Cold weather trees?

[onitora]

Suggestions for where to buy or tutorial on how to make snow covered trees for my Khador table? Snow dusted pines, or bare deciduous trees I'm think'n...?

-=Nash=-

[Dyoria]

Both? :)

I am in the process of gathering materials for my tables. Im going to make 2, one for my snow Cygnar, one for my jungle Skorne (yes I know weird environments for both. :) )

For the trees on my snow table I am making mixed forests. I based my cygnar with a mixture of baking soda, white glue, future floor wash and a drop of blue ink, then glopped it on. Looks great. I'm not sure how that would look on actual trees though.

It might look good on bare decidious trees, but not on conifers. Thats why I am thinking of spraying the conifers with hairspray and then powdering them with baking soda from a sieve. (Kinda like dusting a cake with icing sugar.

[CT GAMER]

The cheapest and most readily available route commercially are the bags of tree forms that are sold at most model railroad shops and suppliers. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be based and used for wargaming like the ones I used on the table here:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v463/nurgle23/WARMACHINE/rockyforest12.jpg

Another commercial option are the Games Workshop "spooky trees":
http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m1185034_99129999002_CitadelWoodMain_873x627.jpg

They have sort of a "Sleepy hollow" vibe that some people like and some don't. They are also not the cheapest option, but are readily available. Simply leave the greenery off. I wouldn't bother with the area base that comes with them. I based mine on individual washers that I then textures and flocked. This adds weight to them so they don't tip over and makes them more flexible use-wise.

there may be other commercial sources I'm not thinking of off the top of my head as well.


You can also go natural and find branches, etc. from real trees. It can be fun to look for shapes/sizes that look "right" scale/shape-wise. Durability is often an issue however...

Lastly you can build them from scratch using floral wire frames and other hobby materials. A number of tutorials can be found on the web for this method. This allows you the most creative flexibility, and you can shape and size them to fit your own aesthetic taste, but it is very time consuming.

so it depends on how much your own time is worth to you, your hobby/artistic ability, budget, etc.

[onitora]

Some good tips in there. I was thinking of making "tree stands" where a 6x8"ish area only has a few trees but is all considered concealment. Any reason I shouldn't/couldn't magnetize the trees to this large base?

[CT GAMER]

Some good tips in there. I was thinking of making "tree stands" where a 6x8"ish area only has a few trees but is all considered concealment. Any I shouldn't magnetize the trees to this large base?

I have found that it is best not to attach trees to large area bases. gamers love to snap them off if you do so with their ham-fists.

Tress should be able to move/break-away so that models can be moved/accessed, and so you don't have to sock-jack your friends when they keep breaking them. magnets might be a nice middle ground actually...

If you are not familiar with it already you should check out www.terragenesis.co.uk (www.terragenesis.co.uk).

It One of the longest standing terrain making websites with a great forum, library of past articles, gallery, and a membership with lots of knowledge to pass on. They can usually answer just about any terrain building question you might have, and the pics and tutorials there are very inspirational...

[CoachB]

I use the GF9 pine trees (http://www.gf9.com/store/index.php?cPath=77) and I got to say they are the best bang for the buck. I got one large and one small forrest set to give it some change. The trees also are not attached to the forrest template for easy troop movement.

Also Khador and Rhul are mostly above the temperate forrest line and into the taiga forrest region which consist of mostly evergreens, though Khador does extend down into the temperate region now with its occupied regions. Cygnar would be in the Temperate forrest region and continues down to the tropical region to the south. Ord being on the coast would have lots of rainfall making it a mixed temperate rain forrest with some marshes and lots of ferns growing under large evergreens that are good for making ships. Llael would be on the cusp with mostly evergreen to the hilly north with fertile farmlands to the south.

[CT GAMER]

I use the GF9 pine trees (http://www.gf9.com/store/index.php?cPath=77) and I got to say they are the best bang for the buck. I got one large and one small forrest set to give it some change. The trees also are not attached to the forrest template for easy troop movement.

