"Washers as bases for trees; how ?" Topic

I'm trying to use washers as based for cheap model railroad trees I bought off eBay.

I'm using DAS clay to try to fill the hole and hold up the tree trunk but it doesn't work so well.

Any other ideas on what to fill the hole with?

Thank you.

Glue a piece of paper on top of the hole. Just use white glue. Glue tree on top of that.

Paper is too flimsy and white glue doesn't stick well enough to metal or plastic.

I'll generally try to get washers that have smaller holes than the tree trunks can cover. And crazy glue the trees on. Then flock.

If that won't work I glue a small piece of sheet styrene over the hole with crazy glue. Then glue the tree on.

I've had some success with latex caulk. I use brown so the base coat is already done.

I put electric tape across the hole in the bottom of the washer.
When I base the figure/tree/whatnot on the washer, I use 5 minute epoxy. This fills the hole and when it sets, the f/t/w is now held upright.
You can peel the tape off afterwards, and this gives a flat bottom.

BTW, I learned this trick on TMP several years ago, and am always eager to pass it on again.

Paper is too flimsy, like TD said. I use index card
cut to size, and use a Dremel to 'rough' the surface
of the washer so the Elmer's secures the index card.

Works well for me, YMMV.

Like John said….

Epoxy is your friend.

You can get epoxy putty from auto-supply businesses. It's as thick as modeling clay and works very well for washer bases for trees.

Try Hot Glue. Cheap & easy, and sticks to most everything…

^^^^

What ETenebrisLux said. I did dozens of cake decorating trees on washers with hot glue and haven't had one break off. It's been 8+ years at least.

Paper is no flimsy, since I assume you would flock your washers after you glued trees. Electric or other kinds of tape will work faster. And yes, thin card would even be better than paper.

Avery labels work pretty well. By the time the sheet has been through the printer a bunch of times, the few remaining look awful anyway, so I cut them in half and cover the hole in the washer. Then, like Boginshebolt, I use hot glue to stick the trees down. The glue fills the hole, but the label keeps the glue from leaking out.

Grelber

I used to get alot of cards made of plastic and card in the mail. I find they're really great for basing. Glue the washer to the piece of card using super glue gel. Fill the hole in the washer with white glue and prop up the tree in it. Let it sit overnight. I have had a couple trees seperate from their base. This I fixed with super glue gel.

Just get some fender washers and glue the tree down with hot glue, the high temp kind. Put some putty over that and Bob's your uncle.

I just cover the hole with plain scotch tape and then glue the Woodland Scenics trunk using super glue. I then apply wood putty for texture and flock. Works perfectly.

I want to second Pictors Studio's suggestion. I have used fender washers for years (these are large washers with small holes that are used to repair autos). Work great as the tree base usually covers the small hole in the washer -- no need for filler. Available at most hardware stores.

Jim/Musket1

I didn't even know what fender washers were for other than basing miniature things. Thanks, Jim!

I used washers of various sizes for my trees also, I used round Avery labels to cover the bottom of the washers up and them used a silicone caulk and used that to attach them to the washers. Because the washers have such a slick (non porous) surface I use the silicone because when it cures it sticks to ANYTHING! I got the idea when I was doing some bathroom work years ago and it got on the tile and it would not come up after it cured – had to pick it off little at time, I thought it would come easy because tile is also slick but with the silicone it does not matter, even on glass it grabbed and held tight!.

I also can paint right over it once it was dry so doing the flock and such was not a problem at all, I will see if I can get some pictures up for you.

Hope that helps.

Warlord

Don't worry about filling the holes, that's too time consuming. Cover the holes both sides with masking tape.

Top side just glue, prime, texture, paint, flock, and seal.

Bottom side don't bother to peel off. If you have time, spray with primer, then top coat (I use black or dark brown), then matt sealer (matt not gloss so it has more friction to stay in place on the play surface).

Fender washers have smaller holes which are even easier to hide, so if you can source those, great.

Personally I've mostly stopped using metal washers for terrain basing. Most of my miniatures have magnetic bases and there were just enough annoying incidents with figures sticking to terrain. If I need the heft, I try to put the washer on top of the actual base underneath the tree. And I try to completely cover the washer with the model tree or texture or flocking to interrupt any magnetic attraction.

Haven't used washers but have used small coins. Similar issues with getting things to stick though. I solved it by using Milliput.

I do excactly what Tin Dictator does. Make sure to use a big washer as it is weighted down and keeps the tree from falling over, even when bumped.

To the OP, I'm guessing the cheap trees don't have bases of their own. Am I right Bede?

Cover bottom of the hole with tape (duck tape, but anything works) the use a 2 part epoxy. I have a half of box of trees to fix, but it is the pin going into the plastic trunk/base, nothing I did.

Bill

They're actually used for fenders? Hmm.

To the OP, I'm guessing the cheap trees don't have bases of their own. Am I right Bede?

Right. If you search on Ebay you can find very inexpensive model railroad trees from China.

They don't come with plastic bases because they're intended to be permanently mounted on a rail road layout.

I use "Greenstuff" (two-part epoxy putty) to cover the fender washer (2" washer or larger, depending on the size of the tree). Then I stick the trunk of the tree into the putty and leave it to dry and harden overnight. Never had a problem with a tree leaning over and drying on an angle.

Then I paint the entire base a deep green (hobby acrylics) and dip the entire thing into a plastic tray full of flock, rotating it around a couple of times for good coverage. After about 20 minutes I remove the tree and shake off the excess flock and hit it with a matte sealer (spray type).

I taught my kid how to do this to help me "production line" a bunch of trees. ;-}~

Cheap air dry modeling clay. I use the crayola stuff you get in a big tub at target for $6 USD US.

Shape a lump on top of the washer. Then stick the tree in. After the clay dries, pick up the tree and the washer falls off. Two drops of superglue gel and you're set.

Use pennies they are cheaper than washers.

I use liquid nails for my glue, works great.