Oh YES!
Clever build on the building ...following with interest ....and awe !
Have fun at the bench
Nap
WIP "Easy Pickins"
- Thread starter Steve Ski
- Start date
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Oh YES!
Clever build on the building ...following with interest ....and awe !
Have fun at the bench
Nap
Steve Ski
A Fixture
Thanks, Dr. B!
Aah, what the heck, right?
Thanks, Simon!Nice build, Henk, looks good and beat up proper. That's a really fine job, excellent work!
Thanks, Kevin, it was the most logical solution I could think of at the time.
Steve Ski
A Fixture
Slow Going.
Bunker time has been shortened a bit, but I’m still able to get a little time in daily. With Spring kicking in high gear that time will only get shorter, so I need to keep the momentum going without rushing the results.
I’ve finished the roof system with the weather damage in the mid-section. The evidence of neglect over time will add a bit of character to the structure and will be weathered accordingly. Man, that was a lot of shingles to make and ruff up.
After the structure was built, I moved on to making the veggies. Trying to make bushes in this larger scale takes a bit of pre-planning as there really isn’t any decent foliage on the market. But you can, however, always scratch build your veggies using whatever is on hand. As you can see from the photo below, I save a few tomato roots and other garden plants each fall. They dry over the winter in the green house and are always ready in the spring. Ya just never know when you’ll need them and it’s always a good idea to plan ahead.
I started by taking apart the root system and separating usable sections for my bushes and set aside the longer strands for ivy or crawling plants. Many times, I couldn’t find exactly what I would consider a decent clump, so I had to combine several portions to fabricate the plant bases and structures needed. There are quite a few YT vids on how to make realistic bushes that are very helpful. I watched more than a few of them before starting the veggie work and that saved me a lot of time.
I used fine and course flock and Super Leaf from Scenic Express on the bushes after applying small amounts of poly fiber, or pillow stuffing, on the branches. This really is too small for the scale I need, but I used it anyway. I won’t go over the process, but this video gives a good run down of the process.
When it comes to making veggies, I prefer to find as much foliage as possible from the hillsides and mountains in my area. The realism, imho, can’t be beat and the material is very cheap, just pick it.
Once the bushes were done, I started on the roof color tones and weathering. I added some moss on the shingles and a little bit on the top and bottom of the fence and gate. Ivy will be crawling all over this structure, so the wet and decaying wood needs this prep work to add realism to the effect.
There is still a lot to do before I can start the ground work, but progress is moving forward. Feel free to add suggestions or comments and thanks for watchin.
Cheers, Ski.
Bunker time has been shortened a bit, but I’m still able to get a little time in daily. With Spring kicking in high gear that time will only get shorter, so I need to keep the momentum going without rushing the results.
I’ve finished the roof system with the weather damage in the mid-section. The evidence of neglect over time will add a bit of character to the structure and will be weathered accordingly. Man, that was a lot of shingles to make and ruff up.
After the structure was built, I moved on to making the veggies. Trying to make bushes in this larger scale takes a bit of pre-planning as there really isn’t any decent foliage on the market. But you can, however, always scratch build your veggies using whatever is on hand. As you can see from the photo below, I save a few tomato roots and other garden plants each fall. They dry over the winter in the green house and are always ready in the spring. Ya just never know when you’ll need them and it’s always a good idea to plan ahead.
I started by taking apart the root system and separating usable sections for my bushes and set aside the longer strands for ivy or crawling plants. Many times, I couldn’t find exactly what I would consider a decent clump, so I had to combine several portions to fabricate the plant bases and structures needed. There are quite a few YT vids on how to make realistic bushes that are very helpful. I watched more than a few of them before starting the veggie work and that saved me a lot of time.
I used fine and course flock and Super Leaf from Scenic Express on the bushes after applying small amounts of poly fiber, or pillow stuffing, on the branches. This really is too small for the scale I need, but I used it anyway. I won’t go over the process, but this video gives a good run down of the process.
When it comes to making veggies, I prefer to find as much foliage as possible from the hillsides and mountains in my area. The realism, imho, can’t be beat and the material is very cheap, just pick it.
Once the bushes were done, I started on the roof color tones and weathering. I added some moss on the shingles and a little bit on the top and bottom of the fence and gate. Ivy will be crawling all over this structure, so the wet and decaying wood needs this prep work to add realism to the effect.
There is still a lot to do before I can start the ground work, but progress is moving forward. Feel free to add suggestions or comments and thanks for watchin.
Cheers, Ski.
Briggsy
PlanetFigure Supporter
Very busy indeed, love the weathered roof and the 'veggies'. I agree the natural stuff is the best, I see you had a leaf punch, good bit of kit. I punch my scale leaves from really fallen ones, with two oak trees in the garden I don't have to go far.
Cheers Simon
Cheers Simon
Steve Ski
A Fixture
Thanks, Amlc, I appreciate that!
Thanks, Simon. This scale is kickin me hinny trying to keep this tree looking real. But boy howdy, what a hoot!
