Realistic Scenic Trees - Wire Wool & Flock Technique

[@BoulderCreekRailroad]

Wow! I'm laughing so hard tears are coming out from my eyes... I've got such a vivid image of a stranger trying to light your scenery on fire and you just come in with a right hook... "BOOM"! That was comedy gold! Love it. P.S. I'm adding a smoke generator to my scenery so I guess I have a third option.... "No that's not the smoke generator anymore!".

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Luke Towan LMAO, a justice league version of the terrain tutor, that'd be epic. It'd have to be a left uppercut, with a glove of clump foliage! Look forward to seeing your smoke effects bud!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Luke Towan Messaged your FB page bud

[@johnkelley9877]

I have to say I never thought of using steel wool but that is a unique idea with very impressive results. I like the Autumn colors which is something I rarely see. Really good job, thanks!

[@DZSabre]

Good one, Mel.... the video AND the "hit them' advice. I have plenty of this wool, ironically because it is such a good fire starter when you put a 9 volt battery to a dense clump of it. I have always wondered how to build a tree with this so I am glad to see this.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+DZ Sabre So it you is it! ;-D Cheers buddy :-)

[@brucewoods9377]

Love these tutorials. Now I’ve found them I am binge watching and saving

[@akaStarminer]

Lol. I liked this video just for this line... "In that case....hit them..." Couldn't agree more!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+akaStarminer great minds!

[@christianoliver25]

Awesome! This vid is going in the Future Projects playlist.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Christian Oliver Glad you liked it bud ;-)

[@jeffjustice6185]

cool effect. looks simple and cheap. I like.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Cheers bud

[@AdrianKramarzyk]

that was awsesome! so quick if you have a lot of them to do!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Adrian Kramarzyk Quick, cheap and easy, just the way I like them ;-)

[@AdrianKramarzyk]

+TheTerrainTutor me to matey! see you at salute !

[@t.j.lemaster8653]

I would like to start by saying I'm loving the channel it's jam-packed full of information tips and techniques ! speaking of techniques here's a weathering technique that you might be able to use in the future . Take a little bit of steel wool drop it into a container with white vinegar and a little splash of bleach let it sit until it dissolves the steel wool (this may take a couple days) once the steel wool is completely broke down drain onto a coffee filter and let dry for another day or two once dry you will have a rust powder you simply apply to the model or whatever you were weathering using water or hairspray then sprinkling the powder onto the subject allowed to dry then clear coat with Matt or flat varnish and there you have it the most realistic rust for your models. 🧐👍🏆

[@billd.iniowa2263]

I'm running out of clump foliage so If I make some of my own trees this is worth a try. I inherited a fairly large amount of S.W. so it'd be free. I can only assume this technique will scale down. Thanx Mel.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Bill D. in Iowa It will scale down bud ;-)

[@thomassmart4088]

oi - been making a bunch of trees with a bit more detail - using a poly glue on where the branches start - putting on some steel wool on it - then trimming when dry - a lot more control than relying on the primer to be a glue

[@JeepTherapy]

I’ve recently picked up watching your channel. I’ve been looking for a kid friendly project with the kids. They like playing D&D, so... here I am. With that said, and about 10 videos of yours watched, I’ve noticed that your hands shake. And that you do great work. If my assumption is correct, then I should be able to do an above average job at this!! LOL Back on a serious note, thanks for sharing.

[@terrain4print]

Good timing with a nice video Mel! I have just made my first wire armature tree trunk. :-)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Markus Kruse Meant to be bud ;-)

[@seanedgar164]

Hahaha I love the into/safety. "hit them"

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Sean Edgar Safest thing to do, apart from nuking them from orbit bud ;-)

[@euansmith3699]

+TheTerrainTutor Its the only way to be sure.

[@powersave2]

I am assuming that making a tall tree with this effect is fairly similar? Or is there a different technique to make tall trees with small shrubbery/foliage? Something like large red wood trees? Or could you make a video about the different styles of tree base/trunks that one can make? Maybe with some different techniques to making them?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+powersave2 It's slightly different, I'll be covering it in a future video mate

[@powersave2]

+TheTerrainTutor awesome glad to here! how awesome these simple ones are coming makes really confident in doing my own. :-)

[@drblasphemy]

Thanks for the information! What's the best way to set fire to these trees? LOL. J/K.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+drblasphemy Flamethrower!

[@drblasphemy]

Nice one! Cheers!

