As I was pruning bushes outside I saw and kept several pieces that will become tree trunks for my layout. I have made lots of trees using bush prunings but the trees I currently have are “summer” and I am going to transition to fall I believe. Does anyone have a suggestion of a product / maker of preference for fall tree foilage? I see the websites and pictures but sometimes they differ significantly from the actual product.
Thank you
Jim
Jim,
Start by spraying some of what you have with red, orange, and yellow spray paint. You might have to spray white first, then the colors. That will save you all the trees you already have. I’ve bought Woodland Scenics green trees and painted them red. They come out a nice, dark, maple red.
Last night, we got a delivery of ground foam autumn trees. Nice, but the foliage is all one color. I sprayed (misted) the trees with the three colors I suggested, and they look worlds better.
We’ve planted over 50 trees on the Jumijo in the past 2 weeks. What a difference! I thought they would block some of the views of items we like on the layout, but they did just the opposite, and greatly enhance the views!
Jim
It’s easy to model winter, spring, summer, and fall here: The trees look the same all year. Most of them are either juniper or live oak, both of which are evergreen.
Start with a box of Scenic Express fall trees, dip them in white scenery glue, then roll them in WOODLAND SCENICS fine ground foam. The Scenic Express box (approx 24.99) will go a long way.
It’s a bit after season, but also check the floral section in Michael’s or JO-ANN’s. You can gather a few sprigs of fall bunches. Trim back, then plant.
Fife, you are on a"roll" of great suggestions. Come do scenery on the Roseyville Div of NS.
Chief - I think you should copy some of Norfolk Southern’s former CNO&TP line. Lots of tunnels, and lots of deep rock cuts. I think your benchwork would really lend itself to this topography. The look would be relatively easy and quick to achieve with styrofoam blocks, and it would give you a one-of-a-kind layout in O.
You are right. A divider [half painted] goes between the mainlines on the right and the coal mine area. Not suppose to be able to see the coaling facility from the door and the rest of the layout. we’ll chat more.
Jim,
Thanks for the reply, I admire your layout and was hoping you would chime in. I have some “early made” trees that are rough and I will try the spray paint idea. Do you mask off the trunks? One of the neat things about using the brush clippings is the neat color and textures and I would like to keep that.
Jim
No need to mask anything off, Jim. Just spray away and let dry. Then go back over the trunks with gray or brown acryllic paint (white for birch) and a brush. Bing bang boom, it’s done. All the trees near our mountain are weeds and dried flowers we just bundled together with masking tape and spray painted. Ionly used 3 coors - red, orange, and yellow. Don’t be afraid to blend any of those when spraying. If your green is too dark for the autumn colors to show, spray some white on first.
Fifey - Been singing “Me and My Shadow” lately! [(-D][(-D][(-D]
Jim
I think spraying existing green trees would work best, for a natural look. Remember that all trees don’t “turn” at the same time, so leave some green to contrast the “turned” ones. The “ready made” Fall trees can make the scene look too garrish and unnatural if those are all you use.
On the campus of the school where I did my grad work was a tree that turned every year in layers. The process began in the top quarter of the foliage, which turned a bright yellow-green. Then, the next lower layer turned that color while the top turned a rich gold. Then, the colors moved down a layer while the very top turned a brilliant orange. Then, the lowest layer turned as the top became a fiery red. Each layer–starting with the top–finally turned brown until the tree was completely so. The process took some time and was a delight to watch.
The moral: vary the colors on individual trees.
Thats why I advocate spraying the trees with more than one color. Nature isn’t monochromatic. I spray orange on yellow, yellow on orange, red on yellow, and by all means, let some green show as well… The newly painted trees can even be dipped in fall-colored ground foam.
Jim