Who has actually planted dozens of trees in HO hardshell scenery and how did you do it? I have read all the books, but I have trouble making them stand up straight. With hundreds of trees to plant, I need a way similar to the ease of planting trees in styrofoam scenery. Have any of you had real success to share with me?
Hi Art, the “Forum foam master”, I’m surprised that you have any basic hardshell w/ all your workings in foam masterpieces.
A lot of my earlier hardshell was somewhat thin (plastercloth covered w/ brushed on hydrocal enough to hide the cloth texture) and I experienced the same problems in planting trees. Where numerous trees are done in a full forested “canopy” the glued trunks tend to hold due to touching other trees in the dense setting. I find that hot glue worked far better even w/ the pain of dribbles and strings. There’s nothing like punching holes in foam and planting, but not all areas to be done could be done w/ that much foam. Later on I found that placing a much thicker 2nd layer of plaster or mix of (ground goop, any variation of plaster, sawdust, perlite, or substtute Durabond for the hydrocal suffices for the mix) This added layer and thickness allows to punch or better, drill out for the plantings. On some of the forground special specimens, I have hot glued a foam chunk under the planting site to better hold those trees where the shell is just too thin to hold the tree.
This large area is mainly covered w/ Durabond, sawdust and colored w/ brown dye Needed such a “hollow” shell for access to the 10ft of double track from under benchwork.
Showing the layers
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Art,
I have planted hundreds of trees (including very large trees) using the super glue method.
Items needed:
-Medium superglue
-Super glue kicker (accelerant) in a needle applicator - don’t spray it!!
Hold the tree in position, dribble super glue on the base of the trunk. Apply a drop of kicker and the glue will set instantly. Trees are easy to remove with no damage.
Guy
I use one of two methods: spread a layer of Sculptamold where you want the trees, and plant them in the wet plaster, or use hot glue. I’ve tried CA – albeit without the accellerant – but had trouble, since there wasn’t enough structure for the adhesive to grab.
My landforms are Durabond over aluminum screen, and I drill holes for the trees. Some of the smaller ones can be fixed in place at the same time as the ground cover, but I use white or yellow glue for the larger ones.
Wayne
Hey Bob K.,
Not trying to hijack the thread but in one of your photos with the bridge in the scene, is that a forest fire in your backdrop pic? As a firefighter heading into fire season out west here, I couldn’t help but notice that. Cool scene!
Duane
Actually this is still somewhat of a debate at the club. The artist that did the backdrop won’t diclose the intent. I thought it was mist rising from the canyon/ valley. I actually needed to airbrush a “fog/ mist” to the painting to show a haze and knock down the sharp contrast. The painter does have a dry sense of humor, a sign entering a firetrail (under the bridge) says "Entering Viagra Canyon, home of the tall Woods) There used to be very tall pines that were modeled quite nicly but overpowered the scene. So you make the call as we do. It does look like a forest fire in the pic. One member a retired MA Park ranger built the fire tower so they “better get on that fire”
Early pic before final touch up
And this: Sunrise, fire or nuclear blast!
Now back to Art’s “forest” before it goes up in flames…
What are these “trees” you speak of?[^o)]
In areas where I do need trees, I plant them with either CA and accelerator, or hot glue. With either method there can be a gap or other unsightly interface where the trunk meets the scenery.
I keep scenery material handy, and fill around bases of trunks as needed with ground cover vegetation, dirt or other smaller plants.