"Making trees from wire. Need help!" Topic

Hi
I've been making small trees and vines out of picture wire.
I want to find something that I can brush over the wire trees to make the trunks and branches look less wire like and more tree like. Basically I need something that will brush on and dry to fill the spaces between the wires.

Any thoughts

Thanks

Green stuff for the trunk, then a weak mix of polyfiller/ plaster for the branches.
link

tinyurl.com/36k7k7

tinyurl.com/2r35rv

tinyurl.com/34p4j8
for inspiration

tinyurl.com/399mb9

I use multiple coats of thinned down premixed concrete patch. I will usually thin it to the consistency of a thick milkshake and coat with a brush.

You could give the main trunks a wrap of floral tape then paint an acrylic paste over them to give some texture.

Dip them in liquid latex a few times, allowing each dip to set before the next. Thick PVA works as well but more slowly.

Hi,
I came for one idea and now have loads of ideas and inspiration, so thanks.

I'll check back here, so if there are any more tips they will still be much appreciated.

Thanks

I've used string or cord soaked in white glue to wrap some of my wire trunks. It's a tad messy, but looks good.

Squires sell flexibark- I use it myself and the one tub is still going strong after 3 years.
squirestools.com

Well worth sending out for a catalogue- all sorts of modelling stuff provided post-free. And just about every product has an accompanying photo.
That's literally tousands of products, by the way.
Been using Squires for years and can't recommend them highly enough.

That's 'thousands'- sorry for lapsing into scouse there…
They sell other tree building stuff too, including your wire.

I use an old brown paper bag and cutting it in thin strips dip in PVC (Elmers) glue in a 50-50 mixture. Wrap the soaked paper like good old paper mache around the wire. Leave some exposed sides to look like rough bark.

any type of builders acrylic sealastic will do trhe job, selleys no mpre gaps etc

make up a mix with about 20% water, brush on allow to set a little, then with a thick bristled brush downward strokes to achieve the bark effect

cheers
matt

will05:I want to find something that I can brush over the wire trees to make the trunks and branches look less wire like and more tree like.

I haven't used it myself, but there's a product called Flexi-bark from Green Scene which is supposed to be exactly for this: a flexible coverant for wire tree armatures which has an outer texture resembling bark. Modeling book author Richard Windrow uses it in his Advanced Terrain Modelling book. link

Antenociti's Workshop sells Flexi-bark here: link

If you are interested in birch trees I did a toot on Terragenesis. link
It is a quick easy build that can be used by themselves or mixed up with other trees.
If you use the floral wire with your regular tree armatures, it gives you some texture on your smaller branches and your covering material something to adhere to.
Hope that helps.

Chemical metal= plastic padding= car body filler

For small scale trees (6/10mm) check out florist wire for the armature (Or for branches on bigger trees) very flexible, but strong (strong enough to use on armatures to be vulcanised)

Thanks again

Sculpy. It's an inexpensive hobby clay that you bake at fairly low temperature in a regular oven. Use the wire frame as an armature for the clay, bake it for about 15 minutes and Bob's yer uncle!

I use it for 15mm trees where I use a nail as the armature and then glue a clump of Woodland Scenics foliage on top after I've baked the clay and painted the trunk.

I've used guaze bandages in the past. Wrap the wire in it and the brush a bit of glue on top…..gives a nice texture and holds primer for paint.