RMweb Premium Popular Post MAP66 Posted November 15, 2020 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 15, 2020 (edited) I am currently having a stab at tree modelling in 4mm scale using plastic armatures and I thought it would be good to share some of the techniques I have used on this forum. This is the first tree I have modelled using plastic armatures, prior to this I have only modelled one other tree using copper wire covered in tiling grout, weathered and then covered in various leaf scatters. The end result was OK but I think there is room for improvement – see first image. I am experimenting with the plastic armature method to see if I prefer it and to see how much realism is possible. In truth, if you are striving for realism the armatures could be made from anything which can be made to look tree like in formation. The detail and realism come from what you use to put over this whether it be filler, grout or something else and then the painting, weathering and the foliage itself. Any way here are some progress images, I would be grateful for any comment or feedback Image 1: My copper wire first ever tree. Image 2: The plastic armatures tree begins life. I did however add roots using copper wire. The whole tree was submerged in near boiling water to make the plastic branches pliable which were then bent into shape. Image 3: The plastic tree gets a coating of ready mixed filler, dilute pva glue applied to plastic first. This is when you can get creative by adding crevices and damage to the tree bark, lopped branched from the trunk etc, etc. Image 4: The painting starts. As a base coat I have used Vallejo German black brown 70.822 diluted down to a wash and applied several coats. I then used a variety of grey and brown shades (dry brushing) and a final wash of grey. There is also some use of green oxide and white weathering powders. That's it for now, next stage will be to add the sea foam branches to the plastic armature branches. All the best Mark Edited September 11, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images. 21 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted November 16, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) Thanks to everyone for the likes, much appreciated. I have now progressed a little further and have started to add the sprigs of seafoam onto the plastic branches to help form the tree canopy. This is best done by holding the tree some how so that you have both hands free. I have pushed the tree onto an old cork stop which allows me to grip the tree while I add a drop of super glue gel onto the branch and then place on the seafoam. Then while holding the sea foam in position, I sprinkle over some Roket powder which accelrates the superglue drying time allowing it to bond the seafoam to the plastic almost instantly. Its then just a case of carrying on this process untill you end up with a tree canopy your happy with. Here are some more progress pics; Edited September 12, 2022 by MAP66 6 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post MAP66 Posted November 16, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) I've pushed along a bit further and have now added all the sea foam to give a tree with a scale height of about 35' in 4mm scale. I next added some more ready mixed filler to extend further up the trunk and onto some of the lower branches, any higher than this isn't necessary if you are adding a full leafed canopy. However if your going for a tree without leaves you would need to brush some diluted filler over all the plastic branches to add some bark texture and this also disguises the join between plastic and seafoam. All of the branches then recieved a spray coat of Citadel 'Death Guard Green' and then a few sprays of grey primer here and there. On the last 2 images I have zoomed in abit to show what can be achieved with bark details just by adding ready mixed filler and weathering, the white filler is where I have added a bit more to bulk out the spindly tree foam stalk so it looks more like a thicker tree branch. The images show the leaves already added, I will go through that tomorrow as I intend to take some shots outside in natural light. Edited September 13, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images. 14 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxokid Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Great work there Map66 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted November 17, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 17, 2020 7 hours ago, saxokid said: Great work there Map66 Thank you saxokid, I'm hoping to take a few shots of the tree outside today - shoud look better in natural light, I'll post the pics later today. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 looking very good 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastalview Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Really like what you have done here @MAP66 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Roger Sunderland Posted November 17, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 17, 2020 Beautiful work. Are the plastic armatures the Woodland scenic ones? If so please can you give the product number - I’ve always found them a bit on the small size. