Hey Ron. And RR modelers. QUICK TIP: After the brown/grey, I painted the trunks with wood glue and then quickly shook sifted dirt thru a stocking onto the glue. Let dry. Makes a great bark texture even in N scale.
This is the first time that I have seen Ron's Trains N Things. I am shocked at how good a source of practical information this is. I am starting a 2500 square feet layout which will have a huge yard (65 feet long) in Ogden UT plus a very long U.P. route through the Weber River canyon most of the way from Ogden to Wasatch UT. I will need a couple thousand pine trees in the canyon. This seems to be a great way to make so many reasonable quality or very good quality pine trees. I am so glad that I found Ron's Trains N Things. I'm looking forward to a lot of other videos from this source.
Hi, Kyle. That is one HUGE layout your are talking about. I hope you will post some progress videos as you work. These trees to make a nice looking forest. They still take some time to make, but I haven't found anything faster that looks at all realistic apart from buying them pre-made--an expensive proposition when you need them by the hundred. Thanks for watching and welcome.
Fantastic tutorial! I am a big fan of building models using household materials. Trees are a very difficult subject when it comes to miniatures, and ready made trees never justify the price. This is a fantastic way to get a forest at a very reasonable cost.
Hey Ron. I enjoy your tree designs you made. You can also get skewers & toothpicks at discounts stores as well. That filter floss is unique. Looks great. My first trees i bought was in the 1980's by Life Like. I definitely want to add trees to my future layout. You are an artist with this. I have viewed your other videos of tree modeling all look very nicely done. 🌴🌴🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌲✅
Ron et al! This is great. I see comments from years ago , months ago and new ones only days old. I really enjoyed this guide to trees. I'm also working on Colorado mountain layout that traverses several ecosystems from 5000ft to 10000 feet. I'm looking for tips for aspen and Pinon pines!
I just watched this and your sky video. Perfect timing as I’m working on a project that both these will add to the overall look! I want to say your very easy to follow and I’ve really enjoyed these videos. I need to find your video for adding to the sky scenes.
Saw this video recently and loved these trees. I just turned out my first batch of 50 trees and absolutely love them. I have watched many of your videos and they are all great. Thanks for all the help!
This video was very informative as well as interesting. Many helpful tips on how to save money. I will give you a A+ thanks for all of the helpful information.
I was very into marching band in high school and college. Never marched with DCI, but was always and cintinue to be a huge fan. Try to attend one DCI event every year.
That’s a funny shot of your family watching TV Ron, while you’re making some marvelous pine trees. Love your vids, you’re a great source for model railroading. Thanks!!
Thanks for this great video. This is a technique I'm going to love to try out. I already use toothpicks and sewers but have never tried air filter material. Thanks for the idea!
Ron you're the best!! I am an HO Scale modeler and i have learned a lot of new techniques from you!! Pizza Hut owes you for free advertising!! You should be on their box!!
Thank you so much, I was trying many types of glue for putting grass on my set but none was even close to what I wanted, just a few hours ago I was desperately asking some friends for suggestions but again nobody knew anything better, on the other hand, a hair spray is sitting in front of the bathroom's mirror for years :)) I can't write anymore, have to do gardening ;)
Great video I’m just about to start building my sons first ever model railway,I did this with my dad when I was a kid in the 90s and loved it,I’m watching all your videos for help with it,I’m really excited to get started but I’m not rushing in as I’m transforming the whole spare room in my house for it 😊,thanks for the great videos 👌
Hey Ron. Great vid. Seen several with the same materials but like the way you did it. Simple but very effective. Thanks for putting this out there. Jim
Watched a lot of "how to" videos on making trees. While I have seen a few that give more 'detailed' trees, I think this method would be easier for me - while still giving good detail on my new scale I am putting in. Thanks for the video Ron. Marty
Thanks for watching. I'm glad you found it useful. I find these make good utility trees. Just a few "hero" trees with lots of detail in front makes a forest of these trees look really great.
