Cheap Model Pine Tree that Looks Awesome - Model Railroad How-to

Make Realistic Model Trees in Fall Color: • Model Trees in Fall Co...
Do you want to get some ultra realistic, foreground pine trees in your model train layout or diorama by spending less than $2 per tree? Let me show you some ingeneous techniques using commpnly available, natural material to build some. All you need is a little time. :)
In this episode, I show my technique of making beautiful and detailed pine trees. These are made in N Scale, but the technique should work very well for HO, OO and 1:72 scales as well. I build two trees here, one with extensive branch details which took a little longer time to build; and another is made in a faster method which sacrifices a little bit of detailing of the first tree, but still makes a wonderful model.
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Links to channel shout out:
Vinny (bnsf6951) - / @dacuzzz
Anthony (Hastings BNSF N Scale Modeler) - / @hastingsbnsfnscalemod...
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Materials:
Straight twigs of any plant
Asparagus fern needles and twigs
Static Grass - 1mm in 3 colors - Autumn, Spring and Winter
Scenic Glue
Wood Glue
Toothpick - 1
Brown Spray Paint
Acrylic paints: Grey and Unbleached Titanium
Tools:
Dremmel rotary tool
Snipper
Box cutter knife
Peco Precision Static Grass Applicator
Flat brushes - 1 soft bristle, 1 hard bristle
Visit Website: www.trainsanddi...
Follow my blog: www.trainsanddi...
SOCIAL CONNECTION:
Follow me on Twitter: / tdioramas
Connect on Facebook: / trainsanddioramas
Connect on Instagram: / trainsanddioramas
CREDITS:
Music: Blue Danube by Strauss

[@mr.e1944]

These have got to be the best model pine trees I have ever seen! I think these are what they call museum quality. I will attempt to make them like you did. I hope I am as successful.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Wow, thanks! I am glad that you think so. :) It's actually amazing that they really cost next to nothing - dead twigs and branches and some static grass, that's it! All you need to invest is time to acquire the right twigs. :) Cheers! Kaustav

[@mr.e1944]

@@TrainsandDioramas Real branches to to look like a trees, amazing. Next you will be using real stones and dirt for ground cover!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

@@mr.e1944 My friend, I already have: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWbdnXlraauDmqM :) Enjoy! Kaustav

[@mr.e1944]

@@TrainsandDioramas I know, I was just trying to be funny. Scenic Express or Noch probably is shadow banning you. If your channel went viral these companies would see a drop in sales!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

@@mr.e1944 LOL! Thank you my friend! Yeah, that definitely answers why I never get a lot of views! But on a serious note, in a hobby market, you also need those guys because they keep the business running. If you take time value of money, my methods are not really cheaper - I spend a lot of time experimenting, trying new things... some work, some don't. I live in a country where this is a rare hobby, so no local market, I have to import everything and pay at least 2.5 times the retail price for each item. That's why I had to learn to be ultra creative. It was frustrating at first, BUT, now that I've tasted the reward of the creative side of things, I do feel blessed - I'm not going back! I just hope that my work gives hope to those who cannot afford the 'professional' hobby items (my favorite oxymoron). It helps to have the ready to use meterial and the right tools, but even without it, you CAN create quality. You pay with your time and not money, but in the end along with a quality product you also acquire skills, and your hobby turns into your art. That's the real gain! Cheers and thank you for listening to my blabbering. :) Kaustav

[@vincenthuying98]

Love the use of the asparagus branches!!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thanks! Yes, unconventional for sure because most modelers use the asparagus to model the needles themselves and not branches. Glad that you liked it. Cheers! Kaustav

[@adamstein5773]

Well done, looks great!