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted November 17, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 17, 2020 Thanks to all for the likes and great comments. In answer to Rogers question, the armatures are actually from C+ L Finescale - it has a code on the pack 4ZZ106A, quite old I think as I bagged them a while back on that famous internet auction and selling site. I think they are intended for 7mm scale but they work for a mature size tree in 4mm scale. I measured the girth at the widest point on the trunk and its 2.5cm so just over 6' in 4mm scale. The Wooodlans Scenics ones and other types would still work (trees come in all shapes ans sizes) so the techniques I have used here should work equally well with other plastic armatures. Mark 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post MAP66 Posted November 17, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 17, 2020 (edited) Stand by for action, a brief glimps of sunlight was enough of an excuse for me to dash into the garden and take a few snaps of the tree. Didn't have much time to think of composition so you have the garden fence as the backdrop. Worth the effort though as I think the natural light helps bring the tree to life. For the foilage, I have sprayed Wws static grass layering spray onto the ends of all the seafoam branches and then sprinkled over oak leaf from the green scene collection. I worked on small areas at a time and sprinkled on the scatter from the top, sides and with the tree held upside down to ensure good coverage from all sight angles. Then in a few areas I introduced a darker green leaf scatter colour as I wanted a later summer look. When you are adding the scatters, make sure you do it over a bowl or someting to catch all the scatter that doesn't stick, very wasteful otherwise. I've added one more close up of the bark, to show how much detail is possible using very simple techniques. It's just deep gap ready mixed filler pushed into place with my fingers, add a few details with a small screw driver or sculpting tool, allow to dry thoroughly (over night) then add the paint and powders. Add as much lichen and moss as you want (I use the tea dust you get from a box of teabags for this). Thats the brown stuff you can see in the V of the tree in the close up. Mark Edited December 21, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images 13 1 22 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted November 18, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) Thanks again for all the likes folks. I have decided to put the tree into a small diorama, as the next step will be to make it look as if it is rooted to the ground. I am going to avoid making it too grassy around the base of the tree as often not much grows beneath trees as the roots take a lot of goodness out of the ground. I will attempt a patchy weedy grass look with mostly soil showing. Perhaps some vines and ivy growing up the trunk. For now, I prefer this method of tree making as opposed to using wire. You can get the same end results with wire but for me plastic has turned out to be a quicker process from start to finish. If you remove the time it takes for the filler to dry, this tree from start to finish took me about 3hrs to complete. It would take me well over 4hrs if using wire. Once the diorams is complete and to my satisfaction, I will be building a smaller tree for Tyteford Halte (my photoplank test track). There is literally only just enough space left to fit in a small tree either in-between the buffer stop and lamp hut or just to the right of the lamp hut (see image below). I will build as low relief so it can go up against the backscene but it will still be as detailed as the diorama tree, just a bit smaller. Yesterday, I ordered some woodland scenic armatures for the job as I need to put my money where my mouth is and now prove that you can get good results with other types of plastic armatures. Edited December 21, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium AdeMoore Posted December 9, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2020 Certainly gaining good results Mark. Good step by step guide. Cheers Ade 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted December 9, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2020 7 hours ago, AdeMoore said: Certainly gaining good results Mark. Good step by step guide. Cheers Ade Thanks Ade, much appreciated. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManofKent Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 It looks excellent - really nice job on the bark texture. How robust does the seafoam seem? I wondered about dipping it in latex before use (although it might mask too much structure detail). 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Fantastic results Mark. I wondered about doing something very similar to this, and I asked myself the same question as @ManofKent above. I've used seafoam to represent small trees / saplings in the past, and it always seems so delicate and rather brittle.... I did try using very diluted PVA, to help protect and strengthen the sea-foam.... but that wasn't entirely successful either. I must say, the bark is very convincing 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted December 9, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2020 8 hours ago, ManofKent said: It looks excellent - really nice job on the bark texture. How robust does the seafoam seem? I wondered about dipping it in latex before use (although it might mask too much structure detail). Thank you ManofKent, The sea foam is robust enough at the stalk end once stuck onto the plastic armature with superglue and an accelerator to bond it immediatly. The fragile foilage ends are somewhat strenthened when sprayed with glue and then by the process of adding the scatters. Once planted on the layout it should withstand the occassional unintentional knock. I don't think there is any need to cover in latex, added strength is also introduced wiith the addition of the deep gap filler to disguise the join between the plastic branches and the seafoam. