i have seen many people using tree roots for trees on their dioramas and when i went into my garden to try and dig some up, all i could find were little spindley things that look nothing like tree . so i wondered where/what trees would be the best for finding "trees"?
thanks stan

Hey Stan, if you live by a forrest, take a walk and keep your eyes open for saplings. I usualy look for them about 6 to 18 inchs tall. Hard wood ones seem to be the best for me. I take a small hand rake to loosen up the soil around it and slowly pull out so the tenderals stay on. Take your collection home and rinse off, then toss in the microwave for about 30 seconds. That will kill off any critters and eggs/larva that are in or on them. You don't want them taking over your house. I let them sit for a few weeks to firm up, dry out. You can space out your branchs before drying to get them where you want so they will dry in the position you want. Add putty bark if you need to and paint up. To fill with leaves, add some furnace filter in the branchs after spraying the color you need to. Then add your leaves. There are many paper leaves,( types and colors) and catkin seeds that you can use for them. Some modelers use the old crushed spice method but I like the indivedual leaves because they look like leaves. If you go that way, be prepared to spend a lot of time putting leaves on, but the results are well worth the effort. WARNING! Don't let the wife see you microwaving tree roots, unless she agrees, they don't take kindly on our using the kitchen equipment .for our hobby.

raspberry roots!! There is nothing like it!!!
Dig them out generously and very carefully, as they are very delicately ramified towrds the outside.
When they come out, they may be a little gummy, but once dry..they are just perfect!!
(I think Claude will agree)

Cheers

Romain

A bit late in the year for them but Sunflower roots are great

thanks for all the help guys, i'll be sure to have another look

Romain

I never tried that one, but i really prefer the raspberry's in this case and leave the plant alone.

There was a nice storm going over Europe this Friday (called Joachim )
and this is the best moment to go root hunting as some trees may have fallen over.
I keep my eyes always open for roots, have no fix rules any more regarding the species of the tree as i found beautiful roots already under trees of one specie and not under other equal ones. It often depends on the soil they are standing on.
Keep in mind that you need a lot of roots to be able to make a good selection.
I use up probably a cubic meter of (already preselected) roots to make one good tree. The pieces of root you discard for one tree may be good for another one , so don't throw away anything whoo is fine enough to be of potential use.
It may not be good enough for a tree, but you may use it for ivy support for example.

Look at this picture from my cellar taken during a tree building

Look on the floor. There is more behind the tripod!

Here is during the build of the sweeping willow

That gives you some impression about the work involved.

This was not a superb one, but not bad and good enough for a few roots (notice he very fine roots still half in the earth)


I think root hunting is an essential part of the hobby for all diorama maker. (idem for moss and fern)

Claude

Very good point Claude. When a construction company clears land to build, the tree you show is a great way to find good roots. When they did that here for the hospital extension I went root hunting. Problem is that many of the small tenderals are gone, but you still have the basic part for a good tree. My back porch has several hangers with roots drying upside down to keep basic shape. The wife hates it of course, but I tell her I could be at the bar instead. That usually ends the comlaining.

thanks for the help claude, i'll be looking for some after friday seems like a lot of work. do you glue several roots together? and what would you use to do this?
stan

Of course Stan, pin and glue as much together as needed (see the second picture, these are already lots of roots pinned together)

My willow has over 100 individual pieces.

Again, insert a small pin as often as possible (you need of course 0.2 mm drills and wire). Superglue it then. It stays slightly bendable afterwards because of the wire and that is good.
If the root is to small, try to drill a hole in the bigger one and stick it in. Superglue also, wood glue takes to long here to dry and hold it in place.

All visible joints need to be covered with either putty, clay or whatever works for you. (small joints can be filled by applying a bit of wood glue around ans sprinkling fine earth or sand over it.

One of my Pet Peeve's is looking at trees in scale and immediately recognizing it as a former root. Better no tree at all then. IMO

I recognize also of course that not everyone has access to a forest every weekend.

Claude

thanks so much for the help claude

I make mine out of wire ... here is an excellent tutorial (Part 1 of 6)
http://youtu.be/NalhUuQWwG8

thanks for the tip dave