Lovely !

I hate to seem to be critical but I think those "plastic trees" really do grate with me and stand out as out of place against the quality of the rest of the project.

Which manufacturer are they from?

Hi Cromptonnut,

In a word, Yes, I agree with you - I did paint three of the trunks to hide the brown glossy plastic finish, also trimmed the round 'root' base into a limited number of individual roots. They're also what I call lollypop trees, being far too short and with far too dense a foliage.

While I wanted high quality I also aimed at low cost and a pack of 4 old Heki trees came free ...... they were from my son's mother-in-law who had them come into a charity shop she works at. They're not the best looking trees, had to replace some flock that was falling off the nylon bristles, they now smell like a ladies hirdressers.

I have as yet to make a copper wire armature tree - one of my complete 'blocks', just chicken to progress beyond the small armature I've sitting behind me right now !

The actual direct cost was only £5.50, all the other things were 'in stock' although I will admit that to buy it all would certainly have been Much more. Timber was £4.10, buffer £1.28, Matches £0.12. This was good use of spare materials purchased for use on other projects. So all in all a fun months play for less than a couple of pints !

Geoff T.

That's not a bad price for a small layout - unfortunately I can't do that with my O gauge project, a length of flexi is £6 on its own let alone wagon kits at £30 a pop minimum!

I'm glad you agree with me re the trees, I know it's hard to "criticise" someone else's modelling (especially when you've admitted to stealing their idea for your own and they're going to be watching!) but I just felt that it did stick out rather badly compared to everything else.

I'd suggest "go for it" with the trees - after all, what's the worst that can happen apart from binning the attempt and starting it again?

I don't know how much you've tried this before but this guide might help allay some of your fears.

http://www.armorama....ticle&artid=135

I'll do you a deal. I've never tried it either, so if you have a go at one I will too I seem to have accidently ordered almost half a mile of 0.5mm wire from Ebay so I'm glad I am going to need a few ...

Yes I'm working towards having a 'go' !

Here is the very small tree aramature - not happy about the binding tape and I've probably got far too many fine branches.

I also have some dried sedum heads and a colleague at MKMRS is starting some to show me how he makes his. They always look a bit cedar'ish and I'm still not fully convinced. The trouble is I want some real height trees - 12 - 14" high and the bigger they get the more they loose the real tree look ?

At least the lollypops were short enough to not get in the way as it is a programming track and will/should have frequent loco's going over the trees heads ! Having repaired them once if they do get damaged I should be able to fix them.

Still so much to learn !!

Geoff T.

That guide I linked to above is quite useful.

If you've already started then I guess I'm gonna have to come up with the goods too then...

My lords... over a year has passed since I posted this. Not achieved a thing since! However I've got a plan for an N gauge layout and I reckon I should just be able to fit this in on a headshunt siding that I'm tweaking at the moment on my xtrackcad plan.