Task: Create Prefect Model Trees - Step 2

I think the pictures speak for themselves. After the paint had dried, I began the process of adding the foliage to the trees. First I purchased 3 large Rubbermaid bins. In one bin, I emptied the 32oz shaker of Scenic Express's Spring Green colored Course foliage. As the pictures below show, I started by dipping the tree into a 50:50 mixture of white glue and water. Then I placed the tree into the bin, then I covered it completely with the foliage material -- followed by picking it up and shaking it lightly and then repeating this several more times while turning the tree, until I was satisfied with the results. Next I took the tree back out to the garage to dry. Once hung back on the line with clothes pins, I applied a heavy layer of Aqua Net superhold hair spray. I repeated these steps adding in the other two bins, one filled with Scenic Express's Hazy Green colored Course foliage and the other with Scenic Express's Forest Green colored Course foliage. My end goal is to have mostly "lighter" colored trees on the layout with some dark trees mixed in. I want it to feel Spring-timey. I allowed them all to dry for 24 hours before moving on to Step 3.

Task: Create Prefect Model Trees - Step 1

After separating out the "weed" trees and boiling them for 30 minutes in a large 15.5 quart pot, I hung each tree up using clothes pins to dry. On the ones that needed some help to straighten out, I attached extras clothes pins to help weigh them down. I let them dry for about 12 hours out in the garage in warm weather (I will extend that time to 24 hours in the future). Next I spray painted them all with a dark brown colored rust primer spray paint from Rust-oleum. Then I misted them all with an auto primer grey spray paint. I let them all dry for a few hours before moving on to Step 2.

Task: Continue Looking for the Perfect Tree - Success

After some additional research and re-reading my Model Railroader magazines, I thought I would tree making my own "Perfect Tree." I purchased Scenic Express's "SuperTrees" ( http://www.sceneryexpress.com/departments.asp?dept=1006 ) starter kit product. After all the good reviews I had read about them, I was sure I had finally found the model trees I sought. Originally I had hoped to just purchase completed model trees to allow me to focus on finishing the entire layout somewhat sooner, but no luck -- everything pointed to the fact that I would have to make them myself using this product if I wanted really good looking trees. And honestly the main item that jumps out at you, next to perhaps the track work, tends to be the trees.

I purchased the kit from Walthers.com for a good price - around 21 dollars for the starter kit (contained enough stuff to make about 10 trees). The kit arrived promptly and upon opening it I felt I was on the right track. The kit comes with a dried weed of some sort. I think their from Sweden or something. I had found online from a few modeler's websites that you need to boil them for around 30 minutes to soften the stem and then hang them upside to dry -- all with the end goal of a straight "trunk."

Task: Find the Perfect Tree - Failure

The effort to find a realistic model tree for our layout has been very frustrating until recently. First let me start by saying -- all claims of realism by various model tree makers are grossly over blown and not to believed. Period Dot.

I began with several purchases from various different model tree makers. First up was JTTtree ( http://www.miniaturetree.com/ ). I purchased their new realistic tree line called, "Super Scenic" trees. 45 dollars later they arrived in the mail. Once I opened it, it was very clear this was money not spend wisely. The trees were so fake looking it was sad. And the pictures online looked nothing like the product I was holding -- online it was a model tree full of foliage, but in real life it was so sparsely flocked and foliaged you could barely see any green on it. I called the people at JTTtree to inquire about a refund -- and I was told - "So Sorry we no give refund." I had purchased them using Paypal.com. Let me just say, do not ever count on Paypal to help with this type of issue. Paypal.com immediately closed my dispute claim despite the fact I had mailed the trees back to JTTtree. So a 45 dollar lesson was taught to me. Forget Paypal and forget MRC's JTTtree company (which is very disappointing because I truly like MRC products -- my DCC system is MRC). Later, I went ordered from Horizon Hobby online without realizing it, the JTTtree --highly expensive-- "Professional" product line of trees. A small two-pack of trees costs 20 dollars -- and they looked pretty good; but at that point I wouldn't use their products if it was the only item on the market.

Second lesson was the purchase of an inexpensive Woodland Scenic's deciduous plastic 20-pack tree kit. I followed the easy to follow instructions, bending the plastic branches this way and that, using their Hobby Tac glue product and then dipping the tree trunks into their foliage cluster product. All I can say is, if you want really cheap trees and dont mind cheap looking results - these are for you. But I hated the end result instantly and into the trash they all went. 25 dollars for lesson #2. I have also looked into the Woodland Scenic "Premium" line of model trees, and although I think they look okay, probably acceptable for our layout, they costs way to much money for what you get ultimately. 2 trees for 15 dollars, at only an acceptable level, is not good enough to me.

Third lesson came via purchase of Scenic Express's ( http://www.sceneryexpress.com/departments.asp?dept=1002 ) ready made trees. I purchased two different types of trees for review -- a Birch tree 2-pack and a Oak tree 2-pack. Let me start by saying that I very much think Scenic Express is a great company with great products; however, for me, their ready made trees are not up to par. Close but no cigar. So I mailed them back and instantly received a 30 dollar refund. So a free lesson finally. Thank you Scenic Express.

Fourth lesson came via a 50 dollar direct purchase of ready made trees from China off of Ebay. They were shipped directly from China and only took a week or so to arrive. They are not bad. The model tree's trunk is very nicely done with some sort of dyed sawdust crust that looks a lot like real bark. However the foliage clusters used by them are some sort of alien whacked-out, glow-in-the-dark green color. I will post a picture at some point. But trust me, they looked just plain weird. Which is too bad, because 50 dollars got me around 100 trees.

170 dollars later -- only 30 of it refunded -- I discovered there was a lot to be desired in the claims of "realistic" model trees for model railroading layout. I continued the hunt.