Thanks, Nigel, it's a simple addition to any scenario, but not always an easy one.
Steve Ski
A Fixture
There’s Got to Be a Better Way!
Progress report: Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, but placing these leaves one at a time is getting old real fast, hours actually, for this small area alone. I know, gluten for punishment, but I haven’t found anything else that would come close to the scale I need.
Belly Ache Alert!!! Pass the snivel wipes, if you please.
If there’s a better way to tackle this, I’m all ears. I thought the ivy plants were tough on “Early Mornin Dew”, but this is much more difficult. Getting in between these tiny twigs without breaking any of them is a real challenge. It’s not like I can use flock and poly fiber, or even a MiniNatur set, and get decent results.
If you are going to take this route in this scale, I don’t see any other choice but to grind through it and carry on. Like I said, maybe I didn’t look heard enough, but I have not found a better solution and using fish tank plastic won’t cut it, too fake, IMHO. I will be adding a lot of smaller punched leaves in the gaps to make this tree look as real as possible and not so much like a sparse cactus, or a cheap knock-off attempt.
Well, like you said Glenn, “Welcome to the nut house”, or better yet, welcome to the lunatic fringe! More to follow and please, if there are any suggestions out there, I’m all ears.
Cheers, Ski.
Progress report: Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, but placing these leaves one at a time is getting old real fast, hours actually, for this small area alone. I know, gluten for punishment, but I haven’t found anything else that would come close to the scale I need.
Belly Ache Alert!!! Pass the snivel wipes, if you please.
If there’s a better way to tackle this, I’m all ears. I thought the ivy plants were tough on “Early Mornin Dew”, but this is much more difficult. Getting in between these tiny twigs without breaking any of them is a real challenge. It’s not like I can use flock and poly fiber, or even a MiniNatur set, and get decent results.
If you are going to take this route in this scale, I don’t see any other choice but to grind through it and carry on. Like I said, maybe I didn’t look heard enough, but I have not found a better solution and using fish tank plastic won’t cut it, too fake, IMHO. I will be adding a lot of smaller punched leaves in the gaps to make this tree look as real as possible and not so much like a sparse cactus, or a cheap knock-off attempt.
Well, like you said Glenn, “Welcome to the nut house”, or better yet, welcome to the lunatic fringe! More to follow and please, if there are any suggestions out there, I’m all ears.
Cheers, Ski.
Briggsy
PlanetFigure Supporter
Ouch I feel your pain with the leaves, once did a couple of silver birch, what a pain, only winter trees after that. I can't offer any better solution other than random scatter on the insides of the tree and single positioned leaves on the out side, might cut the time a bit.
Cheers Simon
Cheers Simon
Steve Ski
A Fixture
Yep, I think your right, Simon, but I'll also need to go back and touch up nearly every one of those leaves for glue marks or white paper shiners. Slow goin, sloth speed, HA!
Briggsy
PlanetFigure Supporter
The White paper issue is why I use real leaves like oak that doesn't rot, or green paper from the craft store.
Cheers Simon
1969
A Fixture
Nice update Ski, liking the new building section you have created with the wooden fence, looking good.
I have tried this same method in 54mm with the trees and it is a tiring process but worth the end result, trees in any scale are hard to get to look realistic and the easy routes don't look very effective, keep going mate it will pay off in the end even if you do loose your sanity along the way.
Cheers mate
Steve
I have tried this same method in 54mm with the trees and it is a tiring process but worth the end result, trees in any scale are hard to get to look realistic and the easy routes don't look very effective, keep going mate it will pay off in the end even if you do loose your sanity along the way.
Cheers mate
Steve
Steve Ski
A Fixture
Yep, I agree, Simon. Colored paper would have been the right choice, but I grabbed what I had at hand. Impatient once again, lol.
Hey, Stevo. Thanks Brother, and yes, I've passed the lunacy stage and now in the zomby stage, one leaf at a time, Bahahahaaaaaaaaa!
It's very slow going, but I will be working and reworking any bald or sparce spots once the intial lay out is done. Just think, I've still got a ton of ivy leaves to cut out as well, cause there ain't no ivy punch worth a hoot that I have on hand.
Steve Ski
A Fixture
There is a Better Way!
After scratching my head till I’m almost bald I finally decided I wasn’t going to waste any more time placing individual leaves on this tree. I kinda liked the little bit of hair I had left, HA!
Honestly, to get a tree looking realistic in this larger scale is taking more talent than I’ve got and I really don’t fancy rushing something or putting out junk just to get this dio finished. A lousy, lazy approach this far into the game could trash everything I’ve worked for up to this point. Sometimes ya just gotta stop, step back a few hundred yards, and think it over. Besides, I was missing my bunker time like a long-lost friend.