Very nice pine tree tutorial! My favorite part of your vid is seeing DCI represented with your shirt at the end! My dad marched with the Anaheim Kingsmen as a Soprano bugle back in the day! Thanks, I just wanted to share that. -Alex
The outer layer of filter that you peeled off can be used for other effects. I cut some to fit a brick wall, painted it, added ground foam and glued it to the wall. It looks like the ivy on the outfield wall at Wrigley Field.
Hey Ron, I just discovered your channel a few months ago, and am really enjoying it. And as you can tell, I have started to go back into the archives to view some of your older videos. I especially liked this one, as I will be modeling the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado, and will need lots of pine trees to make the scenery look realistic as well. BTW, great job on the video. It's nice to see that you really came up to speed quickly in your video production quality. It definitely makes them more pleasant to watch.
Great video. I am currently working on an N gauge layout with a branch line running up an incline to a timber mill on a hill, which in turn means I really will need a lot of trees. Coming from a forested part of Scotland this is a natural progression for me. Thank you sir for a great informative video
I love your tutorials, Ron. I'm new to this hobby and have studied and enjoyed your instructions and suggestions and I envy and admire your talent. One of the first things I learned when I began this journey, was the value those little plastic baby food containers bring to my organizational deficiencies, as I see you also have learned! LOL Keep 'em comin' cowboy, I'm hanging on every word.
Very Nice Ron. 1st Time I've visited your UA-cam Channel. Saw one of your videos on the Model Railroader MR Plus site and so decided to take a look. Watched your making Pine Trees episode which I am glad I did. I have held tree clinics for my club, The K&I showing 6 different ways to make trees EXCEPT pine trees, so I've got to give this a try. Thanks! David
Thank you for this tree tutorial. Going shopping today for materials. These will be bonus addition to my "European Union Layout"....... especially on the mountains over the"Brexit Tunnel"
For literally decades I have pondered how to make lots of conifers without having to sell a kidney...... and finally you have shown us all how! I am starting my N-Scale MILW Road project based on your tutorial. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
These are a great solution. If you want a fantastic look, a handfull of more detailed trees at the front edge of a forrest of these creates a very convincing scene.
These kids in the corps are amazing to watch. It is something great for kids to do that is good. I am getting into model trans. My wife’s father and grandfathers were railroaders. Grand dad was with the New York Central and her dad was with New York Central and then moved to California and worked for Western Pacific. I am retired Millwright and have a HO set on a 4”x 8” plywood panel. Can’t remember where I got it and have never ran it yet. To many other things going on I have a RX7 race car that I have been getting ready to race after a couple years of it sitting and I do oil paintings of race cars, pets and people portraits and landscapes. So now I am retired and should be able to do some model building. Love the videos keep it up have been learning a lot Thanks
As one who is planning on modeling East Texas I suspect this will come in handy! Also while listening to the video I felt the need for a martini.... ;)
I see why most modelers buy the pre made trees and pay way too much like you said. However, these are the best I have ever seen and realistic. I have a section on my layout that will need almost as many as you have on your opening of this video. Great presentation. Thanks for posting it.
Wow, great video. I recently came across your videos while researching for my first n scale layout. Your tips and techniques are just what I needed. As far as this tree making video goes. I think you just might be a genius. Thanks.
Great video! Just subscribed to your channel. Your pine trees look so easy to make AND look better than anything commercially made. Looking forward to more great videos.
Thanks Ron, I like the trees, I need a lot of eucalyptus trees for the area I'm doing in southern California, as the railroads used them for wind breaks and your technique with a little adaptation will work just great for the one I planned, thanks again, Jack
I have used this technique and and the wire and thisle rope pipe cleaner techniques to do my trees on my past n scale layout. Both produce great varied results pennies per unit. Great video
Ronald Hofmeester I am still in the process of planting trees. My mountain area is just now in the scenery building stage. I do still have a lot od trees to "plant." Glad you liked the video.
