I've just started an 009 layout having returned to the hobby I let fall by the wayside in 1971 (!) and I need some advice on ready-made trees. Eventually I want to make my own, but to get my first layout completed, I've decided on ready-made.
Can anyone recommend (or advise me to avoid) any brands/models? I'm modelling UK so native species are what I need.
Thanks in anticipation. I'm taking photos as I progress and I'll post in due course.
Ken Crawley
Quote from: binleywoods on July 11, 2009, 20:47
I've just started an 009 layout having returned to the hobby I let fall by the wayside in 1971 (!) and I need some advice on ready-made trees. Eventually I want to make my own, but to get my first layout completed, I've decided on ready-made.
Can anyone recommend (or advise me to avoid) any brands/models? I'm modelling UK so native species are what I need.
I've no direct experience of their 'normal' trees but I purchased some really superb palm trees from
Sist trees (http://themodeltreeshop.co.uk/index.html).
They do appear to produce a big range of sizes and types of tree. The choice would probably depend on whether you want on or two specimen trees or a larger number of more basic ones to produce a wood.
Trees could be one of those "personal things" and that what look good in one situation and in one modellers hands but not so much so in another's. It may pay to see the actual tree and not just a photo on the web or magazine. If there are some exhibitions with good trade support in your area coming up then that could be a good way to buy them.
However, Conrad UK[ url]http://www1.uk.conrad.com[/url] sell Noch trees and they both have a good reputatation as far as I know. I am tempted by their birches, but at 80 mm they are a little small for speciments and look too well-fed for moorland.
Thanks to both of you. I'm going to try to get to a couple of decent exhibitions and a localish model shop when I'm off work in the next few weeks.
I must admit that I had found Noch since my original post and there are some suitable trees there, judging by one website I found, and Faller seem to be another possible option.
I've just had a quick look at the Model Tree Shop website too. I'll study it in more depth tomorrow.
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to give this information.
Hi
Take a look at
http://www.009.cd2.com/tree_making.htm (http://www.009.cd2.com/tree_making.htm)
and
http://www.009.cd2.com/tree_info.htm (http://www.009.cd2.com/tree_info.htm)
regards
JdF
Thank you very much for this. I'm not sure that my skills are up to making trees yet, but I'll look through these pages in depth over the next month or so. Given the advice about looking at trees in winter for the shape of the armature, it's very timely with autumn a couple of months away. I've 'bookmarked' both pages.
Ken Crawley
For off-the-shelf trees, as with scatters, I think it's important to be able to see what you are buying. If you have access to Faller, some of their trees are very good, others are adequate. I've also used Gaugemaster beech trees - wasn't at all convinced before I put them on the layout. Hornby ('Skale') seem to be good too, but a bit pricier than I was expecting.
For British trees, don't discount all of the foreign-named (particularly, American) varieties you see, sometimes we know them by a different name - I find wikipedia fairly reliable for searching for tree names (and if the names are in German, search de.wikipedia then look for an English translation in the sidebar).
ĸen
for conifers, I noted on JdF's excellent site, the following link:
http://www.canyoncreekscenics.com/
they look excellent - some are winging their way to me as we speak.
Colin
I really like the Auhagen (think thats how you spell it) trees available from International models. They have some generic trees made from Sea Moss and the usual scenic foam and they also do a range of excellent hand made trees. Brilliant other scenic stuff too. Ivy and tufts being 2 of my favourites.
Cheers
John
indeed, I'm loving the new two colour tufts - classy!
I've got enough free conifers to last me a lifetime! For many years my father had an artificial Christmas tree with brown plastic branches on to which were attached clusters of green 'needles' each having the shape of a conifer. Over the years some of these clusters detached themselves (honest!) (rather like a real tree!). It didn't take me long to realise that with the trunks painted brown I could use them as 4m scale conifers, so when my father disposed of the tree a few years ago, I saved a quantity, and later 'liberated' a similar tree from a skip for the same purpose. They have been used on both my 'Rhiwfron' and 'Aberfrrwd' modules, the latter containing a low-relief forest of over 70 trees that was completed in an evening, with no cost other than paint and glue.
Richard
Quote from: david788 on July 13, 2009, 09:03
I've no direct experience of their 'normal' trees but I purchased some really superb palm trees from
Sist trees (http://themodeltreeshop.co.uk/index.html).
They do appear to produce a big range of sizes and types of tree. The choice would probably depend on whether you want on or two specimen trees or a larger number of more basic ones to produce a wood.
I've used their normal trees on Dunbracken (pics in the layouts section of this forum). They are good for the money, i've just ordered some Scots Pines from them. Will post some pics on the layout thread once they arrive and have been planted.
Tom.
"Over the years some of these clusters detached themselves (honest!) (rather like a real tree!)
Yeh.......right! ;)