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In-Box Review
Jungle Bush Review
Three way review - Bamboo, Jungle Bush & Fine Bush
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by: Scott Lodder [ SLODDER ]

introduction

For all diorama builders we need to include plants in our project. Some of us have quick access in our gardens to some of the plants we want to model. Too often we don't, we live in the states and we want to model a PTO or jungle scene. Unlike in the after market world for model kits, there aren't lots of manufacturers or distributors of these types of products. That's where JoeFix Studios and Military Miniatures Warehouse step in. JoeFix Studios makes and packages these products and Military Miniatures Warehouse distributes JoeFix Studios products (and offers some of their own).

Triple Review

This review will cover three different kits in an effort to give you an overall idea of the types of products you can get from Joefix Studios. I will focus on each and give you an impression individually as well as an overall impression.
The products are

1. Bamboo- JF112
Product Description: Stems can be used in groups (clumps) and can be painted in various green and yellow/tan color hues. Affix to base by drilling small holes and use superglue, white glue, or epoxy glue. Extra detail can be created by adding small green leaves to the rings (such as # JF106).
2. Fine Bush - JF111
Product Description: Vegetation suitable for forest or wooded area (also jungle) and suggested use as foreground growth to fill up front vegetation. Can be painted in various green hues by brush or airbrush and glues on with superglue, white glue, or epoxy glue. Works with virtually any scale.
3. Jungle Bush II - JF110
Product Description: Creeper growth vegetation to be used on trunks or as hanging growth on trees. Can be painted in various green hues by brush or airbrush and glues on with superglue, white glue, or epoxy glue. Works with virtually any scale.


These three kits are all compatible kits. They have rightfully been labeled as 'Jungle' plants. The bamboo is self explanatory. The Jungle Bush is long vine oriented types of long leaf plants, it would fit a jungle scene nicely. The Fine Bush kit a thick stalked bushy grass like product. Again I could see it in a jungle scene. I'm not sure I would put all three together in something as small as a vignette, but a decent sized diorama would be suitable.

Bamboo

This is a great product, plain and simple. It is exactly what the name says and it is a great small scale representation of it. The package you receive is a great choice too. It is a firm styrene box, this will help protect it during shipping. There were roughly 50 - 60 stalks about 14cm each included in the box. This bamboo is a very small diameter version, about 1mm. Upon close examination you'll see the classic bands that segment the main stalk.

I took pictures of these stalks with a 1/35th scale figure to give you an idea of how they will look. I think it's a nice size for 1/35th or 54mm. It would be an average type bamboo, something a 1/35th scale figures could wrap his hand around. Another photo comparison is next to a Custom Dioramics Bamboo wall from a Hut kit. The bamboo in the resin kit is more of an industrial type of bamboo. Again, just a comparison of another product out there, different uses for sure. You could use the JoeFix Studios bamboo as the industrial larger size in a 1/48th scale project.

While the JoeFix bamboo is perfect small scale bamboo its one down side is that it is a bit brittle. The stiff styrene box will get it to us safe; once you open it you must be careful.

Fine Bush

Intriguing product, that's my first impression. When you open this one you'll see a thick stalk plant with rings of leaves every 1cm or so. The repetitive nature of this reminds me of the jungle. You could use it elsewhere as a support plant, or remove the leaves and plant them in bunches or individually. You could also use the leaves as accent leaves on bigger plants. Each individual leaf is about 1cm long. The natural color that this came with is really vibrant and will act as a nice natural base color. Add a touch of color with a wash or highlight, these plants will stand up to painting. This one comes in a stiff styrene box also, a nice touch. The individual leaves on this plant need the stiff box for protection. In the bottom of the box there were a number of leaves that had fallen off. They are still usable, so it's not a loss of product. You just have to plan your use a bit better. This box came with six sprigs in the box. Each sprig is pretty long, and varied in length.

You can see in the picture of the German engineer how they look against a 1/35th scale figure and they would work well in 54mm scenes. While this is 'billed' as any scale, I really do think it is suited for large scales, 1/48th scale would probably be the smallest I would go. Even at that scale I would want to use just the individual leaves.

Jungle Bush II

First impressing: This one's big. This one is a long vine like plant with leaves all the way along the main stalk. This reminds me of a fish tank type plant: one main stalk with smaller/shorter stalks coming off it here and there. There are six or seven clumps of vine/bush in a plastic bag. The quantity is definitely nice, there is an ample amount for an average project. There were roughly four/five main clumps of material. Each looping around, with extra offshoots. When I examined these I noticed that they are very soft and supple. This is good in that they will retain their shape longer. The individual leaves had not fallen off as with the Fine Bush. You can see the comparison to an average lichen clump. The lichen looks like - well - lichen. The fine bush looks more natural and lifelike. There are two other product comparisons: one with some clippings from my back yard, another from a Woodland Scenics tall grass product. These photos give you an idea of scale, size and compatibility with other products. I think this can be used with a really wide array of other natural diorama foliage.

My one concern with this product is its overall shape. You can see that one clump has one main stalk with other stalks coming off it. Each stalk is nice, but when you remove a stalk from the main one you will disrupt the overall symmetry of the clump and leave a gap. You'll have to consider this when planning how to use it. It's not a 'drop in and go' type product. Another consideration is if you cut the stalk midway between two 'joints'. There will be not natural tip to the plant and you'll have a crown affect. The top most leave will look like the points of a crown. The easy fix is to trim two or three other individual leaves and glue them in the middle of the crown. Outside this crown fix the individual leaves would be difficult to use as with the Fine Bush, they are just very small.

