Realistic Scenic Trees - Basic Wire Armatures & Bark Sculpting

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In this part of the realistic tree series, we'll be covering how to make basic wire armatures for your trees and sculpting the bark texture on the trunk.
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[@GrayArmyGaming]

You are truly a master, Mel! Thanks for the great tips!

[@bkbills9213]

Thank you for all your videos! I am new to this hobby and everything you post is so incredibly helpful!!!❤️

[@daviddyer2607]

Without fear the best tutorial on the internet on this subject! Brilliant

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+David Dyer thanks

[@user-wp9vf8kx1h]

You are Sooo Talented n Creative!!!!!! The Unique about you is: You Explain in Detail which helps a Lot!!!!! Can't Thank You Enough!!!!

[@berniewenner]

Very nice work. I just took up the model train hobby and your videos are the best. Your results are even better than the Woodland Scenics tutorial products.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks for your kind words buddy

[@bevsartsandcrafts715]

I love millionth. I’ve used it for ceramic repairs and making assecories for my Lemax Xmas village. Thanks for the great videos xx

[@bevsartsandcrafts715]

* milliput that should’ve said lol 😂

[@TerrainDirect]

i always find it interesting to see how other people come up with trees, i do pretty much the same there but i cover the wire in hot glue them use flexi bark, looking forward to seeing more :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Terrain Direct Never used flexibark, what's it like mate?

[@TerrainDirect]

its not to bad one tub lasts ages, its a really gritty texture, but remains slightly flexible, it dose hold detail really really well though, its again back to the train modeler boys they have been using this stuff for years. modelshop.co.uk/Shop/Finishes/Textured-Finishes/Item/Flexi-bark/ITM4241

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Terrain Direct cheers buddy

[@Adi031978]

Great tutorial as always from you. You manage to make such builds look achievable and have afantastic voice to listen too

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Martin Adi Cheers buddy, glad to know my efforts are paying off ;-)

[@danielcox1107]

Another great tutorial. I am in the Audio Visual business and we use loads of category cabling, like what you use for your computer. I've been experimenting with using it for wire trees. Its my favorite price since we have tons of scraps lying around....free. So far its working well... its smaller gauge wire but it comes twisted in pairs so that's not really an issue

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Daniel Cox I envy your wire supply mate :-)

[@Fpinne]

You sir, are a genius! What a great tutorial this is! Love watching your videos. Keep up the great work.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Fpinne thanks very much matey

[@tsmithdotks]

I was bored at work last night and started making a tree. I'm an electrician so we have TONS of wire. I even found some Milliput today at the craft store! I'm hoping it's another slow night at work so I can get back to "work" lol. I'll post some pictures on the Terainiacs FB later.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Tony Smith Paid to craft? Seriously envious mate, don't get caught! ;-)

[@kaywoodparsons7967]

Roll out the putty with a pie roller then cut them into strips. start wrapping

[@shanekackley9275]

i been waiting to see a tutorial like this i've seen other trees made but im gonna go this route can't wait to see the foilage pt.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Whyso Serious Working on it today matey ;-)

[@Svain5]

Hi, Mel. Great tutorial. You may have just cured my tree sculpting fears. I use LOADS of Milliput and I get it for £3 from a little model railway shop in St Mary Cray (Kent) rather than £5.50 over at the Hobbycraft store just over the road. Hobbycraft is still great for cheap things like blue/white Tac and 2-sided tape though, so I always end up visiting both. Cheers, Steve

[@funoff3207]

Hobbycraft is still awful awful prices

[@cousineddie7898]

Look at "Magic Sculpt" putty. GOOOD stuff.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

a few have mentioned that

[@tabletopmika4349]

I just built one wire tree and used toilet paper soaked in watered down PVA to cover the wire texture. That saved me the sculpting work, but it was quite messy with glue spots all over my workspace. As foliage I used the same green sponge flocks glued with PVA I used in my hedge building tutorial (-> my channel), which was a bad idea. the keep falling off all the time. If I should ever build another of these trees I will definitely use clum foliage and seal it with PVA.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Aleph Myrmidon It's a good method mate, I just can't be doing with trying to glue the clumps on with pva lol

