Hello all here are some pics of the trees ive been working on for my diorama. These will be pretty much bare trees in the dio with some leaves clingling on as it is set in autumn. What i used were tree roots i found at a nearby creek and from there were altered and glued together with CA. Then i found some more finer roots for finer branches and glued those on. Each tree has around 40-50 extra roots for finer foliage. For the bigger tree i have to sculpt a bigger trunk to accomodate the extra branches i glued on. Tell me what ya'll think!











With these two trees i tried to create a dreary mood to the landscape, showing haggard windswept and almost spooky looking armatures. These will hang over the creek and i think will make that corner of the diorama have a stronger composition. I also tried to create the impression that these trees are growing together in terms of foliage and are getting their root base eroded by the banks of the creek. Later when i do the groundwork i will try to simulate roots dangling out the side of the ditch. Happy Modelling all!
Ian

Looking great mate.
The tree is really cool, i like it alot.
Keep us posted.
Cheers

Like interesting and lifelike. They are spooky.


Should be a really unique dio. when your finished.

Good Luck
N E O

Hi Ian,
Your trees look very very realistic. I am looking forward to watching your progress with this dio.

Great! Keep going!

Good job, I've used the roots as trees and they work great!
Thanks for the post.

Dave

Your composition is well thought over and the trees fit in your ideas like a glove.

I noticed that you used cardboard as your base. Are you going to add some wood as diorama base, or are you going to build straight on the cardboard itself ?

I think at's a possibility that the cardboard will bend when you do the groundword, making cracks in the surface. Don't know whether or not this is a real risk to take into account, but it's definately something to think about.

The trees are very nice. You've done a good job at combining a number of different tree elements to get a good end product.

I agree, the composition and layout are strongly done. The flow and visual affect is well thought through and nicely achieved. Well done.

Ian, excellent work so far. I agree you are capturing the look you are going for. I have only one concern in that you are building on cardboard. You need to get that on a wood base as soon as possible to keep it from warping, especially if you are planning on a creek. We can talk more in messenger. Cheers Kevin

Looks great so far, keep us posted.

Nice trees! Very good idea! It'll work like wonder! Keep us posted!
Cheers and happy modelling!
Prato

Ian -

Another fine effort. The trees most definitely contribute to the dreary feeling. You done an excellent job portraying this. The tree has kind of a "legend of Sleepy Hollow" feel to it. I was thinking maybe a small damaged tree or bushes that the Marder has run over or into? Very anxious to see the progress on this so please keep us up to date.

Blade48mrd

Your trees look great mate , I have tried this before and it looks good.
I think that if you are going for that creepy feel, would it be possible for one of the trees to have branches hanging in the water? And maybe have debris caught up in the branches in the water. I don't know why but I always find this quite dramatic in a sinister way for some reason.
Good luck with the rest of your build.
Cheers
Robbo

Thank you all for the comments i appreciate it. I might add a branch that was broken off as the marder plowed thru the tree, but seeing that the creek is sorta a shallow dry one, there will be alot of leaves clogged between rocks etc. Thanks for the comments and keep em comin.
Ian

Good looking trees Ian. Don't you just love mother nature.

nice lookin' tree man!
One of the best tree work i've seen.
I'd love to see your groundwork

Q

OMG Ian! That's brilliant! Is this what you were telling me about on Friday?

Looking forward to the next update.

Rudi

Way to go Ian! Nothing man-made can produce the fineness of those branches... (Except YOU making them of course;)
A thought would be, (in summing up the sombre mood) to maybe have a raven or crow arched over the Marder on a tree-bough... Nevermore!

Very realistic trees Ian. Nature can be imitated with nature and here is the exemple.