Your technique is so similar to what I've been trying (slim wooden dowels and coco-fiber basket liner trimmings), but I really like how airy your trees came out! I'll definitely give this a shot for my next module!
Yes, I have sen the coconut fiber used, specifically by Luke Towan. Personally I like the coconut fiber for HO scale, but it is too dense for N scale. Even then, you need to pull the coconut fiber apart vertially to make it more airy and see through. I'm glad you found the video useful. Thanks for your comment.
*THANK YOU RON!!!!!* 👍👍🍻😎😀 This one was valuable! As my Pacific Belt RR is mostly in the PNW, in HO Scale, I could only guesstimate I would need up to 3000-3500 trees!!!! 🌲 *Yikes!!* I could probably use those skewers to represent younger trees, and Hobby Lobby can cover the rest, with 1/8" to 1/4", 12" long wood dowels.... Now, I've heard about similar methods of doing Pines for years. What struck me about yours, is the manner that you prepare the batting. Also, I've never seen just the batting fill sold - but then, I've never looked!!! 😝 With your method, I may even be able to employ my daughter and daughter-in-law, to help!! ..... I also run through No. Cal....... and considered actually doing a few Sequoias.... 😵 BUT, after getting 1" to 1-1/2", 36" long dowels, and what else I would need - I doubt there would be ANY hope of being economical!!! Thanks, for a great idea! Carmine 🚂
Oh.... A suggestion for those in larger Scales. Bark gets harder to paint on, especially in more foreground trees. I was taught, many years ago, to use a small, brass bristle cleaning brush (the one that looks like a large toothbrush). Before paint, run that brush up and down the dowels. Just a few passes, but all the way around, with firm pressure (UNLESS using Balsa). If it looks like you've dug in too far, simply run some medium sandpaper or sanding sponge on the dowel, and lightly smooth it. After painting, using your method, it makes a quite pleasing looking tree trunk!
+PacbeltRR The batting alone is available in most building supply stores. Yes, I have employed my kids in assembling trees in front of the tv. Since I cut them to adjust shape after assembly you can't really mess them up.
Nice video Ron, I like the way you approach making trees for your layout. I agree that when one considers the cost of buying them from a hobby shop or online, it can be staggering with the numbers of trees as you so accurately stated numbering in hundreds if not thousands. Even the marginal models can represent a part of the model rr budget that can be better spent elsewhere. I am going to give this a try. Thanks!
+Marc Breimer Wow, thanks, man. I'm have a video about rock casting and painting coming next week and will be doing some on scenery textures, static grass, modeling water, and waterfalls through the course of the summer. Be sure to stay tuned.
Ron's Trains N Things I'm really glad I stumbled onto your channel from Reddit. I'm just getting back into the hobby and renovating my father's 4x8 layout, which has seen better days. I've mostly stuck to scale model aircraft and ships, so nature modeling is new to me. This pine tree tutorial is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for and I can't wait to see what tricks of the tracks you come up with next.
I have seen tons of ways to make realistic "pine" trees, but I was born and raised in the mountains of northern Idaho and worked as a forested there. Most of the other videos I've seen, the trees look OK. Some look good. The problem is, they don't look like pine. Most I have seen look more like Alpine Fir or Spruce. Your method makes them look more like pine trees. Ponderosa Pine are gnar!y, scraggly trees. Here many are 125+ ' tall. Thanks for the video. I have about 700- 800 to make 😊
Thank you so much for showing me my doom. As my loose plan is to model the Apache Railroad, I have an absolutely mind boggling number of pines to make...
I've been stock piling the $3.00 trees, for the front and will be building your style for the fillers! But they do look great for just a few cents each! Happy holidays to you and your tv loving family!!
Great tutorial Ron and a bunch of great money saving tips for those on a budget! I see people in videos waste so much ground foam and other materials that I wish I could follow behind and clean up after them...lol! Thanks for sharing-John.
My wife and I are both in public service jobs, which translates to we don't make tons of money. I have always worked hard to stretch my hobby dollars as far as I can. That means if it can make it I do, and if I can save it I will, and I never throw anything away. I plan to do a whole video just on the importance of a good scrap box and what you can build from it...especially in N scale.
