Scouring pad conifer trees

[Ironworker]

Well just to prove the move hasn't compleatly shut down my wargame work I'm showing some WIPs from a project I started last night.  

I'm making some conifer using scouring pads as foilage.  This is not a new idea and in fact I'm using this article as a guideline.

http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/infopages/page462.html

However instead of using dowls or skewers or some other very straight objects I'm using wittled down twigs instead to give the trunks a more natural feel and shape.  



Here are the trunks for 20 trees.  Carved down and painted with a watered down brown paint.  



Here's a shot of the foliage going on.  I'm using Aleen's Tacky Glue instead of the super glue that was used in the article.  It dries clear.  



Here's the first compleated tree.  I've finished eight so far and I should have another two done by the time I turn in for the night.  I think they are going to look quite good as a group with the irregular trunks.

[Glitzer]

Look great and are cheap, what do we want more?

[Malamute]

Very effective, thanks for sharing. I would never have thought of using scouring pads as trees.

[Gluteus Maximus]

Very effective, thanks for sharing. I would never have thought of using scouring pads as trees.

Yes, great idea!

I've used them for hedges & small bushes before, but never thought about trees either.

[Strand]

The structure looks great, although I would add spray-on glue and a dip in my flock box to enhance the effect.

[Aaron]

Very nicely done. I'll be copycatting as soon as I score a stack of scouring pads from the dollar store!

[DRDHauser]

Very cool idea; I'll be trying this shortly. Thanks!

[Ironworker]

The structure looks great, although I would add spray-on glue and a dip in my flock box to enhance the effect.

I don't like flocking anything other than small bases either on figures or terrain.  I really like my terrain to stand up to abuse and flock and turf and glue on foliage comes off too easily.  I am going to drybrush the trees with a lighter green to make the foliage pop a bit.  
Of course you methods may varry.  That's the nice thing about DIY projects.  Any enhancments or simplifications are up to the builder.

[Aaron]

I have to say I don't think traditional flock would work well for most conifers (the kind with needles) anyway. Maybe some very short static grass would look the part, but I think the pad itself should look fine.

A big honking pile of yellow/brown static grass beneath the trees to represent shed needles would look great though.

[Ironworker]

Here's a group shot of the 10 I finished last night.  I haven't yet drybrushed the lighter green and I may not for a while since most my paints are already at the other house.  I may decide to go pick up a bottle of cheap paint just to get them done but I haven't decided.  

I also haven't decided on basing them.  I've been basing my trees individually with the idea that I'm going to make some big forest bases to put them on later.  That way I can just move trees to allow room for blocks of ranked up troops or tanks or big monsters or whatever.  I don't want to make the bases too big though but I need them to be heavy enough to hold these trees up since they seem a bit top heavy.  I could base them in smaller groups of two, three, or four but that will impace their flexibility.

[Grimm]

AHHHHHHH !! cool Idea !

must test these by my self .

Thanks Ironworker

[Ironworker]

AHHHHHHH !! cool Idea !

must test these by my self .

Thanks Ironworker

Thanks Grimm.  Wish I could take credit for the origional idea.  Actually I'm pretty sure I came up with the idea of usign whittled down sticks instead of skewers while looking at some of your vegitation projects.  There just isn't anything like nature materials to give you that natural look.

[Grimm]

There just isn't anything like nature materials to give you that natural look.

You say it.  

[audrey]

Wow, thanks for sharing. I think I am going to have a go at making some myself.

[El Grego]

A very useful adaptation of the original    

Looks easy enough that even I could do it - just need to get the hobby area cleared out again ...