[@normanrowe2831]

Hello, to answer your question, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being best, an 11. Absolutely stunning results. Especially being an n scale tree. I watch a lot of You Tube modellers, diorama builders, game terrain builders, model railroad builders, and to be honest, these trees are the best. And that says a lot. There are a lot of truly talented people out there. Your work ranks right up there at the top. Keep 'em coming. I will help spread the news.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

That's quite a compliment Norman and I sure appreciate spreading the word! It means a lot to know that these models look the best in the eyes of someone who has seen a lot. I will need a bunch of trees for my planned HO logging layout (starting next year, hopefully!) and it will be a good opportunity to refine this method for a larger scale. Once again, THANK YOU for all the encouragement. :) Cheers! Kaustav

[@sathyasmodelrailway2023]

Great videos Kaustav. Just goes to see the effort you've put in. Wish I could visit your home again :P

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you my friend! Make a plan to visit Hyderabad whenever you’re in India next. It’s not just my home but you definitely want to see the PMW workshop too! 😬

[@rolandhersom239]

I used asparagus fern for a pine tree about 40 years ago. I only glued the sprigs into a balsa trunk. It is still on my layout. The asparagus sprigs were only painted and they have not deteriorated over the years.

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

Man, your skills and attention to detail are simply off the charts. These look fantastic. I’ve not seen the small applicator before, I’ll have to chase one up. And thanks for the kind words and shout out. I’m glad I found your channel, and glad to consider you one of my KZbin friends...Anthony

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you so much, my friend! It makes me happy that you enjoyed the video. I am loving all your work, and I am glad as well that you found me here! Cheers! Kaustav P.S. I had to buy the Peco precision applicator from UK - got mine from Hattons. For me it doesn't make much difference since I have to import everything anyway!

[@williambryant5946]

I'm modeling a railroad line in the southeastern US and this area has pine trees that no supplier has replicated yet, at least for a reasonable price; so I'm gonna have to make the trees myself. The method you used to make your pines is a perfect reflection of the pines I'm trying to replicate and I will be using it. Best pine tree video ever❗ Thank you so much and keep up the great work and great tutorial videos. 👍

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you so much William! It makes me really happy that this video gives you what you need to make your trees, and also the fact that you consider the trees to be so close to the real thing. It's difficult to replicate something from a distance using photos, so there is nothing more satisfying than when it works in the eyes of people who have seen them. Cheers! Kaustav

[@southern207hobbies]

I'm located in Virginia and yellow pine , red oak , pin oak, birch, and Douglass fur are the normal trees for my area

[@Old52Guy]

This is the best tutorial on this subject I've seen. This will take my layouts up a couple of notches. Thanks!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you and I am glad that you found this helpful. you can try applying the flocking directly over some seafoam as well to get some great southern pine.

[@Old52Guy]

@@TrainsandDioramas Thank you!

[@CharlieDiamond-em5so]

Very nice job, very nice. I’ve used similar techniques before. If I may, I’ll offer some future suggestions? Use a wire, 2-3” long, held in the alligator clip of your Grass applicator. It will help get to precise areas, within the trees canopy. Also, touch it to the branch you’re applying to. And always apply to the Bottom of the branches too. A Long needle pines needles grow around their branch, not just on the tops of them. Keep up your good work.👍🏼😁

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Some great tips, thanks! I’ll surely try these tricks the next time I’m making a tree like that

[@jimrice5588]

I really liked your method of making these trees, very realistic, thanks for sharing.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you! I am glad that you found them helpful. Check out the other type of trees in this playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLJG77T3HqmaYRjhYgdsHslQ7iAF2U9ojd if you like, I'm sure they will give you an idea or two. 😀Cheers! 🍻 Kaustav

[@ottorosborough7589]

A great way to model a pine tree. Looks great.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@Cowboy_Steve]

These are just spectacular and much easier than I would have thought given the quality. When I'm ready to start some scenery I will be reviewing many of your tutorials as they are fantastic! Thanks for sharing 🤠

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you kindly! I’m glad that you’re finding my work helpful. Please do find me on Facebook or Instagram, or just send an email about your progress whenever you get to building your layout. Cheers! Kaustav

[@andygossard4293]

Good Stuff! I also enjoy the Blue Danube. A million cartoons from half a century ago now come racing back into my mind.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you Andy! I think these pine trees might easily find a place in that crowd of cartoon characters! You just have to imagine Treebeard as a Pine… 😬

[@matthewstorer6923]

I am absolutely trying this method for my WWII dioramas. I've been searching for a good pine method for awhile. I am building a diorama of the Ardennes forest. Pine is a must. I thank you kindly.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

I am so glad to know that, and it's my pleasure. 😀 What scale are you going to use for your dio?

