OK in my DIO I need to cover the ground in a wooded area and need some what reallistic leaves. I have pleanty of branches dead fall but the leaves and pine needles are killing me. I got a nice stream in there and my nice muddy tank trail. but the ground work I am looking for is just like any of your standard military post training area's. This is 1/35th. do not want to use photo etched stuff. I thought I had seen some vinyl cut oak and maple leaves in a bag somewhere but can not remember where. So I am asking the experts which is all of you for any ideas.

Try silver birtch seads - they look alot like leaves!

Oregano is quite nice too!
Andreas

You can try the ever popular spice route - a bit of parsley ground up. This will fade over time if its not sealed so be careful.
You can also try the local craft store for some dried flowers, some of these crush to look like leaves.

Hudson Allen has a bag of the birtch seeds to be used as leaves/forrest liter. If you want cheap go the spice route, parsley flakes are widley available in a large bottle for @ $4's It would last you a good long time.

Paul

Check out this Busche ( good luck)

http://dioramas.armorama.com//features/642

If the leaves are turning and falling in your area, grab some and run them through a spice grinder. Pick out the bigger pieces and you are in business.

Shaun

Hello there birch tree catkins are great the easiest way to get them is with Hudson and Allen forest litter. Also try making the pine needles using woodland scenics Field grasses cut very short and sprinkled around the base of the pine trees. Here are some examples. the first shows the Hudson and Allen forest litter

this second one is an article I did that shows and explains how I made the pine needles
http://dioramas.armorama.com//features/374
Hope it helps!! Cheers Kevin

OK what is Hudson Allen and where do you get it? the pic looks just what i am going for.

Check out the Groundwork supplies at Military Miniatures Warehouse.

yeah... i agree with the birch bits... i had a bunch of them on my deck before the snow and thought .. hey!!!!! these will come in handy! check your yard for little seed pods that might have papery husks or anything else you can snip up with scissors to resemble leaves

might want to try this http://worlwar-ii.redirectme.net:1150/dio-master.htm

Edit: forgot the working link, sorry

Francois

hello, i used a lot of leafs on severall of my diorama's
they came from "joefix- studio" they have a hole range of differt colours laeves. I buy them from Gino Poppe
a nice guy from Belgium.

To contact him: [email protected]



greetings, feelpanzer.

Hey guys i was able to harvest a whole bunch of these leaves and im going to put them in my dio, but how do you simulate the way that they settle. Its hard to simulate "weight" in modelling because things like static grass will hold leaves off the surface of the grass when leaves usually settle into grass through rain and decomposition. What would be a good way to make this realistic?
Ian

try to glue them with super glue , separatly and put some pressure for 3 or 4 seconds and youwill see
it works.

feelpanzer

dont forget that elmer's dries clear, too. you might want to brush a bit on the leaf and put it into place that way? i suppose it depends how much you will be applying. another idea would be to put a little glue/water mix in a spray bottle and then squirt it on the dio- then sprinkle leaves .

hummm... thats funny that was going to be my next question, but i got beat to it. ? or is this just one of those take a couple weeks and put each and every one on? i guess it will be fall in my dio !!!!

Ola Guys

Of course you can buy them from Hudson and Allen or from Woodland scenics or from Every one else that is selling these things but in my opinion it is way too expensive for the amount you get.
Check out this link
http://sdkfz7.free.fr/manufacturing.htm
This shows you what to do to get these leaves for free.
Now I`m in the lucky position that my Neighbour owns a tree like this and every time I step outside to smoke I do a couple of raids on the tree catching as much of these catkins as possible.
My harvesting season is over and I have a bag that Hudson Scenics or Woodland Allen would ask like 100 Dollar for. Getting your forest litter for free.
I can imagine though that when you are living in the Sahara or any other place where you don`t have Silver Birches you are happy companies are selling this stuff.
If you are able to get the stuff from nature you definately should do it Makes the hobby more fun