I went in a field near my work and grabbed up some weeds. Also near my work are some junipers (depicted here). I snipped some of those and here’s the results.
I used spray adhesive to affix 3 colors of green tinted sawdust onto the trees, then simply poked them into the underlying styrofoam. Notice the abandoned RR line in 4th photo down.
Reason there’s 2 rail 027 is b/c this is the lowest diorama section.
I’m working on level 2 now and tomorrow will show some photos of the benchwork construction.
If left alone, they will turn brown and get brittle. But I’ve had weeds now for over 3 years that look as good as the day they were picked. There’s something about the glue that holds the color and strength of the weeds.
Yep, it’s the same with the bushes you can buy. It’s also natural material, but they are impregmented with clycerine and a color. That will keep the moisture in it, and it won’t get brittle. Never knew the glue also had that effect… Bright idea, gonna use that too…
What a coincidence. When I got home this evening, I picked up our sister MR mag from the mailbox (it always for some reason runs a week later than CTT) and there were pages and pages on using natural plant material (and some natural plant material you can buy). They recommended matte medium (the Kalmbach mags seem to have “standard” ways of doing things). But spray glue will work, as will matte medium. I’ve even used diluted wood glue! It freezes mother nature’s clorephome process somehow.
ON my VRE train trip home, had a deepthought. I’m tired of the indoor layouts and may just tear this layout up and start my 3-rail garden layout, using real plants supplied by mother nature (and the local garden center). Now that’s realism!