[@matthewstorer6923]

@@TrainsandDioramas 1/72 scale. I have 500 each of American and German troops.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

@@matthewstorer6923 WOW! That's going to be one hell of a diorama! I would love to see some photos if you don't mind. May be we can connect on Facebook or Instagram, if you are in there?

[@matthewstorer6923]

@@TrainsandDioramas Absolutely. It will likely take a year or so but I will take photos as I go to use as updates. When finished I will have an 8' x 8' diorama of the Ardennes. I am building on 2 , 8x4 foot tables. I will, for obvious reasons, build 1 table at a time and attach in 1 solid piece when finished. I've been painting my troops for about 6 months. Though I have made leaps and bounds during this damned quarantine.

[@matthewstorer6923]

@@TrainsandDioramas Also..yes I am on Facebook under Matt Storer.

[@OverkillJOE1]

Awesome 👏

[@skipschauer5535]

Great job thank you for the information!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

I’m glad that you found it helpful. Cheers!

[@user-jw8nm6xn3j]

Marvellous. Thank you for the clear and useful instructions.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Pleasure is mine. Glad that you’re enjoying my work. 😊

[@phil36310]

Nice when you have the time to make one tree a day.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

All depends on your goal really… if you want a great looking tree that costs next to nothing, then you have to give it time. Typically you fill the background trees with less detailed quick-build trees and put these in the foreground to balance things out.

[@ejejeff1722]

Very good tutorial! Some of the best looking pine trees I've seen yet, thanks for sharing that!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thanks Jeff! Glad that you liked it and if you try this, then let me know how it goes. Cheers! Kaustav

[@ejejeff1722]

I will, indeed, I'm lucky to have asparagus in the garden

[@TrainsandDioramas]

@@ejejeff1722 Super! Incredible stuff that, asparagus. Have you tried glycerine based preservation and use asparagus needles as pine needles directly?

[@DruSteel69]

They do look awesome. Thanks for sharing. - Drew

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thanks Drew! Glad that you like it.

[@pacificcoastminiatures]

Those are amazing - love this technique that uses mostly found items from the garden! I have lots of twigs in the garden and I do grow regular edible asparagus that generates a lot of fern-like foliage. Will have to dry it in the fall to make trees in wintertime.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you and I’m glad that these little tips and tricks are helping my friend. I am a big believer of using waste/throwaway/commonly amiable material too make models. It does take time, but they cost next to nothing and it’s super fun to solve different kinds of problems. I think your plan to use asparagus dry twigs will work very nicely. Cheers! Kaustav

[@ricardocordero1154]

Amazing

[@StanFranssen]

Your coniferous trees are absolutely beautiful, I'll be borrowing some of your methods for these too. Since I'm modeling British Columbia in Canada, I'll need a few thousand trees, so perhaps only a handful of these gorgeous foreground trees will be built. :) Thanks for posting, keep up the great work!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you Stan, I’m glad that you find this helpful. These will be very good for foreground trees, and you can use the cheap readymade ones to fill the background. Cheers! Kaustav

[@RDNTrains]

Awesome looking pine trees! You made it look easy and your narration was excellent. Look forward to future videos. Randy

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thanks Randy! Glad that you liked it. :)

[@dacuzzz]

hi Kaustav...great "how to"... you definitely have more patience than i do ... i like the fact that you use natural material ..that was what made the trees stand out from any one elses...thx for the awesome shutout...& this great vid... vinny

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you Vinny! Appreciate the kind words and good that you like it. Your shootouts for me were really helpful for me, so this is the least that I could do. Thank you again for all your support! Cheers! Kaustav

[@mikparker2572]

Beautiful and very informative video, love the classical music as well. Definitely going to try these. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Glad it was helpful and hope you can make a alyout full of these and make your friends jealous. 😁

[@everettdegrasse8478]

Very nice.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chimpalienbaby7312]

What a fantastic tutorial, thank you!

