M.C.

very nice...

I think it's turning out well!!!

Atomic modeling

Yowie!

I suppose you're using individual hydrogen atoms to model N scale grapes?

Charlie

Dirigible Grapes?

Lush Vineyard's wine does make your head feel a bit light.
And if I used Helium then the vintage would leave a "squeaky" clean taste in your mouth.

I've thought about N-scale grapes.
(In bunches, actually).

AMSI, who makes the fine ground foam I used for the foliage, also makes some "plum" and "maple red" foam that could be used for grape clusters.
[I don't have any connection to AMSI, except that they're also a SF Bay Area product and I really like their ground foams: much better quality, colors, and texture than WS]

Although now that I've been getting into using the Liquitex Ceramic Stucco paste, I can envision stippling blobs on a sheet of wax paper, letting it dry, painting it green or deep red, and then gluing the small clusters of "grapes" under the foliage.

Blobs of sawdust / white glue would also work.

Just remember that real grapes on the vine are dull and dusty, so no shine.

If you're modeling the fall, then the grape leaves turn a brilliant red, dull red, brown then off (about the only thing that does change color with the seasons around here), and old, abandoned vines are greyish and leafless.

If you're modeling vines at the back of the layout, you can definitely "cheat" with the vines: mine come right up to the module side where everyone will see them close up, so I wanted some realistic detail.

I'll also be putting in a tractor, some workers, crates, scrap wood, a shack, etc.
Any other suggested details appreciated!
(Already planning on some workers sampling the product & passed out under the vines )

Cheers!

Let us know when you start

Let us know when you start planting a vineyard of red grapes. 

I am sure they require different techniques.

Spreadin my questions around!

MC,

On that Stucco paste, would it work on your oak trees too?  I liked your previous method, but anything premixed is a time saver for me, so I'm interested.  Also, did you get it at a big box craft store or a real art supply house?

Thanks!

Pasting a possible answer

Phil: got the Liquitex Ceramic Stucco paste at Michael's (a big craft chain) for about $5.
And one jar is going to last a looooooong time.

As for using it for the oak trees, I think you could use it to paint the trunks of "background" oaks.

While the stucco paste has some bump & texture to it, it doesn't have the lovely gnarly look that sawdust & whiteglue creates:

So I'd used the sawdust & whiteglue for foreground trees and the stucco paste for background.

I guess you could try throwing some fine-sifted sawdust into the stucco paste.  Hmmm....

Lush Vineyard finally planted

Finally finished planting Lush Vineyard, so wanted to share the "finished" scene:









That's 182 individually made & planted vines.
At about 3 hours per batch of 40 vines, it was a bit laborious, but the end result is worth it.
Especially as this is a Free-moN module, and both sides are the "front" and close to the viewer, and people will be looking at this from inches away.
(No "3-foot rule" here!)

If I ever make a vineyard again, I'm puttin' towards the back of the layout and just detailing the first row or two and fakin' the rest.
Still, I think it turned out alright, and, with the oaks, definitely says "Sonoma, California".
I'm still debating about installing the big fans that keep the frost off, as that would definitely date the module as modern.

Hope this helps out anyone modeling a vineyard, whether the scene be California, New York, France, Germany or Noah after the Flood

Thanks for looking

This is amazing

I'm currently working on modeling a winery and really wanted to a vineyard nearby, but the commercial product I found was going to be pretty expensive for the size I wanted, so I submitted to the idea of the grapes being rolled in from a town off the layout.  

Now I have renewed interest (and hope) in building a vineyard and adding that part of the operation.  This looks amazing and although time consuming, looks pretty easy to do.  Thanks for posting the video, and the pics.

I'm modeling HO, so obvious tweaks in the size of things, but I'm sure it'll still look great

thanks again.

-Jon

MC, I love the vineyard, I

MC,

I love the vineyard, I have the perfect place for a vineyard. I have a swing out gate on my layout, when its open it allows access to my wine cellar. What a better place to place a Vineyard. I'll place the vines between the stone piers and I'll have to create a vineyard backdrop to go with it. I hope this picture turns out.

Ralph

Inspired.

After reading this article, I was pretty inspired to build a vineyard. I'm new to the hobby, a new modeler and typically do things wrong the first time and learn as I go.  Since a local winery is the main industry on my layout, I thought what a great way to add more operation possibilities, instead of rolling grapes in from staging.  

I've used your overall ideas, however took a different direction while crafting the vines.

Anyway, here's my progress from Saturday night - I wrote it up and will continue to post pictures and articles as I go -  http://candaroad.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-vineyard.html  

Thanks again for a great article and for taking the time to do the video as well.  I continue to reference it as I go and only hope the final product looks half as nice as yours.

-Jon

Oak tree

Wonderfull as usual. Great tutorial.

Thanks

Wayne

N Scale vineyard

M.C. Fujiwaxa,

I really appreciated the level of detail and product pointers that you included.   I am not sure this will work in HO scale to the same degree.  Perhaps, I could use the next grade up of  AMSI foam?   I believe you used the Spring Green foam instead of the Leaf Green or Grass Green if I am not mistaken.  Thanks so much for putting this all together and showing us how you did it.   I am sure I would not attempt  what I am about to do if it were not for your excellent presentation.   I am new to model railroading, but I have always been impressed with the level of detail put in to the layouts, but being an almost yearly visitor to Napa Valley,  I must say your vineyard recreation is one of my all time favorites. All you need is a rose bush on the ends of each row.   I cannot thank you enough.