Making your own Foam Foliage

[Delaney]

You know those times when your standing in the hobby store and you have that tub of scenic material and you know you really, really need it for your project but you just can't shake that little voice in your head that says 'Well gee willikers Mister, that's just a load of shredded foam they painted green - and by-golly thats just some sawdust dyed yellow.'  Yeah.  My inner monologue sounds like a 1950's TV kid.  Wanna make something of it?

I wanted to make something of it.  I wanted to make my own.  And golly gosh, gee... I did.



Full tutorial over at my blog http://kingsminis.blogspot.com/2011/08/frugal-fruits-of-foamy-forrest-making.html

[Dr Mathias]

I'll need to try this. I have spent some $$$ on painted foam from Hobby Lobby over the years...

[infelix]

That was a great tutorial, I'll definitely try that out myself for some upcoming projects, Thanks for saving me some money

[Dave C]

Love the tutorial ...and your sense of humour. I had a look around your blog too and found some useful tips. I'm now off to buy a radiographic pen!

[Delaney]

Cheers - oh yeah, radiograph pens are the bomb for miniatures.  I like writing little messages to my brother in law on his space marines.

[Gluteus Maximus]

Cheers - oh yeah, radiograph pens are the bomb for miniatures.  I like writing little messages to my brother in law on his space marines.

   Barking mad! 

Great tutorial! Being a confirmed cheapskate I'm off to find the lowest-priced coffee-grinder around, then it's "Jungles-R-Us"   

[Paul]

Good tutorial..
Your right about most of the scenics stuff that you can buy all ready made...it´s common "found anywhere" stuff that has been mildly altered or packaged to look good.
The worst one that comes to my mind are the small leaves from birch tree catkins sold as maple/ivy leaves for 1/32nd dios...here it costs € 4.99 for a table spoon full !!!!!!!!

[Argonor]

I'm in the market for a cheap coffee grinder...

[Hammers]

Good tutorial. I am making this one a sticky in How to...

[Dr DeAth]

Great tutorial - I've been doing something similar to this for a while now - main difference is that I just put a few drops of paint in the grinder with the chunked up foam; it all blends together in the mix.  Results are pretty consistent.

[Ranger322]

I've been trying to apply some Woodland Scenics clump foilage to some trees recently, with minimal results. It doesn't stay together, or maybe I don't have enough branches/armatures on my homemade trees...

What sort of foam did you use for this, and does it stay together when you apply it to the trees? I really, really want some good trees, but don't want to lay the money out for pre-made ones...

Bart

[Chuckaroobob]

Hi, I tried this with a electric coffee grinder, and it burned out after the first try.  Also, it did not actually shred any of the foam, just spun it around a lot.  Were you using a manual grinder?

[Dr Mathias]

The tutorial states that he used an electric grinder- it would be nice to know what brand, as some might not be up to the task.