hi guys..
anyone know how to make model tree?or place to buy?

Trees like most dio materials depend a lot on scale. The next is whether its tropical or temperate trees.

If you are talking about 1/35th you can either make them from materials from the greatest dio store in the world...Mother Nature. If you have the time then its the best & cheapest source. Otherwise they are a few reasonably good suppliers of especially temperate vegetation but be warned they are often not cheap. 1/72nd trees are usually easier. You can check out the model Railroad supply shops.

The lichen moss sold at Railroad supply stores make a good framework for trees if you stick them over wire or a natural twig. Spray some PVA glue and sprinkle some dried, tea leaves or crushed oregano and you have an instant tree. Thin wire are often use to make trees as well. Here are a few links to help you out:

Making small scale trees
Making trees using sea foam which is not available locally
Making trees
General description of vegetation
Jungle Vegetation Part 2
Shop to buy Temperate trees

Verlinden Production offer a few model trees.... if you are willing to pay for it. Twin small tree set will cost you about RM 50+, single tall tree will cost you about the same. Palm tree set come with a resin trunk and PE leaves, cost you around Rm 40+.

where can i find this greatest dio store in the internet ,the mother nature?any website?

I've been doing some tree research couple of months back. If you want to buy it in 1/35~1/48 scale, it'll cost you alot. Each would be more than USD 10, for 8" or above tall trees.

The mother nature means, you can use twigs, roots of real plant from your garden.

So... the best way is make your own. There are alot of techniques to make trees... depends on what kind of trees you want. Try to shop some railway model shops for materials. Railway model shops do sell model trees, but they are in very small scale, mostlt about 2" small. Suitable for 1/72 ~ 1/87.

i believe Beachbum is refering to the "environment around us" when he said "mother nature".. its not a store name specifically... :)

unless i also misinterpret it laa.. :D

kuman

Thugs_or_die, I think the Beachbum is saying that mother nature (as in the real mother nature) is the best source for diorama materials. It is free and available anywhere provided that you have the time to go look for it.

If you look at his diorama (and a few other modelers) he uses materials from all around the garden for dioramas from mosses to small plants and even roots. This is the cheapest source of diorama that you can get.

Other than that, if you think that it is a hassle to go through bushes, drains and gardens to look for suitable diorama materials, you can always buy the ready made ones from Verlinden or others but prepare to pay for it lah (and it is not cheap).

Hope this clears everything.

Sorry Thugs or die I should have probably been more specific. When I meant Mother Nature, I meant the real mother nature or nature. Just go around playgrounds or parks to look for natural twigs for the trunks of your trees and there are certain plants which you can preserve by drying or dipping in glycerin. If you check one of my links I put up, "Jungle Vegetation Part 2" you will see what I meant. Alternatively do check out local dried flower or florist shops.

Otherwise as I mentioned and also Flylice80, if you buy them online or at hobby shops they're going to be very expensive.

Good luck.

thanks for clearing it out guys..i thought its a real store.i laugh at my self..

If you build dioramas frequently, you'll actually get into the habit of collecting small tree branches, twigs, roots when you are walking.

When my wife goes shopping and I have to follow, I usually will end up in hardware stores looking for potential diorama worthy materials. Or else, you'll find me in bookstores... looking at military books and any books that have scenery photos.... to study natural trees, weathering effect on buildings, etc.

If there are enough people interested, I can get a friend to custom make some of the trees which you can see here in my build log.
I cannot confirm the price yet as it depends on numbers but do not foresee them any more than RM20 each depending on size.

Who wanna?

No thanks now Loo.... I'm trying to make it myself

;) there's 1 Art Shop behind Central Market sell miniature tree..not sure what scale..may be 1/72

Loo,

Thats a nice one! if is in 1/100 scale or close to that, I will need a few for my Gundams. :P But Rm20 each will a bit expensive. :o

Can your friend custom make 1/100 trees for forest or jungle and 1/35 coconut trees?

I know a few shop overseas that bring in small trees in HK, if its available handy and easily, might as well gete it locally. :D

If you are looking for 1/100 trees, go to modeltrain shops. There are a few around. I remember got 1 in Plaza Hartamas, 1 in BSC. Last time there was 1 in 1U, but i think closedown/shifted ady.

1/35 coconut tree, you can go to the shop in Atria. I bought a few of VP's online for him. VP's coconut tree is suitable for 1/35 scale. Trunk is Resin and leaf is PE parts.

I made a scan of the VP's PE parts into my computer, looking for the right material to print it out and try to make my own. The resin trunk can be done using wire/cable and wrap with masking tape and soaked tissue.... That's my idea. I need time to put it into experiment.

If I can make it, I'll sell to you cheap cheap ok?

Actually Flylice the quickest way to go about making the trunk is to just use a toothpick or a sate stick. Wind a relatively thick cotton thread up and down it. Stick several layers of tissue soaked down in PVA. Works for bananas too.

Coconuts & bananas

Thanks Uncle Bummy,

I got the resin cast material if you want, may be we can sit down and see how is this work? :D Actually those 1/35 coconut tree and trunk are for my Tarawa dio. :P

Bum...

That's a good idea as well.

The thing is, often time tall coconut tree would bend alittle bit on the trunk. Making it too straight would end up unrealistic... That's why I'm thinking of using electrical cable.... can bend alittle bit. ^_^

Earlier post.... somewhere, I mentioned I got a friend and my contractors who works on electical & wiring works. They do industrial scale so they have a wide range of stuffs from small wires up to amoured cables. I told them to collect all their scraps for me.

The other day, a friend just drop me a nice cable.



This cable is about 2 1/2' long, and I hold it close to a cigarette for sense of scale. The cable wraps 4 smaller cable and each of those smaller cables are about the size of a cigarette... just nice for coconut tree in 1/35 scale. I have lots more of different kind, but I keep this one in my car (for security use.... hehehe), so I can take picture of this only right now.