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted December 9, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2020 9 hours ago, marc smith said: Fantastic results Mark. I wondered about doing something very similar to this, and I asked myself the same question as @ManofKent above. I've used seafoam to represent small trees / saplings in the past, and it always seems so delicate and rather brittle.... I did try using very diluted PVA, to help protect and strengthen the sea-foam.... but that wasn't entirely successful either. I must say, the bark is very convincing Hi Marc I hope the answer I gave to ManofKent above gives some reassurance that seafoam when used in conjunction with plastic armatures and indeed wire armatures gives a bit of robustness to the seafoam. Once its planted on the layout there is no further need to handle the tree so it should last for years. As long as everything is stuck well in place, even the occassional close encounter with the hoover shouldn't be a problem. I would encourge you give it a go, you might surprise yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chuffinghell Posted December 9, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 9, 2020 (edited) You can’t fool me! Taking a photo of a real life tree and trying to pass it off as a modelled one Edited December 9, 2020 by chuffinghell 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted January 4, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 4, 2021 (edited) Apologies for the lack of posts lately, our home PC died just before Christmas and although I could still access the web I was not able to upload or post any updates. We now have a new laptop and thankfully now able to post again. So the progress so far; I have started on the diorama for the tree, the base is one of the laser cut kits, same size as used for the cake box challenges 8 inch square. The diorama will feature a country lane/farm track on a gentle curve with a drystone wall and of course the tree located on the other side of the wall. So finally at long last, here are some progress pics, more to follow... Happy New Year to all Mark Edited December 21, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted January 5, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) More progress to report, static grass has been applied along the track side of the diorama via the puffer bottle method. This time I used neat pva glue for the base and built up the grass in subsequent layers spraying in between applications with matt varnish spray and also adding sprinklings of fine soil effect to dull down the shiny grass look. I came across this method from following Heaton Lodge Junction by Allan Downes. The drystone wall is rigid plastic and I managed to introduce a slight curve by immersing in boiling water which made it slightly flexible, enough anyway to bend it slightly and it retained its curve when it cooled. I added a bit of interest in the wall by having a small section partly collapsed. I repainted the wall with various washes of greys, browns and greens and a final coat of MIG sun bleach effect which gave the greenish parts a more mossy type colour on the stonework. I also added some fine tree foliage by stretching it over the wall to represent ivy. Tomorrow, I will plant the tree and complete the diorama. Edited December 21, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images 4 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted January 6, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 6, 2021 (edited) I managed to do a lot more work on the diorama yesterday evening as I was keen to get the tree in place. I drilled into the base of the tree and inserted a length of copper wire which would then locate into the baseboard. I loose fitted the tree in place and when happy with the look everything was super glued in place. I then applied further deep gap filler to the ground and up to the tree, this was also used to extend the tree roots. I then added more static grass and left an area around the base of the tree bare as I wanted a more earthy look which I could achieve with very fine gravel and weathering powders. Edited December 21, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images 6 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted January 6, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 6, 2021 (edited) Last few images of the now completed tree diorama below. I can now attempt a smaller tree using a plastic armature from Woodland Scenics range, this smaller tree will be for Tyteford Halte. I will feature the tree build here and hopefully it should turn out as good as its larger cousin. Edited December 22, 2022 by MAP66 Restoring lost images 8 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Fantastic work Mark! That's a great looking diorama you've made, well done 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MAP66 Posted January 7, 2021 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2021 Thanks Steve, I thoroughly enjoyed making this little diorama, very therapeutic. I'm going to lurk around here for a while making trees before popping back over to Tyteford Halte to complete that, can't believe I started that a year ago now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxokid Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 3 hours ago, MAP66 said: Thanks Steve, I thoroughly enjoyed making this little diorama, very therapeutic. I'm going to lurk around here for a while making trees before popping back over to Tyteford Halte to complete that, can't believe I started that a year ago now. More top work here,looking forward to more now. last year seem to fly by due to covid and now its going same way again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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