Tree Stumps

[Spectre]

Rather than paying a lot of money for scale versions of tree stumps, i thought i'd have a go at making my own.

They are made from a square peice of balsa wood which was roughly rouned using a craft knife, i then added some small cone shaped peices of masking tape, enusring the sticky side was on the outside so that they would stick too the balsa wood.

I then wrapped a length of masking tape around the whole stump including the spiral sections of tape i just added, this helps too keep them in position as well as protecting the absorbant wood from the next process which is too add a layer of bark.

To simulate tree bark i added a layer of tile adhesive which i bought from a DIY store. As it was beginning to dry i dragged the bristles of an old toothbrush down the length of the stump and this leaves a grain texture which looks like the bark you find on trees.

Anyway judge for yourself what you think of my efforts, to help with scale i have added an old 120mm Verlinden Helicopter pilot figure.

[Colin]

They look nice, but that seems a lot of work to me.
Can I ask why you didn't just use sticks of an appropriate size?

[Spectre]

Hi Colin,

it was one of those things where i had a brainwave and thought i'd have a go at scratchbuilding some, i figure i'd need them some day LOL

I had heard about the method where you use a peice of dowel wood and covered it with modelling clay but i thought i'd try this idea out. Actually they don't take too long to make and unlike clay the don't go soft again in the heat, once the tile cement drys it's almost like concrete, which can be handy if anyone knocks into it....hope this helps.....cheers for taking a look :-)

[drhall]

Spectre

I picked up a book a few years ago that is real helpful in this area. It is entitled Terrain Modelling. It is by Richard Windrow and is part of the Osprey Masterclass series. Might want to check it out.

;D Dave Hall

[Scubatwo]

I agree with Dave on the Masterclass Terrain Book. I have a copy as well and it was worth the price. They are lots of terrain ideas in there. I think Osprey still has it available.

Aloha,

Scott

[rlobinske]

The old Monogram diorama tip sheets written by Shep Paine had a simple and effective method for trees/stumps. Use plant roots. They can be cut or broken realistically and the fine grain of the wood still looks in scale down to 1/35.