[@punkprops]

Touch the steel wool with the 2 terminals of a 9 volt battery!

[@Pipedog42]

This is my default material. Love it!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Pipedog42 Cheap and easy, gotta love it bud ;-)

[@TotemoGaijin]

What do you think about doing this, but instead of steel wool, the green fibre stuff off the top of those spunge scrub pads they sell for cleaning?

[@UnderdogPainting]

cool video mate could u get same effect with cotton wool ?

[@vikkiwilson5069]

+Immortal Uprising Studio Furnace filter is popular in US, polyfibre is actually sold as the proper for making trees.Grab a handful out of a cushion. Ive used both, cotton wool may be a little weak."How to apply woodland scenic polyfibre to model tree"is another great tutorial by an eccentric:)

[@sebastianb2044]

Long time listener; first time commenter: Do you carefully choose your newspaper background? I always enjoy seeing what headlines are in the UK papers...

[@bibbly1234]

+Sebastian B Knowing Mel, he'll spend more time worrying about the newspapers in the background of the tutorial than is reasonable...

[@adriannebone4184]

+Sebastian B lol... yea, I was thinking he same thing

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Sebastian B All I do is check for boobies, beyond that, it's a gamble lol

[@dmblair4244]

' HIT THEM " ... hearing you say that give's me a disturbing sense of glee... 😎

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+DMBLAIR WULF Because you know it's right ;-)

[@dmblair4244]

+TheTerrainTutor I do know its right thats why it gives my heart a disturbing sense of glee...lol

[@adt70hk33]

Did I hear a snigger in the background when you said hit them?!?😁

[@evolvedcreations8638]

I am making a bonsai piece now actually and I am debating what substructure is best. I have both steel wool and lichen....decisions, decisions.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Duane Clark Oh, hard one, I prefer lichen

[@chuckweb66]

Fantastic video! Love the colors :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+chuckweb66 Thanks mate

[@brabopainter]

Very nice done, as Always.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Brabo Painter Thank you kindly matey :-)

[@joshpickering5039]

Hey, I'm going to make some trees shortly but was thinking of using coconut fibre (from plant liners) for the substructure on the WS armatures. Is there a video covering this technique at all? If not, would the same techniques shown here hold true for the coco fibres? Spray adhesive then flock etc? Any tips appreciated! Never made trees before! Thanks, love your videos!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yep, there's a vid in the realistic scenic trees series

[@joshpickering5039]

TheTerrainTutor brilliant, thanks Mel, I’ll go check it out!

[@vikkiwilson5069]

My brother's a teacher. On free dress days he wears his "how to deal with bullies" T shirt: "1. kick them in the shins.2. Call out "bully" 3. Run away" :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Vikki Wilson Doing it properly!

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Also worth teaching at university :)

[@todorminchev2123]

can u use glue instead of spray tac or even silicon spray ?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

might be messy, spray adhesive is best

[@todorminchev2123]

ohh ok thanks

[@w.rustylane5650]

Great remarks about fires--hit 'em or run. LMAO! And of course, I'm a subscriber. Love yer videos and alternate ways of making trees.

[@genroa3881]

"Hit them". I really love these little touches of humor :D

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Baptiste Blanchard I wasn't joking ...... ;-D

[@genroa3881]

Of course :P

[@shepherd_of_art]

I want to do a very difficult project and make a miniature tree inside a (relevantly) small ring. Any tips for what kind of wire for the structure or base material to use for the leafs ?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

birch seeds mate

[@themoody1337]

Awesome! Thank you! Greetings from Germany!

[@SgtOddballz]

nice video Mel!

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Sgt Oddballz Thanks buddy!

[@WoodyMonk]

Looks great Mel. What grade steel wool did you use?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Woody Monk I used fine / 00 mate

Hi Mel, mate! How is it going? What is that you are using for the flocking? Is that pigment?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Eloy Falcón Mellado It's 4Ground loose leaf scatter mate

Cool!! Thanks!

[@Kinnamon100]

Wire wool comes in different thickness or has some kind of count like sand paper. What would you suggest?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Kinnamon100 I used fine / 00 mate

[@volvopwn]

Fast tak what is that more exactly ?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

fine latex/rubber spray adhesive mate

[@rakshasutton1933]

like a dive after i whent and got some wire wool i set a little bit ofit on fire nearly set the house on fire testing this lessond learned

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Dude!!!!! Really?

