Nano tree number three

Another tree for the afternoon. This one inspired by this 60+ footer seen from my back yard. The real thing is a bit spindlier and thinner than my version. Crowded around by other trees its difficult to make out the exact shape.

But I still feel that this is quite a convincing portrayal of a tree.
After just three attempts I feel that this technique is very viable for making trees in this super small scale. I can only get better at it. Time wise they don't take all that long to make. I spent more time waiting for caulk, glue and paint to dry than I did making up the armature.

Though I wouldn't consider making every tree for any layout by this method they will certainly make a talking point placed in a prominent position on the layout.

Nano tree No. 2

Right then, as promised here in tree No. 2 for your perusal. Already you can see it's a BIG improvement over the first one. These things are so incredibly fragile the mere act of breathing near them can cause a small bit of foliage to move and destroy the effect. I think I got away with it on this picture, you can make out some bits of bough among the foliage. Bear in mind too that this picture is about three times larger than actual size. So perhaps I'm being too hard on myself. I do though wonder of 30 odd feet is the smallest practical size to model a tree in 1:1,000 scale. I've actually just photographed a 60 foot tree of some type and will see if the increased size makes it easier to model.

So to the Woodland Scenics fine leaf foliage product. Very impressive stuff, even looking at this small piece photographed below you can see that there is the makings of an Oak tree or something similar.
And you thought model scenery in 1:1,000 scale was going to be hard...

My first nano-tree

In keeping with the "warts and all" approach to this blog detailed here is my first attempt at a tree in 1:1,000 scale.

You can't beat having realistic looking trees in your model landscape. Everyone should have them.

While I agree that mass produced model trees are getting more and more realistic (if a bit expensive). There are still people out there using the cheapo bottle brush efforts which saddens me as really nice trees are quite easy to do and they are probably easier to do in the smaller scales like N and Z and T than they are in say O. But this same construction theory holds out in all scales.

Above: The first, and most important thing is to find yourself a tree. This one is the approximately 35 foot tall paper birch in my front yard. Take a picture, print it off and study it.
Next: Find yourself some old multi strand electrical wire. Cut some of the sheathing off exposing the strands (1) and then start to separate them and bend them to the shape of the trunk and branches of the tree (2)
Then: I paint the wire armature with painters latex caulking and then, when that has dried I paint it with colours that suit the bark of the tree. Finally adding foliage in the form of Woodland scenics fine leaf foliage. Which, in this tree, is actually quite disappointing as it has smothered all the branch detail underneath.

A second attempt is called for which I will do right now...

When I get that second one done I will also post a picture of plain woodland scenics fine foliage which also makes very acceptable trees when shaped.