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Frequent poster 502 posts Toniwryan Frequent poster 502 posts
Toniwryan

  I got some quality modeling in this weekend while I was listening in the the live call-in Model Rail Radio.  The big N scale meet is 2 weeks away and our last setup we found a problem with one end of one of my module.  There was a hump in the track near the endplate!  I don't know if was always there, or if it developed over time, but it would not let Adam's AC-4 cab forward pass.  Tonight I took my little folding saw and carved out the foam under the roadbed.  Then I squirted Gorilla glue into the gap and weighted the track with my long level on top to hold it straight.  The glue foams and expands and should fill in the gap nicely.  I should be able to grind away the excess tomorrow.

DSCF3529.JPG 

  I also revisited my "Super Tree" project.  I know said I was going to follow the instructions and show you all how that worked, but I didn't like how they were coming out!  I did the soaking in the diluted matte medium and tried to flock them after shaking off the excess.  My problem was that the medium settled into the "crotch" of the branches and that is where all the foliage wanted to stick!  This left a bunch of tiny bare pointy ends of the armature peeking out from the "leaves".  I thought I had some pictures of them on my camera, but I messed up and will have to take some more.  The trees were salvageable though.  I searched around and came across a youtube video showing using 3M Super 7 adhesive to stick on the leaves instead of matte medium.

DSCF3528.JPG 

Here's a shot of one of the trees after I spritzed it and re-applied more foliage.  So far I have done about 10 trees, trying the different colors of foam and leaf material in different combinations.  I still have a LOT more material to process separated out and waiting for it's turn on the clothesline.

DSCF3524.JPG 

Soaking ...

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More waiting their turn!  I should end up with 30-35 trees and a lot of smaller shrub like ones, plus a good amount of small material to model fallen limbs and such. 

  I'd like to get these finished up and give my static grass applicator a whirl - I haven't even tried it out yet!

Toni
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On30guy Prolific poster 2,625 posts
On30guy

Looking good

Aren't Super trees great?

If you want to work with them without all the messy matte medium check out this blog:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/10198

I use steam to straighten the trunks and hot glue to thicken them. It works great and there is no drippy clotheslines to contend with.

Rick Reimer,

President, Ruphe and Tumbelle Railway Co.

Read my blogs
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Toniwryan Frequent poster 502 posts
Toniwryan

Steam to straighten

  I have seen your blog entry before, Rick.  The batch of tree material I received seems a bit brittle, and I was hoping that soaking them (about a half hour) in the matte medium would add some resilience to the fine branch structure.  I guess I'll find out how well that works!  

  I generally hate waiting, but since these are destined to be put on the Freemo modules I figured the extra time would be worth it if it makes the tree last a  bit longer.

  I do agree that the Super Trees give you the possibility of making great looking trees - I'm still working on the foliage application process to achieve that "look" I'm after.  I have seen another video where he "rolls" the top of the tree over a shallow tray of the leaf material, rather than sprinkling the foliage on from above.  I'm going to give that method a whirl once this next batch gets dry.

 

Toni
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BAC New member 14 posts
BAC

Good Job and so little time!

A nice looking tree Toni.

Only two weeks to go ??!! ... and I have a one and a half page list of items to do to the modules!  I was able to cross off two items this weekend and make progress on two more.

I used my new Grass Tech static applicator today and it worked just fine.  It took more tapping than I expected but the results are ok.  Also the spark from shorting it out is a little startling at first, just have to push the grounding pin in all the way and be careful not to touch it!

I hope to post some photos of my progress at the group site on Monday evening.

Looking forward to our first show...

Bert

 

 

Bert Cripe

Port Orchard, WA

http://www.pnwfreemo-n.org/
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