Golgotha's Model Trees

[Golgotha]

Herewith, some ideas for model trees. Trees can be time consuming and expensive to make. Problematically they are also then generally fragile and easy to break. Most readily available trees also tend to be small and look too uniform. I therefore wanted trees quick to make and that if they broke it did not matter whilst also wanting trees that look realistic.



Here they are. The sunlight and outside backdrop of trees adding to the impression.

These have been made using actual trees and also roots. Which I dried out and then simply mounted. The leaves are made from moss found in the woods and dried out. I know this can be dependent on where you live. Fortunately in the UK, I often walk in the woods in the Chiltern Hills and have a ready supply though it can still be season dependent. The moss does lose some of its colour so I give them a light spray of paint. I have also not glued the moss on rather it is just placed before a game. This means the trees always look slightly different and if left bare still retain realism. I have moss over two years old and it is still fine. You do get little bits dropping off but they add realism to the table.

I am relatively happy with the overall effect. I am not wasting time or money trying to strengthen them either with glues or varnishes etc. Indeed, I am impressed with how strong they are. Having left them to dry for a few seasons in the garage.



The moss is not ideal but looks much better than the average flocking material. The key is finding the right branches and roots. the two shown here above with foliage are actually from bonsai that died.





This one is a root. In many ways it still looks like a root but when placed on a wargame table with other trees the appearance suddenly becomes more tree like. Some more pics below with Grenadier knight for scale, this miniature works with Perry War of the Roses in terms of scale. the best thing about these trees is they look real because they essentially are real.



The bases were made from thick cardboard. With dry tea leaves and usual flocking attached with Mod Podge to avoid warping. Tree itself was glue gunned into place. Four trees start to finish in 25 minutes. That includes cutting, glueing and basing.





Obviously the focus here is on the tree not the mini.

Certainly a good source to consult for making trees is Lukes Aps on youtube as he has done a number of videos of various tree making methods see: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmD5774MOQhjYBkXqu3Jdw

See some more pictures here: https://frictionbmcminiatures.blogspot.com/2020/04/golgothas-model-trees.html

[Golgotha]

Some more examples of the same idea this time moss mounted onto wire frame trees.



See some more pictures here: https://frictionbmcminiatures.blogspot.com/2020/04/golgothas-model-trees.html

[syrinx0]

It does make for realistic looking trees.  Did you let the moss just dry out in the garage or did you bake it?

[Golgotha]

Just dry naturally - it dries out very quickly. It will as mentioned lose colour as time goes by hence a little spray of green.

The hardest part perhaps is finding suitable moss and picking it. Imagine your a druid and one can do a bit of roleplaying on the side.

[Golgotha]

Herewith two Ent trees, see: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=123935.0 and https://frictionbmcminiatures.blogspot.com/2020/05/golgothas-ents.html



The roots are made of wire like the rest of the trees but I added the attachment roots one finds on an ivy creeper plant as additional roots. They can also look good turned upside down as the substructure for bushes.

[Nordic1980s]

Awesome looking trees! My own sagas with self-made trees have been less fortunate as the likes of lichen and moss, whether shop bought or from nature, all crumbled away to dust in 5-10 years, with only so little gained from refreshing them with watery spray. (That usually left coloured stains everywhere, as coloured lichen easily sheds colour...) I like very much the ent trees, too!

[Golgotha]

Cheers Nordic

Herewith, some more trees these ones are ideal for smaller scales like 10mm.

Some of these are made from pipe cleaners. A few are bought but the majority are scratch built, for which I got the idea for these from Little Wars TV see:



Others were made from cones.

More pictures are available here: https://frictionbmcminiatures.blogspot.com/2022/04/golgothas-terrain-trees-ideal-for.html

Pictures of the trees being used in a game before they were based can be found here: https://frictionbmcminiatures.blogspot.com/search/label/ECW

These trees, therefore, cost next to nothing and are relatively quick and easy to make.

[FifteensAway]

for Nordic, try soaking in glycerin or spraying with a matte spray, either can extend the life.