Anyone got any idea how to model ivy etc, like you see growing on old walls?
The traditional method is to use scatter materials.
Laser cut and etched plant leaves exist for larger scales:
http://www.realityinscale.com/epages/61537336.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61537336/Categories/ModelScene/%22Laser%20cut%20paper%20Leaves%20%26%20Plants%22
(http://www.realityinscale.com/epages/61537336.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61537336/Categories/ModelScene/%22Laser%20cut%20paper%20Leaves%20%26%20Plants%22)
Bear in mind that ivy leaves are about 40 mm across, i.e. 0.5 mm in OO, so for anything other than the biggest leaved creepers individual leaves will be grossly overscale.
Edit: the first example in the link might be appropriate for Isle of Stoner if it was in 4 mm scale. ;)
I've used something from Woodland Scenics to reprisent plants climbing up a wall. I can't recall exactly what they call it but the product consists of a loose fiber 'net' and bits of foam all dyed the same colour (might be their foliage net) that one teases out over the wall. It might also be useful to use a dash of a different colour foam to give some variation to the colour of the leaves.
Often with scenic work in 4 mm scale it is better to try to give the impression of something like ivy rather than trying to recreate and exact plant 76 times smaller than a full size one. From memory I can't recall seeing ivy leaves bigger than about 2" across. As Graeme said that's about 0.5 mm for 009 and I can imagine that sticking them (and all the smaller ones of various sizes as ivy is not a uniform plant) on to some wire of the correct diameter for the fine stems in the right orientation could get a bit tiresome. In fact it would probably drive me around the bend*!
(*ok, who said 'further round, surely?")
I have in the past, simulated ivy and or other creeping wall plants on buildings, by gluing sewing cotton to the buildings walls to represent the growing vine, and then using the traditional green scatter material along the route of the cotton to represent the greenery for ivy, plus occasional blobs of colour if representing roses or clematis.
The blobs of colour can be produced by using one of the multi punch hole punches, selecting a suitable punch size and punching through coloured paper, sweet wrappers etc. pushing the punched pieces out of the punch tool with a suitably sized piece of wire, onto a sheet of white A4 copying paper, and agitating the collecting paper to separate the punching's.
To place the flowers onto the vine stem, pick them up by stabbing each one with a needle, and placing them on the pre glued cotton vine on the building wall.
Or, if that is too tedious, use a tube of acrylic artists paint, of the appropriate colour, and with the top removed, squeeze out a little of the colour to the open end, and pick up a little blob of the colour on the tip of a small brush, and place it along the vine cotton to simulate the flower head.
I hope this is of interest.
BrianT.
Edit: the first example in the link might be appropriate for Isle of Stoner if it was in 4 mm scale. ;)
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The famous 'Stoner white, herb infused cheese' does indeed use a similar plant for its 'flavouring' but the plnats seen growing in the green houses of the nursery at Three bridges are from the appropriately titled Busch range.
http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=BU1250&gclid=CNuwg-aI5b4CFWgTwwodBaQAMQ
On the subject of creepers, the best laser cut creepers I've found are the Noch ones.
http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=N14132&r=1
Very expensive for the amount you get but they do actually look realistic. I've also used the Silfour ivy but the leaves are a bit too big in reality but you do get a lot more for your money. I got it from International models.
John W
The Noch virginia creepers look like they might make very nice vines for a more bacchanalian orgy!
Ivy, when it gets going gives a very dense covering except perhaps for bare stems near the ground on old plants and new shoots at the other extremities.
Plenty of inspiration to be found through a Google Image search:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ivy+wall&safe=off&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=isqRU6TUCqnK0AW0j4GYDg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=979 (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ivy+wall&safe=off&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=isqRU6TUCqnK0AW0j4GYDg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=979)
Quote from: JulienW on May 26, 2014, 14:30
(*ok, who said 'further round, surely?")
We all did, Julien, Just that we wouldn't have admitted it... ;D
A thin line of your preferred glue applied with a pin direct to the wall surface. Then apply preferred scatter.
Thin wire or thread at ground level only, or at places where creeper overlays itself for added texture.
Creepers come in a variety of colours, not just green. Try adding lines of brown or red for effect.
Practise on scrap material to hone your techniques before attacking your grounded coach or abandoned loco. :-)