Excellent video and great looking trees. I have a large mountain model railroad also (in HO scale) and need a lot of trees. Your technique will surely come in handy when I am ready to make trees. Thanks for sharing it.....BTW: You're welcome to come to my house too Ron if you want to practice making some more! Philip
Thank you Ron! I've seen methods like this before, but the way they were explained just did not make sense to me at all. This was easy to understand and great for a tight budget!
I hear you, man. I was conservative in my video estimate. I think I will be closer to 1,000 pines and a few hundred puffballs by the time I finish mountain scenery, and that doesn't even consider the Mesquites and other trees in the Texas portion. Lots of trees.
Hey Ron. And RR modelers. QUICK TIP: After the brown/grey, I painted the trunks with wood glue and then quickly shook sifted dirt thru a stocking onto the glue. Let dry. Makes a great bark texture even in N scale.
Good job,Ron.I am a big fan of cheap and cheerful ideas like yours ! keep up the good work ! Also ,the jazz gives your video a touch of class...
Great tips, just getting back to model railroading. Starting with my old O gauge then HO and finally N gauge . Thanks again !!
This is the first time that I have seen Ron's Trains N Things. I am shocked at how good a source of practical information this is. I am starting a 2500 square feet layout which will have a huge yard (65 feet long) in Ogden UT plus a very long U.P. route through the Weber River canyon most of the way from Ogden to Wasatch UT. I will need a couple thousand pine trees in the canyon. This seems to be a great way to make so many reasonable quality or very good quality pine trees. I am so glad that I found Ron's Trains N Things. I'm looking forward to a lot of other videos from this source.
Hi, Kyle. That is one HUGE layout your are talking about. I hope you will post some progress videos as you work. These trees to make a nice looking forest. They still take some time to make, but I haven't found anything faster that looks at all realistic apart from buying them pre-made--an expensive proposition when you need them by the hundred. Thanks for watching and welcome.
Hey I like your DCI shirt!
That is a great idea! And a cheap way to make trees!! Thank you for your time in sharing with your video watchers.
Fantastic tutorial! I am a big fan of building models using household materials. Trees are a very difficult subject when it comes to miniatures, and ready made trees never justify the price. This is a fantastic way to get a forest at a very reasonable cost.
Hey Ron. I enjoy your tree designs you made. You can also get skewers & toothpicks at discounts stores as well. That filter floss is unique. Looks great. My first trees i bought was in the 1980's by Life Like. I definitely want to add trees to my future layout. You are an artist with this. I have viewed your other videos of tree modeling all look very nicely done. 🌴🌴🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌲✅
Thanks for the great how too.... we will be making trees for our layout soon..!
Nice educational video, ill be using this technique for my trees thsnks ,look forward to to seeing more
This was perfect because my current project requires pine trees. These look great. Thanks, Ron!
I found that drawing my tree trunks over hack saw blade to provide a bark looking surface to my trees. I adds to there realistic look.
Ron et al! This is great. I see comments from years ago , months ago and new ones only days old. I really enjoyed this guide to trees. I'm also working on Colorado mountain layout that traverses several ecosystems from 5000ft to 10000 feet. I'm looking for tips for aspen and Pinon pines!
I just watched this and your sky video. Perfect timing as I’m working on a project that both these will add to the overall look! I want to say your very easy to follow and I’ve really enjoyed these videos. I need to find your video for adding to the sky scenes.
I enjoy your simple technique and have begin creating trees for a logging section of my shelf layout that I am currently working on.
Great SBS on making very cheap realistic looking pine trees. Thank you.
+1652HCU Thanks for watching.
Saw this video recently and loved these trees. I just turned out my first batch of 50 trees and absolutely love them.
I have watched many of your videos and they are all great. Thanks for all the help!
Thanks. I'm glad the process worked for you.
Youre awesome Ron.
