Hi Venelin,

the tree is coming along nicely! I just think it might benefit from "foliage connections" between the branches, meaning the foliage canopy should be more homogeneous. I hope I make any sense at all!!?

It's just that I had a look at pictures of apple trees in the web....and ....

I'd better shup up and get me coat!!

Cheers

Romain

Don't worry Venelin,Romain only says stuff like this to the people he likes! LOL
J

Hi Venelin,
impressive cat and your figures are absolutely convincing. Congrats for that. The tree is a good start. Your base with the root looks realistic. You may like to tweak your technique for the foilage by adding some insulation fibers (i. e. from an old winter coat) to where you want to have the foilage, spray sprayglue over it and sprinkle it with railroad modelling foilage. Here http://armorama.com/forums/214510&ord=&page=1 you can see a tree constructed in that manner including the mistake to skip the rarefying step. With this you might achieve an even more homogenous appearance of the tree you already started.
Hope it helps
Michael

Michael just beat me to it. Try bushing out your foliage more with clumps of smaller roots, or Super Tree material, rather than just sticking foliage to the main branches.

Romain,Jerry, constructive comments are always appreciated

Michael, thanks for the tips!

I know that the first try with the foliage wasn't very convincing (Romain is right), so I've changed the approach . Will put the leaves one by one, it will be time consuming but I think will turn out better.
Left side is almost done, more realistic I guess





Cheers!

Small progress, step by step





Cheers!

Oh wow Venelin....I don't know what to say!! Individual leaves are that much work!!!

You are right in so far as the result is already far superior to the previous version.

However, should you ever consider using some material to support the bulk of the canopy, just use coarse steel wool! Coarse for normal trees, fine wool for drooping branches/twigs like birch o.s.

Cheers

Romain

Thanks, Romain, for the hint!

But I think the steel wool/sprinkle method will be not very pleasing for larger scales (like 1/35). I've looked at different articles and yes, it's OK for 1/87, 1/72 etc.
Nonetheless, I will proceed with my method and will see how will look in the end

Regards!

Hi Romain,
the sprinkle method can lead to extremly convincing results. My suggestion is to consider buying Lazlo Adobe´s book: Let´s build a diorama. Volume 2 covers vegetation including trees.
Try it!
Michael

More weathering on the Tiger (hull, tracks, wheels) with AK earth and dust effects and pigments:











Cheers!

Great job on the Tiger and crew Venelin. Both look great.

Nice looking work on the beastie with her crew on board.
J

I have his book!! As many others on building all kinds of things!
Many people are highly talented and when they share their knowledge, you should grab whatever you can!!

Cheers

Romain

Superb weathering on the cat Venelin!! That looks real good!!

Cheers

Romain

Thanks!

When I have a chance, will take a look of that book

Regards!

Dear Venelin,
Nice dio you build! I like it very much.
One minor thing: since the tanks in the Normandy were used very intensively, their track teeth and steel road wheels would have been polished bright and shiny. Steel on steel, you know! But........ you are not the only one who misses this!

Looking forward to seen more.

Enjoy the weekend.

Hi, Paul!

No, I didn't forget the contact surfaces . But after the effects in some places the polished effect is gone, I will retouch, after all weathering is finished

Thanks!

By the way, I will use this new MG 34 from Eduard, when I have it. Long time awaited for such thing, just in time and thanks Edi



Cheers!

Apples arrived, but...

They don't look like in the advertising image. Color is different, but that is not the biggest problem. The apples are round in reality, but these are something like squeezed from the sides. I've made some test on the tree

I'm hesitating to recommend them, and I will try to make some apples by myself, then will decide which to use...









Cheers!

Hi Venelin.

that's the reason I avoid fruit trees! It seldom pays off to include them!

I am aware that apples are an important item in Normandy, but believe me, there is more "non-apple" vegetation!!

I don't think these "apples"! are a problem! They look good enough to me! After all, they are only 1 element in the dio. Given the work involved, I would not want my spectators to concentrate on apples, but rather on the cat, the figs and the story behind the lot!

Cheers

Romain

Thanks, Romain

The reason for including apple tree is the more pleasing to the eye effect, and I intend to make some farm structure-shed or similar. Don't worry I will scratch the apples, that's the thing I should have did in first place
I will find another usage of this things, rotten fruits, maybe

Cheers!

Hi,
I've decided to make the apples by myself . All you need is two-part epoxy putty and a toothpick. They're not painted yet, but are looking like yellow apples .
Now I think they are more convincing





Cheers!

Hi Venelin,

that's what I call apples!! I like them a bunch!!! Colour is absolutely perfect too!!

Well done Sir!!

Cheers

Romain

Thanks, Romain!

They're not painted yet, that color is from the putty, but still look nice . Maybe I will paint them red

Cheers!

Apples do come in a lot of sizes and some have odd shapes. I suppose you could use either set here. The ones you made seem a tad too big maybe. The tremendous kit has them the better size but they do look "knarly".
I do like the foliage you ended up with on the tree as it does have an apple tree look to it. Not perfect but pretty close. Trees are really hard to make.
J