[@TrainsandDioramas]

You're very welcome! Glad that you are enjoying the content. Cheers!

[@lindsaybrennan7597]

Brilliant and very realistic. Great tutorial thank's.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you! I’m glad that you found this this helpful. Cheers!

[@jamesmann999]

a very good video brother, i am a low class modler making tiny houses and out buildings so i to willl give it a try once i get a Peco Precision Static Grass Applicator

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thanks James! I am glad that you found this video helpful and want to try out the method. The static grass applicator will help in other scenery work a well.

[@philgee486]

👍👍👍

[@h.j.d.2624]

GREAT looking trees. Very realistic too but to much time involved in making them for me though.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you so much! Well, I had the same idea a few years ago till my friend and mentor Vikas Chander pointed it out to me what a difference a tree makes. I don't consider trees as 'generic' anymore, they are as much of an important part of a scene as a finely detailed building, train, scenery or other elements in a model. A nicely made tree can make a huge difference to your scene. I would urge you to give it a try. :)

[@h.j.d.2624]

@@TrainsandDioramas :)

[@williamgorman2403]

nice work

[@marciablack7446]

Fascinating

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you!

[@cinnoromrotatcid]

This made first made by Paepercuts

[@bunnyfoxxx6227]

Superr u have big brain lv u from india

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you Karthik! Glad that you found this video, one of my favorites too. :)

[@Majonez112]

Hello First - awesome work. Second On my trees, instead of hairspray, I'm trying out the metod with wallpaper glue. Did You heard about it? You're spraying twigs with water, and sprinkle it with that glue. After several seconds, it absorbs the water and spreads. It's drying clear. That method gives You more control about where the glue go, and less unwanted foliage on branches.

[@TrainsandDioramas]

That seems like a fantastic solution to unwanted spray problem - thank you! I did a quick search and it seems that it's available easily, so I am going to give it a try in my very next tree model. Again, appreciate the tip. Always fun to experiment with new stuff!

[@t.j.lemaster8653]

I'm building my first diorama for 1/64 scale or S scale basically for Hot Wheels, Matchbox do you have any tutorials for trees in that scale or would HO scale work? because I know ho and S scale aren't far off from. each other

[@TrainsandDioramas]

I think HO Scale trees should work for S scale. The beauty of trees and ships is that their size varies so much that you can use one model across scales, even with a good degree of variance.

[@t.j.lemaster8653]

Thanks for the info my friend can't wait for the next video to drop!

[@amlolover5857]

What a beautiful job My name is Jaimes I live in Portland Oregon Would you be willing to make a few pine trees for me ?

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Thank you Jaimes! I can surely make trees for you, but I live in India, halfway around the globe, so shipping will be a stinker. But let’s talk anyway, please reach out to me at [e-mail], and we’ll take it from there. Cheers! Kaustav

[@silkcustoms520]

Nice job. Make me 150 for my layout

[@TrainsandDioramas]

LOL! You got it!

[@thebuff7271]

Doesn't the asparagus fern dry up?

[@TrainsandDioramas]

Not if you preserve it well. All the glue and varnish creates a protective cover that keeps them intact for a long time.

[@Papagayo7]

@@TrainsandDioramas i love ur technique but i wonder if it will preserve forever

[@CharlieDiamond-em5so]

@@Papagayo7Well, Nothing lasts forever. And a thing isn’t beautiful, because it lasts.