Test forest bases.

[snitcythedog]

Since I am rebuilding all of my terrain after a overseas move I am building some test pieces to decide how I want my future forest to appear and how I want them to work within the game. First I hate forest stands that have trees and little else. That does not give you the feeling that the bases provide cover and are difficult to move within. If I add that detail it means my bases will be cluttered and there is no place to move models. This means I needed to build a forest template and populate it with removable trees. My two options for for construction were to base the trees individually or to do a large removable base. I chose the large base so only one thing had to be removed during play.
Next I wanted to represent several types of tree on each base. I figured out how to make birch trees ages ago so I would use those. Painting them another color would easily represent ash so that added a second type. http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/infopages/page425.html  I found this tutorial and it worked great for pines. For oak, I used the same technique as my birch trees but I expanded the concept by adding thicker branches and a trunk. Then I painted the surface of the trunk with acrylic caulk to add texture for the bark. All the trees were made and painted prior to adding them to the base.
The base was simply two layers of plastic card one with the cut out footprint. They were sanded up and textured with commercial paper mache. This was covered with dirt from the garden and it was all glazed with superglue. Once it was panted I placed the trees and blended the trunks into the surface.
Wanting more detail I made several smaller plants out of single stalks of steel wire and home made colored sawdust. I did my normal groundwork on the base and added birch catkins in the cracks to simulate fall leaves.
The rest of the underbrush was rubberized coconut husk again colored with home made sawdust flock. Once it was teased out and flocked it was glued to the base.
I think that I need to work on the dead stuff on the ground a bit more but I am happy with the overall results.
Hope you like and more images on my blog.
Snitchy sends.

[fred]

Those tree bases look fantastic - really cluttered, overgrown and natural. Looks like a real obstacle rather than the usual 2 lollipop trees on a base.

the only problem is that when you remove the big insert - then you are left with nothing much at all - it then doesn't look like a wood. I think I would go for several smaller bases of trees - either cut into the inserts on the base, or just free to move around on the base. With smaller ones you can remove (or just move) them to position figures, and still get the overall look of the wood. Of course at a certain point when the wood is full of troops there is no room for any trees.

So I think I'd go for several bases of trees 50-60mm across on a single large texture based

[Legion1963]

Indeed. These look very good. I have thought about this long and decided that a modular approach is the best way. Using small bases on a textured  table or larger base.

[snitcythedog]

Thanks for the compliments folks.  To the point that both of you made about using smaller bases for the tree stands.  That is what I did last time I made forests.  They were usually positioned on a forest template that matched the table.  Here is an example of my old trees scattered around a board.   

I was unhappy with the level of visual clutter on each tree stand so I decided to build these doughnut bases to try to recreate that forest feel.  Even though this is a test, I am now inclined to make the rest of the stands like this.  I am trying for more of a cinematic/realistic presentation with my home terrain.  I can deal with the minor headache of moving a larger stand and missing trees during play. 
Thanks again for the compliments.
Snitchy sends.   

[warburton]

Nice work.