Great idea and boy do I need to make some pines.   From a long time ago I did something like this with some dowell sticks and I suggest the following.  Before doing anything with the Skewers you can score the trunk with a hobby saw randomly.  this gives it a barky look.  I than dip the skewers into various shades of brown or brorw/grey paint to get the look of various trunks.  I never thought of using kabob skewers.  Thanks

A while back I posted a link to my website where I did an article on making trees this way.

It's at: royhoffman.com/pwrr/fftrees.html

What a neat idea.

Great to see some tips on making trees simply and at low cost.

I have rarely seen a lone tree on a layout so for those of us who have to have multiple trees and want to keep our cash for the things we cannot make (like DCC stuff) its great to have some low cost tips.Keep up the good work.

Inexpensive, nice-looking trees and no wiring.

Excellent article.  Easy, cheap, realistic.  A very helpful article.