Makin Trees

Finks · Post by **Finks** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:25 pm

Arite today I was out and about and found some of this stuff in my back yard.

I think this is the same moss used for HO scale trees, and I have been hankering to make a track but didn't want to drop $5 per tree. Mostly cuz I am a good old Maine boy and need shit loads of trees on my track.

So can anyone confirm this is the right stuff and even better if you know how to make trees out of them. As it standns I figure spraypainting them green and using wood glue to glue to a stick for a trunk would work, but I have never done this soooo...

hogjowlz · Post by **hogjowlz** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:28 pm

be ghetto and figure it out dude. that shit looks pretty tight. any spraypaint will kill the natural toxicitity.

sg219 · Post by **sg219** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:37 pm

hogjowlz wrote:be ghetto and figure it out dude. that shit looks pretty tight. any spraypaint will kill the natural toxicitity.

Ya, I wouldn't spraypaint it. Maybe, just a few squirts of clear coat to add a little touch of bling and to keep dust to a minimum.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:25 pm

You could airbrush it with food coloring. That what flower shops do.

payaso · Post by **payaso** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:41 pm

crazydave wrote:You could airbrush it with food coloring. That what flower shops do.

The flower shops around these parts spray paint the flowers when needed, so feel free to spray those chunks of moss. Just let it dry out first..

I just spray painted some roses for my wife..

silla

VooDooMafia · Post by **VooDooMafia** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 9:04 pm

If you dont mind spending some cash www.gamesworkshop.com has some nice stuff.

They are a gaming company that makes roleplay games with miniature figures and great tabletop accessories.

TallduDe · Post by **TallduDe** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 4:00 am

well you can use that stuff on its own just clump a bit of it and it looks like a bush.

i found a shit load of cheap tree stuff on ebay just look up ho scale trees should find some cheap deals.

btw games workshop is nice bu its a lot of $$$$$$ for stuff you can make on your own.

plus rolled out grass on a cardboard backing is cheeeeep and adds alot of green to your surroundings.

Finks · Post by **Finks** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:56 am

Yeah thanks, Paying bucks was what I am trying to avoid. Thanks for the input Pimps.

VooDooMafia · Post by **VooDooMafia** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 12:17 pm

Well a super cheap way of making hedges if you need a bunch.

Get teh green scrb pads. Fold them in half and glue them (mihgt need to put a book on them while they dry.

Glue then to some plastic (old credit card, gift card, or buy stuff from hobby shop).

Just take some lighter green paint and dry brush the scrub pad.

You can glue sand to teh base and then wash a glue/water mix over it so it will harden and not fall off. Then just paint the sand to look like grass or dirt.

MotorGong · Post by **MotorGong** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:13 pm

I wanted trees on my track, but didn't want to spend the model train prices either.
My local hardware store has a small craft section.
I informed the lady of what I wanted to do, and she recommended this stuff called spanish moss.
It comes in a bag approx. the size of a cereal box, and it was $1.25.
It even has different 'styles' of moss in the bag, some pieces are perfect for ground coverage.

I think the stuff you found Finks would ultimately look better, or more realistic.
However, this stuff is a great alternative. I can see someone taking their time and making trees with this stuff look great.
Me, I'm inventive but impatient. What you see in this pic is the spanish moss. I was experimenting, so some trees are adhered with crazy glue, some with tacking, some with rub-on glue, etc.
This pic was taken about a month or so after the trees were made.
I didn't pretty them up for the camera or anything, and as you can see some look kinda deformed.

I just took some in my hand, kinda ruffed it up a little, and pretty much just slapped in on some small diameter wood dowels. I used playdough to create slopes and hills, and the moss sticks great to the playdough.
When the playdough dries, you can carrefully lift and remove the whole section of "scenery".

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:19 pm

Post by **CaboWabo** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:20 pm

Sweet man. betty.k had some good trees too! lol

MotorGong · Post by **MotorGong** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:30 pm

BAHAHAHA!!!!! I love that spanish moss!!

I wanted to do that!
Now that I know I'm allowed, I'll make sure to sneak some in my next photos.

payaso · Post by **payaso** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:31 pm

CaboWabo wrote:Sweet man. betty.k had some good trees too! lol

I like the little "Steve Irwin" figure.... I can almost hear him saying "CROIKEY"

silla

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:18 pm

sad thing is, those "trees" are probably cheaper than the ones from the hobby shop!