The 'Indestructible tree' vs2

[Badder]

As there is no forum dedicated to 'Vegetation' or other sub-components for dioramas, I thought I'd post this finished tree here. Building this tree has been an epic journey to say the least and I think it deserves it's own little place outside of a diorama WIP. Unless admin think otherwise, in which case feel free to delete it. lol.

But I'm calling this tree DONE. (Knowing that it's NOT done. It will get stuff added to it in the future, when it's time to fit it to the base)

 

 

Anyone who has been following my 'Ever Evolvin' Diorama' WIP and indeed my 'Pit Stop' WIP, will know just how much time and effort I've put into trying to build as realistic a tree as I can, whilst ALSO ensuring it is highly resistant to such things as being vacuum-cleaned, or blasted with air to clear it of dust, cobweb, and arboreal cats. This tree is just that. I've also dropped it many times, by accident, and have combed the foliage, bent branches back and forth, up and down, side to side, opening or closing up the canopy in order to achieve the 'best look' with no damage done, whatsoever.

The tree will basically out-live me.

 

The 'twigs/foliage are made from, believe it or not, around 900m of 6lb breaking-strain nylon monofilament fishing line (Maxima brand) It's true that your intestines are 26km long but folded into your abdomen very compactly lol, The tree's branches are made from a wire-cored garden twine which has some kind straw-like plant/fibre coating and are connected to the armature of the tree, the trunk and boughs of which consist of a Y-shaped cutting from a hedgerow (after the farmer had trimmed his bush (Oooh er) with a tractor-mounted chainsaw (Ouch) Additional lengths of the twine were then used to create the gnarly old bark on the trunk and lower boughs.

The colours used where Olive Green, Red Earth, Sepia and Black, all Daler Rowney 'FW' acrylic inks. An amount of Olive Green Japanese 'Grit Paint' was also used to impart some texture to the fishing line to hint at the conifer's 'needles'

Lashings of Thin, Medium and Thick CA glue were used as were gloss and matt varnishes.

I've included a 1/35th figure to show the scale, but the tree stands about 13inches tall.

 

Anyone wanting to know the method of construction and materials used, will find details in my 'Ever Evolvin' Dio WIP in the Diorama's forum, where the method itself evolves over time. Look for yourself, or message me and I'll provide a direct link.............. I'm a luddite and don't know how to do the 'click here' or 'find it ''here'' stuff lol. I also have a vid on my channel which is linked at the bottom of this post.

 

 

BTW, I won't be making a another large tree again, any time soon, but might poke around some bushes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The figure is an old one which I use as a scale for buildings, has been handled with greasy fingers and is not representitive of my figure-work now. I suspect I may be worse now than I was back then lol.

 

 

 

Comments, questions and criticisms good or bad are welcomed.

 

Cheers

Badder.

 

BTW, I won't be making a another large tree again, any time soon, but might poke around some bushes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pig of the Week]

I'm still expecting a little Nibelungen Troll type creature to emerge from the trunk !

..one thing I would say is maybe some very matt varnish on the trunk, it looks a bit shiny perhaps ??

..oh and a bird or two perching up there somewhere !

[Badder]

11 hours ago, Pig of the Week said:

.one thing I would say is maybe some very matt varnish on the trunk, it looks a bit shiny perhaps ??

..oh and a bird or two perching up there somewhere !

Hi Pete,

You're correct. I should have pointed out that the trunk itself isn't finished. Yes, it's got a gloss coat of varnish at the moment, but it will get some super-detailing of the bark, and moss and most probably some nails driven into it for kids to climb beofre washes and a final matt coat when it is ready for 'planting' in the diorama. Remember it'll be sunken into the ground a little bit at least. Plus, I'm still toying with the idea of adding a ladder and a treehouse/platform, OR adding a circular bench around the trunk.

 

As for a bird, I have some, or 'a' pigeon/s somewhere. I was intending to have them/it soiling the roof of the building with their/its droppings and have considered them/it doing the same on the tree.

We shall see.

 

Rearguards,

Badder.

[Pig of the Week]

You know what pigeons are like, get a couple and suddenly there's dozens of them everywhere !

[Bobby No Mac]

I think the only word for this is... Treemendous! 

 

 

 

I'll get my 

[FrancisGL]

Hi Badder,

I am glad to see the product (although not finished), of your efforts to make an "indestructible tree" ... lol, it is a monster in terms of materials used, and time spent, I understand that you are not going to make another tree later ...LOL.
As @Pig of the Week comments, a fantasy creature could perfectly come out, because it is also a tree with a very versatile appearance.
When you finish it, it will be even better, and its appearance once "planted" will be very good.
I will love to see it finished.
On the other hand, I see that you have changed your avatar, it has confused me a bit, a thing of getting used to it, if you decide to keep it in time, lol, I have not been able to identify what it is ...🙃
All the best and TC
Francis.👍

[Badder]

On 9/13/2021 at 3:10 PM, Bobby No Mac said:

I think the only word for this is... Treemendous! 

 

 

 

I'll get my 

Hi Bobby No Mac, If I knew you better, I could say 'Trust yew!' As it is I'll have to wait fir a secormore, until you're a bit alder, perhaps. Oakay, oakay, I will'o shut up by the thyme you've read this. Good job too, cos puns aren't very poplar and I could be punished with the birch.

 

9/1 to me I think? lol.

Seriously though, thanks!

If you'd like to see me throw the tree and bash it repeatedly, without damaging the tree, or indeed my worktop, click on link below. lol

 

Rearguards,

Badder

 

 

[Badder]

On 9/14/2021 at 9:55 AM, FrancisGL said:

On the other hand, I see that you have changed your avatar, it has confused me a bit, a thing of getting used to it, if you decide to keep it in time, lol, I have not been able to identify what it is ...

Hi Francis,

Thanks, of course, the tree isn't fully finished, but it is finished in respect of the tree canopy, branches, twigs, foliage etc. It's just the trunk that will get some moss/lichen effects added at some point, but I'm happy to leave it aside for now. Having said that, I've also built a bench that kind of leans up against the trunk at an angle and the ground underneath the tree will be covered with dead 'pine needles' although Yew trees don't have 'needles' as such, just very thin long leaves. I may or may not use very short lengths of static grass for that.

 

As for my avatar, it's a character called 'Hacker' who I invented as a 'mascot' for a local Heavy Metal band in the late 1980's - basically I stole the idea from Iron Maiden and their 'Eddie' character who appears on all their album/singe covers etc. Hacker too, appeared in many forms on all kinds of merchandise and this version of him has him as a comdey/horror 'Jack in the Box' weilding a double-headed axe, for a cassette album the band did. The album and title track were called 'Jump to it'. Anyway, as their 'official artist' I have the sole copyright to all of the artwork and when I set up my Youtube channel I decided to use this pic as my avatar. And because some BM members (not naming any names lol) have subscribed to that channel, I thought it would be a good idea to use that same avatar here.

 

So, I hope that explains all that lol

 

TC mate and I'll probably see you in your latest RFIs soon.

Rearguards,

Badder

[Badder]

BTW, Francis,

Have you seen me throw and bash the tree yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

TC mate and I'll probably see you in your latest RFIs soon.

Rearguards,

Badder

[FrancisGL]

Hi Badder, 

How cool the bench, sure there is a good shade ... lol
Cheers and TC
Francis.👍