"Smaller scale trees for Africa/Zululand .." Topic

In any scale I have struggled to find suitable characteristic trees for Africa. I have the same problem now, with 6mm Anglo-Zulu War as I have done with AK47.

Fortunate enough to visit Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift on the BHGS Durban trip, what struck me were the typical flat(ish)-topped isolated trees dotting the landscape – they reminded me of Australian gum trees, but not of anything in my wargames scenery.

(this is a Marula tree from Kwazulu Natal, and is the sort of thing I'm looking for)

After lots of other failed options, at Triples, I had a chat with designer Ian Kay at Irregular and we had a rummage through his 6mm trees.

There were a few with this sort of shape amongst the variants, and I have chopped and jointed a couple together to see what they look like …

With 6mm soldiers:

I'm not a big fan of cast metal trees – they can be annoyingly top heavy (as if it wasn't easy enough to knock trees over anyway) and although 90p each isn't a problem, plastic and scratch built gives a lot more coverage per £10.00 GBP spent.

But so far, so good. I'll be getting a lot more of these shortly as this is closer to the look I'm after than any other options I've tried.

(trees, soldiers, a Lego building and Jack Hawkins in his buggy …)

I'm more than happy to hear of better options for Zululand scenics in this scale (you can never have too much) …

I got mine by the reliable traditional method of informed rummaging at a show, but, as most of you will know, Irregular have a 6mm scenery page on their site Irregular Miniatures

Maybe that will speed up the hunt for someone else?

Phil

These look similar to the "Woodland Scenic" tree kits that come with plastic trunks and two or three shades of green foliage. Examples can be seen here.

dbagora.blogspot.com

I believe the German Faller, Busch or Heki have similar offerings and they all have online catalogues.

Many years back, I made similar trees using twigs or clippings covered with a bit of rubberized horse-hair and flocked.

BTW, did Agnetha decide to stay with the troops?
Charming Welsh.

Cheers,
Robert

I haven't really seen that African shape – though if you assemble and bush them up youself, then you would have some control over the final shape.

Strapping lads, indeed.

Here is a pic of a JTT Microscale Acacia tree:

They come in a varity of sizes, starting from only 3/4" tall. I think for 6mm you could stick with the smaller, less expensive, sizes. 3/4" and 1" both come 6 in a box, at prices that break down to $2.25 USD and $2.75 USD per tree. They are expensive (though not as expensive as some model railroad trees), but IMHO they're gorgeous, and provide the "African veldt" vibe I think you are looking for.

Here's a link to the company's site:

link

I have no link to the company, aside from being a long-time customer and fan. Years ago I bought a bunch of their poplars, which made perfect Italian Cypress trees in my Medieval Italian layouts. Right now I'm in the midst of buying a bunch of their pine trees to use in my 1878-1880 Second Afghan War games. They look amazing on rocky hills. For me they are worth the price, but opinions on that will understandably vary!

They are brilliant and exactly the look I am after: Acacia is the word I would have used except that further reading had revealed that most of them are Marula.

Thanks for the prompt (I wonder if they have any stockists this side of the pond?).

Now I've made a start with the metal ones, I suspect I will go with them in 6mm and look at the JTT for AK47 (15mm) which will also then give a few big trees for the little guys.

They are very good.

Phil

Glad you liked them! My figures are all 28mm, so unfortunately I have to buy the larger, and much larger, trees. Back in the day I made my trees from scratch, using thing wood dowelling for conifer trunks, and twisted wire for deciduous ones, but now it takes too much time -- time I need to build my Afghan hills from scratch.

If the cast metal foliage makes the trees too top-heavy, couldn't you just get the metal trunks and use some torn-up green Scotchbrite pads for the foliage?