previous reply. Clump foliage trees simply will not work!!! Do you have different materials in there or just different colors of the same material? Jamie
So, sounds like Dave is for it, and he has had some great results. But Jamie isn't for it. What does anybody else say?
I used it for a long time, painting it different colors, stretching it out and ripping it up for different shapes and textures. I had an inexpensive, ready supply from floral shop wholesalers. I had to mount some of the clumps on toothpicks and, later, thin wires; other clumps just filled in. It worked best when combined with my "weed trees." Those are trees made from yarrow, oregano, sedum, and other common weeds. Clumps alone worked well on hilly terrain away from the edge of the layout. Closer to the edge, I spent a bit more time with weeds and armature-cored trees, because they were better detailed. The detail will carry back, in the mind's eye, to the clumpier sections.
You know, some people have excellent results. Some others don't. What work for one may not work for the next. You really have to put your hands in it and make things happen then you'll see how you like it. I'd say that landscaping, regardless of technique or material used, will look as good as the amount of love put into it.
Jerry's trees are, I believe, largely tufts of black poly-fil dipped in scenic cement and then in coarse foliage.
The Virginian and Ohio Railroad (Allen McClelland) used a technique that modeled this Appalachian forested hillsides scenes. It was very effective. You could join the Yahoo Groups V&O discussion group. I am sure they have a lot of information.
I vote no the clump foliage, to thick. Scenic express super trees are the way to go IMHO. Just dunk in glue, sprinkle on ground foam and plant. Its easy to thicken the forest out with poly fiber covered in ground foam as well.
One of the magazines had an article about this. The clumps are OK except for the first set of trees in the line, which would benefit from tree trunks and armatures since these will be visible from the edge of the forest. BTW- diluted white Elmers works just fine.
Hi NS9708: IMHO, it depends. How large an area to cover, background or foreground trees, how much time and money do you want to invest? I model the same geographic area that Dave V does. In this scene, I used "puff ball" trees in the background with clump foliage added to get away from the eggs in a carton, look. I used Super Trees in the foreground along with "bottle brush" conifers.
Hello Pete, I am curious about what you got from a floral supply that would considered "clump foliage". In addition, how did you prepare your "weeds"?
At this moment it's leaning toward Central PA. Time? When school starts back up, it depends on if it's a school night, and how much homework I have. Gonna guess around three to four hours. Don't have a specific time I want my layout to be done. Spending wise, I won't have as much as usual during the winter, unless I get the courage to ask people if they want me to shovel their drive way lol.
I should caveat; I actually use "Foliage Clusters." It's the same product, only in larger chunks. I use multiple shades of green, but tie it altogether by sprinkling on Woodland Scenics fine green blend. I only use these for background trees. I got a really good deal on a bunch of prefab Woodland Scenics trees which I used for my foreground, but I've recently purchased a large amount of Scenic Express Super Trees to replace the foreground trees. The WS trees are too dense as has been mentioned, but they're also just too short. You'll have good luck with populating the background mountains with foliage clusters. I've also done the polyfiber ball dipped in ground foam thing and honestly I like the foliage cluster result better.
