One Possibility

Check out:

http://royhoffman.com/pwrr/fftrees.html

Perfect Idea

for making lots of background trees if you need to grow a forest in a hurry.

Nice find. Thanks for posting that. It'll come in handy when scenicing the layout.

Bernd

Dear Dan, If anywhere will

Dear Dan,

If anywhere will be able to help you in Aust, it will IMHO most likely be Ian @ Modeller's Warehouse

http://www.modellers-warehouse.com.au/

Alternatively, if you are anywhere near NSW, Anton's Trains may be able to source Euro-based "SeaFoam" tree armatures which will give you a SuperTrees equivalent base armature...

Hope this helps...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Super Trees

The very thing that is keeping you from using Super Trees may be the very thing you need. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, or if you have a natural space near by. Look at the plants closely. You may find exactly the thing you need, there for the taking. 

Here in Colorado, we have a huge number of tumbleweeds in the fall. They make perfect trees. There are many other wild growing weeds that can work. Since you're in Australia, this should be the perfect time of year to be able to see the structures of the plants that grew in the summer.

After all, Super Trees are nothing more than weeds that someone has cut down for free, and is selling for outrageous profits.

Gotta disagree with you Ken

sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one Ken.

even if the source plant material is free, there are costs involved in harvesting, drying , and packing the product. I don't think for $25 a box, Super Trees are making anyone rich.

You're lucky to have those tumbleweeds so close at hand.

Don't Get Me Wrong

I'm not against someone figuring out a way to make a lot of money. Yes, the weeds need to be harvested, and cut down. I don't know how many come in a box, but I'm willing to bet it doesn't anywhere near an hour to make a single box. Even if it takes 15 minutes per box, that's $100 an hour worth of product. Yes there are other expenses involved, marketing, packaging, and all the rest. It may not be making them rich, but considering the success of the product, I'll bet they're certainly not hurting for money.

I applaud them for the ingenuity for figuring out how to legally make money from a weed. If I can find a reliable and abundant source, I will do the same. Until then, I keep my eyes open when I walk around the neighborhood, and look for materials I can use for modeling. It's now the beginning of Summer, and the field next door (not to mention my backyard) is full of potential tree making materials.

Look for a plant called

Look for a plant called sedum. You can grow it in your flower bed. Produces a nice flower in the fall. After it dries out in the winter, cut the tops off and dry them out some more. After it is done drying, you can make your trees in the same way as the supertrees.

Here is a link to some info on sedum.

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/sedum-autumn-joy-stonecrop.aspx

Sedum...Really?

I had tons of this very invasive weed, (err plant) in one bed in my yard.  I have finally nearly eradicated it only to find out that it has a model railroad purpose!  #%^$*#@> *& !

I think I'll go fertilize the patch I have left! [wink]

Definitely Sedum "Autumn Joy"

Dear Kevin,

Yep, Sedum, specifically the "Autumn Joy" variant, has been getting a lot of play in recent years down here in Aust as a fantastic source of tree-making fodder...

For your perusal

http://danpickard.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/have-box-will-travel.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F7f7zc2aqPU/TyZ8I8a5fbI/AAAAAAAAAKs/5cbE4Za6VQw/s1600/DSC_4852r.jpg

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Sedum example

This is a shot of the road leading to the still under construction town of Ashley, Wv showing some of the sedum trees in the area.

http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m547/mecovey/Pennsylvania%20Midland%20Railroad/?action=view&current=WVRte24WithLorenceLumberinBackground.jpg

Ground foam colors

What preferences do you have regarding the colors used to enhance puffballs, lichen, super trees, sedum etc. I seem to get the best results when I mix colors. If I just use the Woodland scenics dark and medium green the effect is too "salt and peeper" to my eye to look realistic

Goldenrod

We have a weed called goldenrod that when dried makes a great tree.

Look around your area for finely branched flowering plants and weeds.

Is Sedum what Super Trees actually are?

Just wondering if Sedum is actually what Super Trees are?  I wouldn't mind growing the stuff myself if I knew what it was.  I bet it would be significantly cheaper than buying case afeter case of the Super Trees!

Ken L

Sedum

Nope.  I have "Autumn Joy" sedum in my yard currently, and have grown other types as well.  Super Trees material isn't anything close to it.  I don't care for the shape of the sedum seed heads for most model purposes.

PErhaps the question I should have asked was...

... what type of plant are Super Trees and is it available from any type of nursery?!

Ken L

The question now is... is

You would have to check your

You would have to check your local plant store or garden center.

Dear Chessie, is this

Dear Chessie,

Absolutely yes. Modellers from Brisbane all the way down to Tasmania (East Coast), and from both Adelaide and Perth, have been able to obtain, grow, harvest, and build _aussie_ outline (Eucalypt, "gum", and other local format) trees from "Sedum : 'Autumn Joy' ". (Ask for it by specific name, accept no substitutes).

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4873&whichpage=4

http://www.trainweb.org/regnanstramway/Model%20Pages/Pages/Regnans.html

http://m.railpage.com.au/f-p1600442.htm

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/43315560/GUM%20TREES%20CLINIC.pdf

Your local _decent_ (read: actually focussed on plants) nursery, or flower-arrangement shop.
"Bunnings" nursery likely won't cut it...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS general "Bunnings" tip. Anytime you buy soemthing there, make a note of the "FLxxxxxx" number on the rack pricetag. This is Bunning's own internal database reference or "FineLines" number. 
Quote that number (FLxxxxxx) to _any_ Bunnings staffer, and if they can get to a terminal,
they should be able to tell you

- where stocks of said item(s) are available
(both in-store, and at other nearby "bunnings" stores)
- and how much

This has saved me many times, when I _know_ a given item is a "regularly stocked item",
but the staffer hasn't ever seen one, so blindly states "we don't carry that, and can't get it in".

"SeaFoam"?

Dear Ken,

Unsure, but could it be "SeaFoam"/"SeaMoss" as popular with European modellers?

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=170513

http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/images/scenery/sf01.JPG

http://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Scenery/Trees.htm#sea-foam

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

If I remember Correctly...

It seems to me that I read somewhere the Supertrees are from a plant that is native to Scandinavia.  Other sources indicate that it is an aquatic plant called Sea Moss.

I have no idea as to the validity of any of this, just buy your Supertrees from Scenic Express and support MRH while you are at it. [grin]

I would love to support them Kevin...

...however I will go broke if I have to keep buying cases of Super Trees.  I make my own Ground Foam to save money! I figure why not try saving money on the other stuff.

Ken L.

Found it! TELOXYS ARISTATA

I must say, Sedum is hideous in my opinion. I have never liked the results I have seen using it. (no offense meant to those who do like it!)

I am however impressed with the super trees and I too have wondered, What is that? Can I grow it too

I did a little research and discovered TELOXYS ARISTATA. This appears to be the elusive Super Tree.

Discovered via this thread: UBC Botanical Garden Forums 

And pictures here: Google Images

I think I'll be staring a grow op!

- Bill

Go for it!

Not a problem Ken.  My comment about buying from Scenic Express and supporting MRH was not directed at you specifically.  If you can save money by doing things yourself, by all means, more power to you.

I know all about having a budget to work within, believe me.

As an aside, I have ordered some seeds and will see what I can grow in my greenhouse.  If I am wildly successful maybe I'll market the results as SuperFrugalTrees?  [wink]

the supertree alternative for

the supertree alternative for me is out of necessity rather than economic reasons as they are simply too difficult to get in the country. i would love to be able to support both causes.

Dan