[@paulnaylor7501]

+Aleph Myrmidon hi am a landscape gardener with 9 year also a sci fi modeller back to this whyen i do my trees go looking in a garden stall or shop as there is this plastic coverd wire it can be glued as like abs plastrute wire but this was pound when it come to covering the wire i use double sided sticky tape as it would allow you to add on extra brances prior to painting in acrylic/ humbrol dk brown and for forlage i had to do some research the best is i found and now use isthe tesco/asda dk green plastcfibre pan scrub cut very fine in to say 2to 3 mm sq then mix in container with aclear glue like uhu or same this will bind the folage together beward it is messy but the result is you can glue in to place

[@emuxioxio]

This is incredible man, thank you for sharing this.

[@David-Field.Stuff01]

This is so clearly explained and demonstrated. Superb.

[@RedeyeX23]

That's a great video, I wouldn't have thought of using wire like that. One suggestion I would make is perhaps use photo reference too make it look even more realistic

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Jon Simpson No a bad idea mate, I'll include it in the list of the more advanced stuff for the advanced version of this tutorial :-)

[@victorwallace9357]

"Just give'em a good fingering down" lmao best thing you have said so far lmao

[@kimspence21]

Thanks so much for sharing your talent.

[@styxxrivers7576]

Great tutorial. Excellent video work. Thanks for your effort.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Styxx Rivers Glad you liked it buddy

[@donewiththis-2012]

Love it. Tried making some tonight. I went to b and q and bought myself some wire.....I think I bought too thick a wire as I struggled to twist it then branch off.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

TheRider2012 Go for the thinnest they've got mate, think it's 1.7mm green garden wire ;-)

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Good stuff terraintutor. It was really confidence-inspiring to see someone go through this process so fluently, solving the pitfalls along the way. Great tute, Mel. HUMBLE QUESTIONS 1. How pliable is the trunk-covering with the milliput? 2. So is greenstuff ideal? - as it’s bendy when cured? 3. UNIVERSAL CARVING PROBLEM: I note in the vid you pointed out the numerous tiny lumps or “little bumps”, left by carving grooves, these being the scrapings let behind on the furrows made by the carving tool (result of dragging & displacing the putty?) This is a problem that has ALWAYS stymied my attempts at carving clay etc. I would LOVE to know a fix or a material that doesn’t do this.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Vikki Wilson 1. Solid as hell! 2. Green stuff would be a bit bendier but prone to cracking. 3 Ignore them while craving, wait till they dry, brush the off with a stiff toothbrush ;-)

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Hey Mel, thank YOU! Your tip regarding clay carving will give me confidence to pick up the clay again.The little "pills" caused by carving always ruined my previous efforts. Thankyou! I will try again using my husband's toothbrush. Happy New Year, may 2016 be a wonderful one for you & your family .

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Vikki Wilson You too hun x

[@paulnaylor7501]

+Vikki Wilson hi there very good video start about the wire but i found if you can get garden wire it got a plastic cover that you can strip off to make a thinner brances i then cover the wire in double sided stick tape the reason why is as you twist the wire you can at a later time add more brances as this way it is quicker to design the tree and as you mark the tree bark in to the miliput my way the creases inthe tape does the same as you wrap round the tape (sticky both sides) then when fin you paint as like you did the all tree now for the folage i found that licenhn drys out and goes off colour i found the purfect material dark green plastic pan scrourer cut in to 2mm square i not tried ablender yet as mine was broken do about a bowl full mixing this is the bit even icannot escape mix the 2mm cubes in with aclear glue like uhu or other plastic clear glue it will set .you just pullapart glue to the tree as normal then hilight with a bit of ground scatter as if it go eather fruit or flowers

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Thankyou very much for your ideas - I will try it on my very next tree. I ended up using a think trunk & the main branches of a faux bonsai. I cut off the top half of the bonsai and I have added vertical rolls of green stuff all around the trunk to give it a bit of a gnarled fantasy look. Looks great so far but, again, pretty rigid. Your method is very interesting. Foliage - I am more interested in the silhouette silflor mininatur kind of foliage although I recognise the great use of foam in foiage. Check out their "filligree bushes" in Stephen Bennets scenery video. Ill be trying your ideas - thanks! V

