Tree & Shrub Tutorial

By Animek Models

First, I've started creating the forms of the trees, here I've done 2 kind of cedars trees, a "menhir form" and some "ball form", a piece of balsa wood of 3/8 x 3/8 was use to achieve those forms, all turned on a mini lathe, and then sanded briefly.

menhir

 

Then all the parts were cut with a razor blade, and each bottom and top of each pieces were sanded to finish the forms.

menhir2

Each balsa form was inserted with a glued wire, so they could be hold for the next steps, and stick into the layout.

menhir3

I applied a good coat of paint, mostly the same color than what the final tree will look.

menhir4

Then with the acrylic paint still wet (very important), I apply the tainted saw dust with a plastic spoon. And shake off the excess.

menhir5

For smaller shrubs or when you don't have time to turn a balsa piece, just use the tiny Styrofoam balls, they can be detach easily without breaking if you take your time.

menhir6

For the brown shrubs, I've mix some green, un-dye MDF and a little quantities of orange foam, the woodland scenic stuff or any equivalent, it's just that I did not have any orange powder done in my inventory.

menhir7 menhir8

 

For the brown shrubs, I've mix some green, un-dye MDF and a little quantities of orange foam, the woodland scenic stuff or any equivalent, it's just that I did not have any orange powder done in my inventory.

 

menhir9 menhir10

 

There you have it, all your "Field of Dreams" Shrubs, just like in the real photo.

 

menhir11

 

The trees were done with the same kind of MDF stain dust; I vary the tone of the green to have different level of color.

 

menhir12

For the back tree, like oak or apple tree, I've experimented with what seem to me the best mixture to work with, it hides the electric wires. I mix 4 ingredients (1. Paris plaster, 2. Water, 3.wite glue, and 4. Acrylic paint, then I apply this mud with a brush on the tree trucks, it hardens in a few hours, and make a great looking bark, I just need to paint a little over to simulate a better looking tree.

menhir13

 

Mixture

 

 

Courtesy of Benoit Jean of Animek Models.     logo petit2