Great demonstration of the easiest way to add a forest to your mountains.
+Jerry Smith 👍 Thanks
Nice looking forward to trying this one out
Awesome Trees, I will have to try your method. Many Thanks for making this video.
This video was very informative as well as interesting. Many helpful tips on how to save money. I will give you a A+ thanks for all of the helpful information.
RON! Your shirt... I didn’t realize you were into DCI. You became even cooler! I marched back in the day (86).
I was very into marching band in high school and college. Never marched with DCI, but was always and cintinue to be a huge fan. Try to attend one DCI event every year.
That’s a funny shot of your family watching TV Ron, while you’re making some marvelous pine trees.
Love your vids, you’re a great source for model railroading. Thanks!!
Thanks for this great video. This is a technique I'm going to love to try out. I already use toothpicks and sewers but have never tried air filter material. Thanks for the idea!
Like back this beautiful video Ron Trains things friend
Ron you're the best!! I am an HO Scale modeler and i have learned a lot of new techniques from you!! Pizza Hut owes you for free advertising!! You should be on their box!!
Excellent tutorial for an effective result . Like it !
This is exactly what I needed to make some good trees. Thank you!
Great tutorial, very easy to do and practical, greetings from Costa Rica
Thank you so much, I was trying many types of glue for putting grass on my set but none was even close to what I wanted, just a few hours ago I was desperately asking some friends for suggestions but again nobody knew anything better, on the other hand, a hair spray is sitting in front of the bathroom's mirror for years :)) I can't write anymore, have to do gardening ;)
What a great idea! I have a ton of trees to make in the future once I finish my staging area and start on the next levels.
I hope this technique works for you. I have found it very easy and fast--well as fast as making 800 pine trees can be.
Great video I’m just about to start building my sons first ever model railway,I did this with my dad when I was a kid in the 90s and loved it,I’m watching all your videos for help with it,I’m really excited to get started but I’m not rushing in as I’m transforming the whole spare room in my house for it 😊,thanks for the great videos 👌
Great methods for trees Ron. Thanks so much for your videos., Todd
Thank you for your comment and thanks for watching.
You are the Tree Master Man! Xcellent video. I used green scratchpads from the kitchen sink and green sawdust.
Thanks.
Hey Ron. Great vid. Seen several with the same materials but like the way you did it. Simple but very effective. Thanks for putting this out there. Jim
Great video, I think yours is not only your information good, its fun to watch!!
+Boyce Motley Thank you very much. I really try to make them entertaining as well as informative. Thanks for watching.
Really enjoy these videos. Very simplistic and very educational.
Thank you for your comment and thanks for watching.
Watched a lot of "how to" videos on making trees. While I have seen a few that give more 'detailed' trees, I think this method would be easier for me - while still giving good detail on my new scale I am putting in. Thanks for the video Ron. Marty
Thanks for watching. I'm glad you found it useful. I find these make good utility trees. Just a few "hero" trees with lots of detail in front makes a forest of these trees look really great.
Now I can add trees to my Fairyland scenery. Castle on rocks completed with waterfall in progress. Keep making small!!!
Very nice pine tree tutorial! My favorite part of your vid is seeing DCI represented with your shirt at the end! My dad marched with the Anaheim Kingsmen as a Soprano bugle back in the day! Thanks, I just wanted to share that. -Alex
The outer layer of filter that you peeled off can be used for other effects. I cut some to fit a brick wall, painted it, added ground foam and glued it to the wall. It looks like the ivy on the outfield wall at Wrigley Field.
Hey Ron, I just discovered your channel a few months ago, and am really enjoying it. And as you can tell, I have started to go back into the archives to view some of your older videos. I especially liked this one, as I will be modeling the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in Colorado, and will need lots of pine trees to make the scenery look realistic as well. BTW, great job on the video. It's nice to see that you really came up to speed quickly in your video production quality. It definitely makes them more pleasant to watch.
Oooo. Nice results with cheap materials. Likey! Great stuff.