Just a few days ago I was wandering around on the Ranchito looking for decent plants I could use to simulate foliage for a tree in this larger scale. I musta done such a good job with the weed eater, I couldn’t find anything acceptable. Then I remember my veggie stash had small dried flower bouquets and other material that might work. Sure enough, I found something. This stuff has been on the top shelf for years and I think I grabbed it just in case, from Hobby Lobby, so this will work. Yall can tell me what you think, but after extensive searching I wasn’t having any luck finding a decent alternative.
With the tree now stripped and most of the tweaky twisty branches removed I can start placing clusters after the painting is finished.
This dried flower bundle is Caspia, or so it says on the wrapper. If I do this right, I just might have some success. I was going to airbrush the bundles and then go back and brown out the stems, but decided that was more work and would leave spots undone. I’d have to go back with a brush anyway, so I just used some thinned out Vallejo Russian Green #096 and a large soft pointed brush. It’s working well so far and the natural dried brown bleeds through giving a good appearance. I’ll be highlighting the tops for depth as well and touching up the stems as needed. Time to get this project moving.
More to follow soon and if you have any suggestions, please holler, I’m all ears. Cheers, Ski.
After scratching my head till I’m almost bald I finally decided I wasn’t going to waste any more time placing individual leaves on this tree. I kinda liked the little bit of hair I had left, HA!
Honestly, to get a tree looking realistic in this larger scale is taking more talent than I’ve got and I really don’t fancy rushing something or putting out junk just to get this dio finished. A lousy, lazy approach this far into the game could trash everything I’ve worked for up to this point. Sometimes ya just gotta stop, step back a few hundred yards, and think it over. Besides, I was missing my bunker time like a long-lost friend.
Just a few days ago I was wandering around on the Ranchito looking for decent plants I could use to simulate foliage for a tree in this larger scale. I musta done such a good job with the weed eater, I couldn’t find anything acceptable. Then I remember my veggie stash had small dried flower bouquets and other material that might work. Sure enough, I found something. This stuff has been on the top shelf for years and I think I grabbed it just in case, from Hobby Lobby, so this will work. Yall can tell me what you think, but after extensive searching I wasn’t having any luck finding a decent alternative.
With the tree now stripped and most of the tweaky twisty branches removed I can start placing clusters after the painting is finished.
This dried flower bundle is Caspia, or so it says on the wrapper. If I do this right, I just might have some success. I was going to airbrush the bundles and then go back and brown out the stems, but decided that was more work and would leave spots undone. I’d have to go back with a brush anyway, so I just used some thinned out Vallejo Russian Green #096 and a large soft pointed brush. It’s working well so far and the natural dried brown bleeds through giving a good appearance. I’ll be highlighting the tops for depth as well and touching up the stems as needed. Time to get this project moving.
More to follow soon and if you have any suggestions, please holler, I’m all ears. Cheers, Ski.
Briggsy
PlanetFigure Supporter
That's looking bloody good Steve, good old mother nature, or at least a florists shop! One idea with the plant material being dry, bleeding well thinned green oil paint from a loaded brush on to what will be leaves. This should leave the stems brown, mostly but anyway the bark.on a tree is rarely brown, moss lichen and other bits and bobs change the colour quite subtley. That and anyone looking that close needs to back off anyway!
Cheers Simon
Cheers Simon
Hi Ski
Enjoy the countryside modelling ...keep at it , look forward to seeing the forest !
Hope we see more of you @ the Bench
Happy treework
Nap
Enjoy the countryside modelling ...keep at it , look forward to seeing the forest !
Hope we see more of you @ the Bench
Happy treework
Nap
1969
A Fixture
Just seen your latest post now and was keen to see what is happening with the tree project, this looks like a nice workable solution and a lot easier than the single leaf approach which I myself have tried and know it is labour intensive. I will have to have a search for Caspia and get some.
Good to see you back at it again Ski and progress look good to make this another stunning diorama.
Cheers Bro
Steve
Good to see you back at it again Ski and progress look good to make this another stunning diorama.
Cheers Bro
Steve
Steve Ski
A Fixture
Hey Steve, ya the fiber and flake method won't work in this scale, so it's going to be much more work. I think I got it figured out, though, kinda, sorta
Roger that, Simon. I agree, there won't be much touch up except towards the main branch side. The bleed thru is looking ok, and the stems end up with not much green anyway. I will need to add some tones to blend the stems and branches, but not much there either. This will work I'm thinkin.
Thanks, Kevin. Now that I've got this figured out, for the most part, I can Ruck On!
Thanks, Nigel, and sorry for the smaller pics, my bad. It's good to be back in the bunker too, betwixt the bloomin hay and everything else in the summer time, lol. I've got a few more WWII flix to watch too, so the mood is set.
Thanks, Stevo, it's good to be back at it. The intial thought sounded good until I was about 1/3rd of the way through, then it became mundane and no fun. That's when it was time for a reevaluation of the process and get back to the fun part. This should move along much better now. Not sure what kind of shops yall got across the pond for dried flowers, but I'm thinking any time we're in the area of Hobby Lobby I'll be checking the inventory for new possibilities. It's not always easy to find useable veggies outside in the yard.
Thanks for watchin, Gents!
