Over the past couple of weeks I've been experimenting with different methods of tree construction. I've avoided large trees because they would have dominated what is a rather small layout so I've concentrated on smaller, simpler ones which I feel blend more easily into scene and help maintain the layouts spacious feel.
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| Large specimens like this built from C & L Finescale plastic armatures and Seamoss were out of the question but the idea based on an article which appeared in the 'Railway Modeller' by Paul Marshall- Potter worked well. This view of the goods yard on the original version of Penhydd was always amongst my favourites. |
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| I'm not really convinced with Seamoss when its used on its own but when grouped together to produce a copse it can work very well. As an experiment I played around with a few C & L plastic stumps and branches which were lying around in my scrap box, the parts were trimmed back and drilled so that pieces of Seamoss could be glued in place in an attempt to produce some small to medium sized trees. |
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| Once the armatures and Seamoss branches had been painted and left to dry C & L foliage was applied using spray mount as an adhesive. The idea was to create the sort of tree that you hardly give a second glance to when you are out and about and yet crop up everywhere. Trees to me are open and you can see daylight through the foliage unless they are packed closely together so I was at pains to create a light, see through look. The trunks are not important for these examples are simply for trial purposes and will be hidden from view by the river bank as we will see later. Should they look at home on the layout then they can easily be refined and pressed into use. |
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| Here we have the right hand tree from the selection above, its been placed to block the arch of the scenic exit in the backscene and from this angle I think it works well. Rather than having a dense canopy its open and you can see daylight through it. The tree is in a rather exposed position and some of its branches have been bent due to the gale force winds which sweep across the valley, well that's my excuse but its not uncommon to come across such examples which are bent almost double in areas that are exposed to severe weather. |
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| A second tree sits between and slightly behind the two buildings on the riverbank, in truth it needs to be just a little taller but I'm wary of it casting a shadow onto the backscene, a little more experimentation is called for here so I can judge exactly what I can get away with. On the whole I'm rather pleased with the basic composition of this scene, especially the view of the post van as it heads towards the level crossing. I'm now more convinced than ever that an old grey Fergie tractor would look lovely parked on the cobbles with perhaps someone tinkering with it. |
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| An unusual view of the river and its bridges which also shows the see through tree foliage to good effect. I expect to plant another tree on the far river bank but the near one will just feature some bushes and gorse |
Finally I couldn't resist a black and white photo of a single car DMU approaching Llangunllo, steam now but a memory and the lines future is hanging in balance.
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| Its about time the old Fordson post office mail van was replaced with a 'Moggy Minor' I reckon the handbrake cable must have snapped as it started to roll backwards as I pressed the shutter! |