Hey, it’s me again!
I’v been wondering if there’s such thing as inexpensive trees, turf, and static-flock grass? Also, how do you get the right things to make model water inexpensive?
unionpacific4
Trees are a breeze. Go the the garden and look for stuff. A really cheap can of acrylic spray paint and a little ground foam and you have trees. Sometimes it takes more than one branch and a roll of florist’s tape ($1.00) will wrap them together.
Turf is more difficult. Flea markets sometimes have it. There are threads on making your own, but my cost analysis was that its is cheaper to buy it. Static grass is going to cost you. Died saw dust is a substitute, but is not worth the savings in my mind. WS turf is cheap per square foot.
Clear gloss acrylic or poly will give water, and it will look inadaquate. I tried the mylar ballon method and it was adaquate, faster but not much cheaper.
Try Joe Fugate’s Scenery Clinic. There are some good ideas there.
http://siskiyou-railfan.net/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1270
Thanks, guys!
Tell me about the baloon-method.
Thanks, SpaceMouse!
I think I’ll try it.
Oh!!
I didn’t notice the other link!
Thanks, I like the tips.
My other question is titeled ‘‘Matte-Medium’’. I need help on that too.
Union - Generally, it matters quite a bit as to just how realistic you want your trees to look when it comes to how cheap you can go. Lotsa guys are perfectly happy with puff-ball trees and, when planted enmass and viewed from quite a distance, they’ll usually pass muster OK. However, the closer to the viewer, the nearer to the front/edge of the layout, or when you have isolated trees, the more you’ll find you can’t skimp on them and the more desirable it is to have a really quality representation. My own layout doesn’t have great depth to it so I chose to use the most realistic I could get/make - SuperTrees - and I’m glad I did. They take a little bit of time and effort to make and they do cost more than most but they certainly don’t come off as toy-like, as so many quick and dirty techniques will result in.
I haven’t read Joe Fugate’s tutorial all the way through but his trees look like they’ve been made via some sort of variation on the SuperTrees construction process. As the old saying goes, you’ll generally get what you pay for - whether it’s in time or money…or both!
CNJ831
CNJ,
Your right. Joe likes Super Trees.
Thanks, Guys!
I’m just a starter and I enjoy the tips!