[@valborchardt3596]

Thanks Mel

[@GregBoneHuff]

great tutorial mate, this is also how i make my trees :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Greg Huff cheers mate, it's a tried and tested method ;-)

[@zoglin]

I did something similar, but I used plaster. I think milliput works better. I will try that next time I do trees. How about putting the trees on round bases and fitting them to area terrain? Would you us sheet magnets to hold the trees in place. Thank you for sharing the process in such detail.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Perkins Dearborn Plasters ok but it can chip, milliput is harder. Checkout the back to basic playlist, there's a vid on making removable disc bases in there ;-)

[@nighthawkdutchchameleon9815]

Again these are amazing

[@KriegKraft]

Gotta try it out any time soon!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Krieg Kraft have fun matey

[@GaryGMW]

Nice job and good tutorial.Keep them coming.Regards Gary.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

loftlurker1 thanks matey

[@TheTabletopWargamersTTW]

loving the channel m8, very nice trees I will have to have a go making some now cheers m8, been looking for some cheap realistic looking trees for a while now, plus I like to make my own scenery.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Ghostshiver awesome mate, hope the vids help :-)

[@MylesEmpire01]

What cha' call it, yeah?! Subscribed!!

[@con_boy]

I think it might have looked better just as wire, have you ever considered adapting this technique and just using wood you find, like twigs? I used to do that and douse them in pva glue / water mix to strengthen them, you also hardly need to paint them

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Conrad Bate I'm saving twig armatures for a different vid mate, although I'll still be painting them, the pva gives them a glossy look :-)

[@bilalkhalifa4941]

Nice work sir

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Thanks

[@chown-r]

Having thought about this could you wrap the trunk and branches in masking tape, then use filler to texture it?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Ben Hodgkinson I'd avoid masking tape, simply because it's waxed and specifically designed not to allow things to stick to it, it's for masking after all but the tape idea would work mate

[@MarcusSpetim]

Seems like a decent idea to simply rub some real bark piece into it,once you've done with the miliput Create life like texture a lot faster than poky poky slowly with the sculpting tool.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+MarcusSpetim If you've going that route, skip the milliput and make a mix of bark, filler and pva, and then paste that one mate ;-)

[@MarcusSpetim]

Hmm,i didn't think of that,nice tip thanks.

[@trainjam6596]

Wow, you are the man!!! Thanks a bunch...

[@djkamnz]

Great video as always - I'm off to find some wire!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Kyle Madgwick Cheers buddy

[@Detson404]

Amazing! I'd love to learn how you make your gem trees.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Much the same but without the bark and foliage mate

[@Detson404]

TheTerrainTutor Thanks! Do actual beads or sequins figure in?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Hang them off the tip of the branches - www.google.co.uk/search?q=wire+gem+trees

[@Detson404]

Thanks man! You're awesome.

[@silenttraveler2710]

Total Awesomeness

[@MiniGamePainter]

Great job. Always wanted to see that.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

***** Glad you found it helpful matey

[@ishyab011]

Great work. Great use of light gauge wire, sculpting putty, and hot glue. I watched another modeler who used another technique using cardboard rolls from paper towels, and covered entirely with hot glue, then sculpted and painted the tree after finishing it off with realistic plastic type leaves, branches etc., that fit to scale. I like his idea of using more of the hot glue to cover things, yet I love your use of the wire for the trunks to get a thinner, more to scale of typical table top gaming pieces ( in my view ). I now have an idea to somewhat combine both his and your use of materials to assemble trees. The only question I have is do you think it becomes a bit more costly using the modeling putty to cover the entire tree? Could you use some of it, then cover other areas using the hot glue? That way, kinda spreading out the use of a very expensive material, again in my humble opinion. After painting and then using lichen, scaled leaves, etc., for the tree canopy, I think you'd get an equally beautiful ( more to scale ) tree. Any regard that is what I'm thinking of trying. Again, thanks for your great video, look to see more, and thanks for helping me out with some ideas for what I'm going to try to do down the road. :) Stay well, happy holidays, and catch more of your tips and techniques soon! :) Sammy