+Josh Johnston Thanks. 👍
Great video. I am currently working on an N gauge layout with a branch line running up an incline to a timber mill on a hill, which in turn means I really will need a lot of trees. Coming from a forested part of Scotland this is a natural progression for me. Thank you sir for a great informative video
I love your tutorials, Ron. I'm new to this hobby and have studied and enjoyed your instructions and suggestions and I envy and admire your talent. One of the first things I learned when I began this journey, was the value those little plastic baby food containers bring to my organizational deficiencies, as I see you also have learned! LOL Keep 'em comin' cowboy, I'm hanging on every word.
Thanks roe your comment, welcome to the channel, and thanks for watching.
Hi Ron, Nice method of making pine trees I will try it.
Very thorough, Mister! Those are some awesome looking pine trees!
Thanks, Sharla. They are fun to make...until you hit about 300. Then it becomes work. LOL.
Wow great info! Thanks
Very Nice Ron. 1st Time I've visited your UA-cam Channel. Saw one of your videos on the Model Railroader MR Plus site and so decided to take a look. Watched your making Pine Trees episode which I am glad I did. I have held tree clinics for my club, The K&I showing 6 different ways to make trees EXCEPT pine trees, so I've got to give this a try. Thanks!
David
+David Cooke Thanks so much for watching and for your comment. I am planning a video on making Aspens soon.
Thank you for showing this tip, look forward to more
Love the tree making videothis was very helpful thank you 😊
Thank you for this tree tutorial. Going shopping today for materials. These will be bonus addition to my "European Union Layout"....... especially on the mountains over the"Brexit Tunnel"
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching.
For literally decades I have pondered how to make lots of conifers without having to sell a kidney...... and finally you have shown us all how! I am starting my N-Scale MILW Road project based on your tutorial. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
These are a great solution. If you want a fantastic look, a handfull of more detailed trees at the front edge of a forrest of these creates a very convincing scene.
@@RonsTrainsNThings Yes, and as you said -nothing in nature is perfect or symmetrical. I'm getting good at these thanks to you! -Phil
These kids in the corps are amazing to watch. It is something great for kids to do that is good. I am getting into model trans. My wife’s father and grandfathers were railroaders. Grand dad was with the New York Central and her dad was with New York Central and then moved to California and worked for Western Pacific. I am retired Millwright and have a HO set on a 4”x 8” plywood panel. Can’t remember where I got it and have never ran it yet. To many other things going on I have a RX7 race car that I have been getting ready to race after a couple years of it sitting and I do oil paintings of race cars, pets and people portraits and landscapes. So now I am retired and should be able to do some model building. Love the videos keep it up have been learning a lot Thanks
+Gregory Rapier Thanks for sharing. I look forward to see how thise modeling endeavors go.
As one who is planning on modeling East Texas I suspect this will come in handy! Also while listening to the video I felt the need for a martini.... ;)
Thanks and good luck.
I see why most modelers buy the pre made trees and pay way too much like you said. However, these are the best I have ever seen and realistic. I have a section on my layout that will need almost as many as you have on your opening of this video. Great presentation. Thanks for posting it.
+Mark Hayes Thanks for watching. You can get in a rythm making these and crank them out oretty quickly, but yes they do take time.
Great video. I am going to try your method.
Wow, great video. I recently came across your videos while researching for my first n scale layout. Your tips and techniques are just what I needed. As far as this tree making video goes. I think you just might be a genius. Thanks.
LOL. I would definitely not go that far, but I'm glad you found it helpful. Welcome to the channel.
Love this idea. Cheap, easy and effective using easily obtained material. Thank you!!!!!
Great video! Just subscribed to your channel. Your pine trees look so easy to make AND look better than anything commercially made. Looking forward to more great videos.
Thanks, and welcome to the channel.
Thank you share you show how make trees save money
I can’t wait to try this! Thanks for the video.
Good luck.