Also Khador and Rhul are mostly above the temperate forrest line and into the taiga forrest region which consist of mostly evergreens, though Khador does extend down into the temperate region now with its occupied regions. Cygnar would be in the Temperate forrest region and continues down to the tropical region to the south. Ord being on the coast would have lots of rainfall making it a mixed temperate rain forrest with some marshes and lots of ferns growing under large evergreens that are good for making ships. Llael would be on the cusp with mostly evergreen to the hilly north with fertile farmlands to the south.


Yes, but what would be the best place to grow Petunias?

[CoachB]

Yes, but what would be the best place to grow Petunias?Need a warm moist environment with plenty of decaying matter for fertilizer. Cryx!

[Farseerixirvost]

Suggestions for where to buy or tutorial on how to make snow covered trees for my Khador table? Snow dusted pines, or bare deciduous trees I'm think'n...?

-=Nash=-

Wait until December 26th. Go to Michaels craft store. Buy miniature christmas trees and winter terrain pieces for 50% off. Better yet, wait til January 2nd and get them for 75% off.

THESE (http://www.lemaxvillages.com/servlet/the-Lemax-Trees/Categories)

and

THESE (http://www.lemaxvillages.com/servlet/the-Lemax-Landscape/Categories) (not trees, but good and cheap right after the holiday)

[Yentz]

Wait until December 26th. Go to Michaels craft store. Buy miniature christmas trees and winter terrain pieces for 50% off. Better yet, wait til January 2nd and get them for 75% off.

THESE (http://www.lemaxvillages.com/servlet/the-Lemax-Trees/Categories)

and

THESE (http://www.lemaxvillages.com/servlet/the-Lemax-Landscape/Categories) (not trees, but good and cheap right after the holiday)


This is the way to go. Virtually all craft stores stock these, and they are dirt cheap, and look good.

You can make forest templates very easily, and for dirt cheap.

[Tarrant]

Thanks for those links, Farseerixirvost!

They have some great looking Fall foliage!

[Big Rich]

Let us know what you decided on, and share some pictures of what you end up creating!

[Omenbringer]

Another option besides the strait pine tree forest are these (http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/category/ValuePacks) from Woodland Scenics. Get the 3"-5" ones in the fall colors. I think my value pack had somewhere in the vicinity of 14 trees in it. Two of these value packs are enough to create all but the thickest forested boards. If your terrain savy you can glue flat magnets (the kind that some retailers give you for the fridge work great) to the bottom, then flat washers in the base. This will allow for easy transport later on.

Woodland scenics also sell tree armatures that you can doctor up (primer and drybrush) for mixed forests of deciduous and coniferous trees (the ones you got from the craft stores for cheap on Jan2) in the dead of winter. For a bit more money you can get larger sizes that are more realistic looking.

The best part is that you will find these at virtually every decent model train store.

[Yeti's Yell]

Wait until December 26th. Go to Michaels craft store. Buy miniature christmas trees and winter terrain pieces for 50% off. Better yet, wait til January 2nd and get them for 75% off.

THESE (http://www.lemaxvillages.com/servlet/the-Lemax-Trees/Categories)

and

THESE (http://www.lemaxvillages.com/servlet/the-Lemax-Landscape/Categories) (not trees, but good and cheap right after the holiday)

This.

Plus, for all you people who want trees but not snow trees like these you can go to the craft store as described, buy the snow trees and then get a can of dark green floral spray paint at the same store.

If the snow mix is too chunky, just pick it off before painting. Hit those trees with that floral spray and the snow will drink up the green.

BAM... Summer/spring/fall trees. Flock/ballast the treebases as usual or just hit it with the green.

So hear me, terrain builders, there should never be any stock of half-price trees left over. Ever.

[onitora]

Well, I've started experimenting with what I had handy. These are handmade from winding wire, dipped in PlastiDip, based in caulk, and painted a bit with fine sand sprinkled on as snow. I'll post more if it turns out okay.

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz345/onitora665/WarGaming%20pics/100_0660.jpg

[paradox1995]

Plastidip! Great idea! The look very good!