[@TheTerrainTutor]

ishyab011 gotta love DMScottys work mate ;-)You could use modelling putty for the trunk only as that bit is exposed so to speak and them use hotglue for the branches. Generally I find that 1 pack of milliput will do 4 to 5 complete trees, so cost wise, it's not ridiculous. Have a great Christmas matey ;-)

[@ishyab011]

TheTerrainTutor Thanks for the response. Understood, and agree. 4 to 5 per pack of putty, isn't too bad. Guess I'm just putting on my "Scrooge" at the moment. :) Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year 2015 to you and your as well!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

ishyab011 Merry Christmas mate

[@cjtvtube]

May I suggest instead of the "milliput" (the clay you push in on top of the wire), which seems like the longest and most tedious part of building the tree... how about just "dipping" it in some liquid latex? I actually haven't tried it but is seems viable and a good method?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+cjtvtube Not sure on that one mate, give it a go and let me know how you get on :-)

[@cjtvtube]

+TheTerrainTutor I did give it a go, actually came out not bad, "painted" on latex and even gave it a nice "rough" / "barky" type texture. I have a pic... but don't want to create a vid with 1 pic:) Anyways... I've been trying to find an awesome "Cherry Tree" and finally found one ( www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10218366a/20/1 ) but have been "sold out" for ages. So... I figured I'd give it a go but... man... how the heck did they do that! Your Wire System could work for the trunk/limbs but the thin fibers that hold... the pink graffitti paper? Cotton? Hmmm... if you have a clue and would like to let me know, I'd be interested:)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

cjtvtube Should do matey

[@leemarchant6468]

Hi, thanks for all the videos! How does clay do for wrapping the wire?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Works fine buddy

[@TheDiomedef16]

Great tutorial, really enjoyed that...Ian

[@TheTerrainTutor]

TheDiomedef16 Glad you found it interesting mate :-)

[@jr44dc]

could you use air drying clay instead of milliput?? i dont have that but do have some clay at the house

[@user-tk9zn2mn8n]

Say and paste for modeling You can use

[@jimwhite2541]

Very good work.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

jim white thanks buddy ;-)

[@jimwhite2541]

You are welcome.

[@ebenezerscrooge6542]

Yet another great video for $1 per month.

[@8JellyBean4]

Just wondering if there are other epoxy putty's that you can recommend for this. I live in Ontario and can't find Milliput at any local stores. Was trying to avoid ordering online since I was looking for a quick day project. BTW great video!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Mike at Terranscapes has a good comparison vid on modelling putties and he's US based, check it out :-)

[@davidstares985]

Im looking at getting some miliput to try my hand at this but their are different kinds apparently. Which one do you use?? Thanks in advance.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yellow - the fine stuff mate

[@matrix626]

I would assume you could use Sculpey clay and bake it, yes?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Frank B Assuming the metal wire armature didn't cause problems, yeah mate

[@MrMarbolous]

Hej Mel, I really like your tutorials :-) Thanks for all the inspirations, tips and techniques. One quick (maybe dumb) question: For that tree you used 15*20cm = 3,00m ( +/- some inches ;-) ), right?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yeah mate

[@t.j.lemaster8653]

Would a plumber's putty work from the local hardware store?

[@mathewellis3869]

hi mel, amazing video and channel, thanks for all the awesome tips. i just have a quick question because im gonna have a go at these. could you use poly filla instead of milliput?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+mathew ellis I wouldn't as it's a little soft for my liking, do a little test on a twig mate ;-)

[@mathewellis3869]

Thanks mel. Ordered some milliput, just couldnt help myself lol

[@santiagozuniga200]

Is this technique also good for making large trees?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Sure

[@JulianAncestral]

Hi, Which is the product used to cover the wires??? I´m not sure about that, and would like to craft my own trees...thanks.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Milliput mate

[@alessanfer1086]

Fantástico seu trabalho, estou achando seus vídeos ótimos.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Alessandro José Ferreira Obrigado, eu estou feliz que você gosta dos vídeos :-)

[@dealthagar]

US fan here - what sort of wire is this? What's it used for?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Garden wire mate

[@Geologist997]

28 gauge

[@joshjohnston7388]

Yep, gardening wire. You can get it at most gardening supply or home depot. For thicker trees, you can use picture hanging wire from the fastener aisle. I don't know my gauges offhand.