Thanks Ron, I like the trees, I need a lot of eucalyptus trees for the area I'm doing in southern California, as the railroads used them for wind breaks and your technique with a little adaptation will work just great for the one I planned, thanks again, Jack
Jack O I am so glad I could help. Be sure to send me a photo when you get some made.
I have used this technique and and the wire and thisle rope pipe cleaner techniques to do my trees on my past n scale layout. Both produce great varied results pennies per unit.
Great video
what idiots gave this a thumbs down? this was AWESOME!!!!
Thanks Ron , they look great, Mike
Thanks, Mike. Wow, you must be a true early riser to have posted so early--and you are a timezone behind me too.
Hi Ron
Very nice that you share how to make pine trees in a simple and cheap manner.
You may not have enough of trees on your layout. Ronald.
Ronald Hofmeester I am still in the process of planting trees. My mountain area is just now in the scenery building stage. I do still have a lot od trees to "plant." Glad you liked the video.
I like . I will be using it. Thanks
Brilliant work Ron, very impressed with your work and I shall definitely be trying. Thank you for your money saving tips
Good luck. I hope they go well for you.
I plan to model Donner Pass - this video is saving $$$$$, thanks for posting
Your technique is so similar to what I've been trying (slim wooden dowels and coco-fiber basket liner trimmings), but I really like how airy your trees came out! I'll definitely give this a shot for my next module!
Yes, I have sen the coconut fiber used, specifically by Luke Towan. Personally I like the coconut fiber for HO scale, but it is too dense for N scale. Even then, you need to pull the coconut fiber apart vertially to make it more airy and see through. I'm glad you found the video useful. Thanks for your comment.
Muy bueno el video 📹 interesante, me gusta mucho aprender esos trabajos para una maqueta, un saludo desde Rivera Uruguay ok
*THANK YOU RON!!!!!* 👍👍🍻😎😀
This one was valuable! As my Pacific Belt RR is mostly in the PNW, in HO Scale, I could only guesstimate I would need up to 3000-3500 trees!!!! 🌲 *Yikes!!*
I could probably use those skewers to represent younger trees, and Hobby Lobby can cover the rest, with 1/8" to 1/4", 12" long wood dowels....
Now, I've heard about similar methods of doing Pines for years. What struck me about yours, is the manner that you prepare the batting. Also, I've never seen just the batting fill sold - but then, I've never looked!!! 😝
With your method, I may even be able to employ my daughter and daughter-in-law, to help!!
..... I also run through No. Cal....... and considered actually doing a few Sequoias.... 😵
BUT, after getting 1" to 1-1/2", 36" long dowels, and what else I would need - I doubt there would be ANY hope of being economical!!!
Thanks, for a great idea!
Carmine 🚂
Oh.... A suggestion for those in larger Scales.
Bark gets harder to paint on, especially in more foreground trees.
I was taught, many years ago, to use a small, brass bristle cleaning brush (the one that looks like a large toothbrush). Before paint, run that brush up and down the dowels. Just a few passes, but all the way around, with firm pressure (UNLESS using Balsa).
If it looks like you've dug in too far, simply run some medium sandpaper or sanding sponge on the dowel, and lightly smooth it.
After painting, using your method, it makes a quite pleasing looking tree trunk!
+PacbeltRR Yes, that is a good technuque. In N scale the grain already there is enough.
+PacbeltRR The batting alone is available in most building supply stores. Yes, I have employed my kids in assembling trees in front of the tv. Since I cut them to adjust shape after assembly you can't really mess them up.
Outstanding video tutorial! Have seen a few that used similar techniques but must say enjoyed how you put this video together!
Thanks again.
Nice video Ron, I like the way you approach making trees for your layout. I agree that when one considers the cost of buying them from a hobby shop or online, it can be staggering with the numbers of trees as you so accurately stated numbering in hundreds if not thousands. Even the marginal models can represent a part of the model rr budget that can be better spent elsewhere. I am going to give this a try. Thanks!
So true, Peter. Let me know how they turn out.
Great tutorial. I love cheap but real stuff. Thank you. Keep it up.