Overall

From the first impressions to now (pre use) these are really solid products. They are very appropriate, in scale, and well matched. Each has its own unique characteristics which will make you think about how to use them. Once you think about it, it will be easy to put them in a project. Each comes in ample quantities, you may need two packs if your project is large or is a dense jungle. The price shouldn't scare you away either. The bamboo is $21.99 per pack, the Fine Bush is $9.99 per pack, and the Jungle Bush II is $4.99. These prices are within industry standards for the quality and quantity you get. I checked some competitors pricing and this is comparable and within reason. If you really look at the quality and realism that you get, the price is no more than a good PE set. You'll end up using all of each one.


The products are all treated so you can go straight from the box to your diorama. All will accept paint and would react fine to a final sealer (if you wish).

Great thanks to
Military Miniatures Warehouse -www.milminwh.com
for being the US supplier of this Joefix product.
SUMMARY
Highs: Great realism. Nice quantities. Many uses. Great scale fit. Great variety of products.
Lows: Delicate Bamboo. Fine bush will need planning to use. Jungle Bush may need a bit of thought to get 100% use out of it.
Verdict: Definite resource for vegetation products. Check them out for sure.
  BAMBOO:95%
  JUNGLE BUSH:85%
  FINE BUSH:85%
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: Other
  Mfg. ID: Multiple
  Suggested Retail: Varies
  PUBLISHED: Dec 11, 2008
  NATIONALITY: Belgium
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 82.50%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 91.43%

Our Thanks to Joefix Studios!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Scott Lodder (slodder)
FROM: NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

I modeled when I was a teenager. College, family and work stopped me for a while. Then I picked it back up after about 12 years off. My main focus is dioramas. I like the complete artistic method of story telling. Dioramas involve so many aspects of modeling and I enjoy getting involved in the ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Scott Lodder [ SLODDER ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Then do it. Don't use THIS thread though to express (what looks like) a criticism of a commercial company who was good enough to supply the Network with Review samples. This thread is about comments of the Joefix range which Scott Reviewed - not about suggesting alternatives. Scott, whose judgement is WELL proven, felt this was a good, reasonably-priced product. Buy it or not, but please don't undermine the company's efforts... Start another thread by all means. Unfortunately comments like this are similar to walking into a restaurant and promoting his competitor next door...
DEC 11, 2008 - 01:10 AM
EVERYBODY JUST CALM DOWN. Sorry, couldn't resist . What do you expect JIm... they're hobbyists. I never met a modeller that didn't complain or lady, since I used to work in a hobby shop. Even if we'd sell at cost they'd still say it's too expensive. I became normal after getting out.
DEC 11, 2008 - 01:41 AM
All Chas is saying is that yes its a good product but there is a lot of vegitation you can pick up. Yes me and Chas are still at school, we have not got full time jobs to go and buy pigments that have been ready mixed. Claude gets nearly all of his vegitation from a forest near by! Martyn It still looks a really nice product but at $21 I will go for a healthy walk and look.
DEC 11, 2008 - 01:46 AM
Well Jim, it sounds as if you knew exactly what the point of my post was. Why didn't you just tell me in the first place that I shouldn't be suggesting alternatives in threads like this. Technically I am discussing, expanding and ultimately disagreeing with part of what Scott said in his review: Do you expect me just to agree with this statement? I think that there is another distributor, and that's nature. I've chosen to expand by trying to help those who wish to explore this avenue. Sure, if it's wrong to do it here, I'll start another thread next time. Just tell me straight up Jim.
DEC 11, 2008 - 01:47 AM
Yo Boys, Great stuff indeed...I used some Joefix products to and i must say that they are very realistic en well matching for our dio's. Greetz Nico
DEC 11, 2008 - 01:58 AM
One of the interesting things about this product is that it comes from nature. The size and scale (1:35) of bamboo can only be "reproduced" by natural means. I think it's GREAT, and hope it encourages folks to look around their own surroundings. Once you get into modeling, you will never look at a piece of tin foil the same again. Did that sound too Zen? Mark Lopiccola
DEC 11, 2008 - 03:04 AM
good for you jim if you can splash cash but its hard to rais funds if your still in full time education chas has made a valid point and hes not trying to undermime the product in focus here hes jst saying what he prefers and he can get the same result without spending a penny theres really no need to jump all over him just for a comment like that
DEC 11, 2008 - 04:32 AM
Chas made a VERY valid point, but not IMO, in a thread about a commercial product which was provided to THIS Site for Review...
DEC 11, 2008 - 04:45 AM
The bamboo looks really scale (1/35), but the others seem a bit heavy. in Southern Oregon there are three scale looking items ( plus lichen which is so common as not to count) the first grows on oak bark and looks remarkably like evergreen branches. It has very fine texture, which is where most other plants don't quite make it. The second grows on Madrone bark and is long, vine like, and looks good as a climbing plant on walls. The third is a tree leaf from the mimosa, which has 3" long minibranches covered with opposed 3/10" leaflets - very tropical and junglelike. The problem with most of these is that when they dry, they become brittle and/or curl up. So far I have tried the glycerin/acetone/alcohol mix that is supposed to work with lichens and also water based varnish which makes them brittle. i have yet to try Carbowax, which is a water soluble wax that replaces the water in cells - so prevents shrinkage and collapse. I have used it on larger wood products before. Does anybody have any favorite mixes that work?
DEC 23, 2008 - 06:59 PM
   
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