[@zarazen8110]

Ugh you're so creative and talented. 😑 No, I'm not mad.. lol.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Zara Zen LOL, thanks mate

[@keithaskey1783]

Bloody spellchecker

[@TheTerrainTutor]

lol

[@lucatovoli7875]

Fantastic bro :) great!!!!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Luca Tovoli Cheers mate

[@dadsongs]

I can't seem to find the video that would explain how to paint these, and how to create the bases. Thanks!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Search for my realistic tree series mate

[@braddimond3368]

so i have the milliput on and just not sure if I have to primer the tree up now or is it good enough to paint? thanks and keep up the great work

[@TheTerrainTutor]

either mate to be honest

[@robertgraham1511]

Will that also work for dead trees? What about tree stups?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yep and yep

[@hedgehoghero8692]

Would air dried clay work? Great video mate!

[@TheGnomeDenial]

Great video. Is air drying clay okay to use on the wire armatures? Or will this be too brittle? Keep up the good work.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

TheGnomeDenial Should be fine mate, just mix it with a little pva if you're concerned

[@Lemmiwinks6]

Hi Mel, I have another little question: Does this also work with DAS airdrying clay ? Since it s cheaper :).Thanks

[@andrewkirkpatrick3019]

Great vid bud but what is milliput would i get it in an art store a hardware store or a model shop thanks

[@TheTerrainTutor]

andrew kirkpatrick probably in all of them to be honest, art shops definitely, failing that, ebay!

[@IRONMAN000]

What’s the green board you work on called? Where do you find those?

[@milgeekmedia]

Anyone got suggested lengths and how many wire loops for 15mm scale trees?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

It's more a matter of how big you want YOUR trees mate, they don't come in uniform scale but as a starter, 15 20cms long 0.8mm thick wires.

[@milgeekmedia]

Thanks, I realise this was a sort of 'how long is a piece of string' sort of question. I'm going to try your technique but scale my trees 'by eye' to a size I'm happy with. Enjoying your videos. :)

[@stevemcwhorter3013]

Would 0.030 MIG welding wire work? $10 for 2# at a local store.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

I don't know mate, never used welding wire but I can't see why it wouldn't work

[@ILikeToColourRed]

your voice always reminds me of blue peter for some reason

[@TheTerrainTutor]

ILikeToColourRed That's a new one, normally it's that bloke off Art Attack mate ;-)

[@edvardlonn4651]

Could i use das putty for this, only 13 going for the cheap stuff :D

[@TheTerrainTutor]

it'll work well mate

[@petermclellan7049]

Do you have any thoughts on what to do with those extra wire clippings?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Peter McLellan They all go in my scrap bits tub for future rubble and debris mate :-)

[@radiansigit5907]

can u tell me what the ingredients for make trees ??

[@TheTerrainTutor]

radian sigit covered all in the vid mate

[@keithaskey1783]

Can you use plaster/pea or would it crack?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

at a push mate

[@steburge1]

Great job! Where do you purchase your wire from?....Steve

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Steve Burgess Ebay matey

[@litahsr.8226]

part 2?

[@_oldirtyben]

Genius 😍

[@jenniferw8963]

Made my first tree after watching your video. Thanks for the advice. I took a photo of it and would like to share it with you but don't know how. THe url is: oi62.tinypic.com/28mfspi.jpg

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Jennifer Gwinn That's really nice, you should join the Terrainiacs facebook group :-)

[@djdonsford]

Where's part 2?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

In the grass and trees playlist

[@keithaskey1783]

P.v.a

[@keithaskey1783]

‘Pea’ obviously

[@matthewflynn7806]

Please please please get out of the habit of saying "whatchacallit" all the time it's so irritating but otherwise good video

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Matthew Flynn If I could, I would, but it's just how we roll here lol