45 minute tree

[gregj410]

I’ve posted something like this before but maybe a refresher is in order. Im slowly going to replace my older trees with better ones. I don’t know what kind of tree this is but it looks more realistic and quite honestly the camera really does t do it justice. It looks much better in person. This tree took me about 45 minutes from start to finish.
I started with 1/2" x 1/2" balsa stock. Knock the edges down with a reasonably sharp chisel, bevel down makes quick work of it. Once it’s taking a round shape I taper one end out to almost a point. Maybe an 1/8". Give it some texture with a razor saw or a large wood screw will work. Once that’s done I hit it with an India ink alcohol solution






I take this super tree material and pair it down accordingly to a point and this will help them to slip into the holes you’ll create with an awl


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I’m always last minute and spur of the moment but if you stain your trunk and let it dry thoroughly your awl holes will stay open better for you to insert the branches. I dip the pointed end into crazy glue and insert into the awl hole. If the trunk is wet it does give trunk expanding capabilities when you pull the awl out almost pinching the branch.



Here you can see it taking shape. For the very top branch I pinch the tip of the tree taper with my in thumb and index finger and push the awl in to create a hole for the top branch. Doesn’t take much pressure with balsa wood. Don’t impale yourself



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Here you can see it taking shape.


Next I hit the branches with rustoleum deep forest green but any color you like will work as long as it neutralizes the blonde super tree material. I try not to spray the trunk but if it happens it is what it is. It will just create another level of shadow or texture.



From there I hit it with rapid fuse spray adhesive and flock it with noch super leaf. I’m not sure of the color but any variation would yield good results.




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Couple of final thoughts. If you flock your tree use less branches which will save time and create a more airy or see through look. I forgot to consider that here because every time I make trees I have to re remember how I did it. That thought came to me as I was flocking this tree.

To plant them I take a disposable bamboo skewer and gently push the pointy end of it into the base of the tree. Then I clip the remaining piece off by an inch or so at an angle or point so I can push it into my foam base on my layout. If you don’t have foam than you have to improvise.

I’ve spent most of my life using tools that can seriously injure you. I’m quite comfortable pushing this awl into the tree trunk with my hand on the other side. That being said you can use a small drill bit and accomplish the same thing in a safer way with a pencil drill I just find it’s a little faster using the awl.

[healey36]

Terrific tutorial, Greg. I am unfamiliar with the "Super Trees" product, but it looks handy. Certainly beats scrounging around in the garden for tree-making materials.

[gregj410]

Thank you. Actually I was not familiar with the super tree material either. A friend of mine moved to Florida and gave me a bunch of train stuff which included the super trees. The box has a price tag on it of $28 however I’m sure it’s $40. This is a rather large box of material so I would expect to get quite a few trees out of one box.

[up148]

Nice modeling Greg. You're following how I've seen it done over the years. I think my first read articles goes back to the 70's or earlier in MR or MRC. Your results are great IMHO!

[sarge]

And for the more cautious amongst us, a plastic tube can be cut so it is long enough to bear against the base of the handle on one end and leave the tip exposed long enough to make the hole in the balsa but not quite through to the hand. Slip it on the shaft of the awl and you've made a version of a drill-stop.

[gregj410]

Thank you. Nice seeing 2 railers over here.

Took a hack at another pine over the weekend. Probably a little heavy on the flock and maybe a shorter static grass length would look better. I feel like I need a warm up tree to remember my methods and decide what I think looks better.

However I find when you mix and match trees it yields a better over all result.

[healey36]

Another nice one; I would not have thought to try static grass as tree flock, but the results look good. The Noch Super Leaf stuff looked convincing as well. I'm going to have to upgrade my tree-making game...pine cones painted green ain't gonna cut it, lol.