You're my scenery guru now! Thanks!
+Marc Breimer Wow, thanks, man. I'm have a video about rock casting and painting coming next week and will be doing some on scenery textures, static grass, modeling water, and waterfalls through the course of the summer. Be sure to stay tuned.
Ron's Trains N Things I'm really glad I stumbled onto your channel from Reddit. I'm just getting back into the hobby and renovating my father's 4x8 layout, which has seen better days. I've mostly stuck to scale model aircraft and ships, so nature modeling is new to me. This pine tree tutorial is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for and I can't wait to see what tricks of the tracks you come up with next.
Excellent tutorial. Your patience is amazing. My lack of patience will probably result in my Alaska RR being in the treeless Gobi Desert :-)
+Pat Rafferty Lol. Well, don't give up hope, you may make it yet.
Now these are trees i am going to make and use!! Thanks :)
I have seen tons of ways to make realistic "pine" trees, but I was born and raised in the mountains of northern Idaho and worked as a forested there. Most of the other videos I've seen, the trees look OK. Some look good. The problem is, they don't look like pine. Most I have seen look more like Alpine Fir or Spruce.
Your method makes them look more like pine trees. Ponderosa Pine are gnar!y, scraggly trees. Here many are 125+ ' tall.
Thanks for the video. I have about 700- 800 to make 😊
Hi Fred. Thanks for the comment. I'm making pine trees again now. Like you, I need hundreds.
Exactly what I was looking for and so well presented. But now I want a pizza seeing the boxes used.
Lol, Andy. Me too. Let's get pizza and talk it over.
Wonderful job, will come in very handy!
Thank you Ron! I really like this idea and am getting some amazing landscaping at a respectable cost...and lots of pride.
I'm very glad you found it helpful, Bill. Thanks for your comment and for watching.
Okay, this is impressive, lol. I don’t even have a layout but now i feel like just making some and sticking them on the club layout for the heck of it
You should. They are fun to make.
Thank you so much for showing me my doom. As my loose plan is to model the Apache Railroad, I have an absolutely mind boggling number of pines to make...
Thank you! This will help me a lot to make my pine trees for my architecture model for college!
Great tip and trees. I like it.
I just made my first batch of pine trees using your ideas and suggestions, I loved them.
Fantastic
great video, I plan to use this methodology for my track.
I've been stock piling the $3.00 trees, for the front and will be building your style for the fillers! But they do look great for just a few cents each!
Happy holidays to you and your tv loving family!!
Great tutorial Ron and a bunch of great money saving tips for those on a budget! I see people in videos waste so much ground foam and other materials that I wish I could follow behind and clean up after them...lol! Thanks for sharing-John.
My wife and I are both in public service jobs, which translates to we don't make tons of money. I have always worked hard to stretch my hobby dollars as far as I can. That means if it can make it I do, and if I can save it I will, and I never throw anything away. I plan to do a whole video just on the importance of a good scrap box and what you can build from it...especially in N scale.
I make Fairy house/gardens and am learning so much from you!
Thank you 💕
Excellent video and great looking trees. I have a large mountain model railroad also (in HO scale) and need a lot of trees. Your technique will surely come in handy when I am ready to make trees. Thanks for sharing it.....BTW: You're welcome to come to my house too Ron if you want to practice making some more!
Philip
Really enjoyed this teaching video Ron nice
Thanks.
Thank you Ron! I've seen methods like this before, but the way they were explained just did not make sense to me at all. This was easy to understand and great for a tight budget!
Thank you for your comment and thanks for watching.
As always great information 👍🚂🚂
awesome video Ron.. thanks for sharing...i will be needing lots of pines when i start to scenic room #1.. thanks for sharing.. vinny
I hear you, man. I was conservative in my video estimate. I think I will be closer to 1,000 pines and a few hundred puffballs by the time I finish mountain scenery, and that doesn't even consider the Mesquites and other trees in the Texas portion. Lots of trees.
Спасибо за видео.Все просто и красиво....