[@rakshasutton1933]

Sadly mate. some of us dont believe it till we see it

[@tomatoes3]

Mel hi , was the primer an enamel base? Another great video by the way, esp the hit them and the laught in the background. John

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+tomrace16 No, acrylic mate, there's always someone laughing at me in the background! ;-D

[@IDICBeer]

Nice vid bud

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+IDICBeer Cheers buddy

[@M0U53B41T]

You should probably watch Marines with Flamers near those trees tho :P

[@thomassmart4088]

vinegar and steel wool have fun together

[@carneson123]

That is just to cool. I'm going to use that

[@mooncabbagere]

It's funny, I saw a vid the other day using some kind of fancy Woodland Scenic tree fluff, and I thought, I bet you could do that with steel wool. Was just slightly concerned about rust. Is it really pronounced "Litchen"? I was repeatedly corrected to "Lie-ken" as a youngster.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Mooncabbage If it's primed, rust isn't a problem mate. No, it's prounced 'Lie-ken' but I'm leading the fightback! ;-)

[@DireSwift]

I literally spit my coffee out at the fire safety disclaimer lmao

[@ta24u]

Looks great brotha

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+ta24u Thanks mate

[@paul0132]

"Hit them" *Nods* *raises hand* "Will this be on the test?"

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+paul0132 It will! ;-)

[@rabbit0664]

Love the safety logic. "Hit them". Well they're setting things on fire sounds reasonable to me.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Do it twice mate, safety first, you need to be sure! ;-)

[@darthsept]

a 9 v battery will make that wire wool go up in flames so i asume the fier stories come from the train crowd?

[@TheTerrainTutor]

That would make sense

[@bybeewins]

"Hit them." Sounds reasonable.

[@SilverIntent]

Has anyone ever told you, that you sorta sound like Bob Ross of terrain making? :0

[@SPACENOMADMALEV]

Really even the Wife(?) Couldn't keep it down after the quip about the proper approach for Terrain arsonist.

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Malev Da Shinobi Even the wife lol ;-)

[@Alawatakima]

Now that's a cheap Forest! :)

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Alawatakima Exactly! ;-D

[@astaroth241]

video is great but if i hear "yea" one more time i will jump trough the window XD

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Good trip! ;-D

[@astaroth241]

you would like that haha

[@TheTerrainTutor]

Yeah I would :-D :-D :-D

[@emmetkeane3474]

whatchacallit

[@lok3kobold]

Wire wool tree is lower than tea cosy on the kill statistics, true story

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+Sebastian Knutsson Who got killed by a tea cosy?!

[@lok3kobold]

+TheTerrainTutor I dont know but i heard there where 3 people a few years back of qi, they are usually ok at checking their facts.

[@redgreen09]

well agen no page 3 girls that har alll bout in the papers in the UK but the steell wool good idaer you get brown add lest but that just me like em and yes the pain in neck thing as play you just like shove out the whay or look up the ruels what hapen if set the things on fire to get off the bord and stop blocking sight the last bits a joke fore some out thare well you know who are

[@TheTerrainTutor]

+redgreen09 Can't have boobies on youtube ;-)

[@rickbear7249]

DANGER - DO NOT USE WIRE WOOL Wire Wool is defined as an Extremely Hazardous Material in the workshop. Not only is it extremely Flammable, igniting from the very tiniest spark, but it can SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST and, the fire that will spread incredibly ferociously, emitting lots of sparks, burns at over 1,000°C. Your problem is that so-called spontaneous combustion occurs when you combine oxygen, a flammable material, and a heat source. Unfortunately, oxidization --- which occurs when water-based acrylic paint causes the wire wool to rust OR additives that give you faster drying in oil-based paints, which don't dry by evaporation of volatile solvents, but oxidization of the oil --- can generate sufficient heat to cause self combustion of wire wool. Wire Wool must be stored in an airtight container in the workshop. Even a tiny spark from your locomotives can set it alight. Then there's the risk of spontaneous combustion from damp or paint oxidization. It's not designed nor intended for use on model railways. Nor would it ever be approved for such use. I am a professional model designer. I have to read and thoroughly research the safety aspects of my materials. Believe me, Wire Wool is about the biggest fire hazard you can put on your model. DON'T DO IT

[@richardleclercq102]

Oddly enough, I've been using wire wool since the 1960s with no issues. I have to work to get it to ignite and then it tends to smolder rather than burst into flame. Cooking oil is flammable. A spray can of just about anything can be turned into a flamethrower. Safety is important, but a good thing can be taken too far.