Ultra Realistic Trees - Cheap Trees That Look Amazing! - Model Scenery

There’s no cheaper way to make a forest full of trees than finding the perfect armature on the side of the road… However most of the time you find great looking twigs they are either the wrong shape or don’t have enough smaller branches to make a good small scale tree!
That’s where this tutorial comes to help, the technique I use here to make these great looking HO scale trees can also be used on any type of tree making exercise whether you are using twigs from the garden, super trees you purchased or even using the plastic tree armatures made by many manufacturers like Woodland Scenics.
If you're after the tool that I use to hold the tree (third hand soldering station) you can purchase them from 'Micro-Mark', they sell a range of tools for hobbyists and this is a very useful tool to have at your disposal.
Third hand: www.micromark.com/Third-Hand-S...
Also don't forget to use the promo code 'boulder' when shopping at Micro-Mark and you will be able to save 10% of your order.
The main tip you’ll probably find from this video is the usefulness of Baking powder and Super Glue… There are literally a hundred different modelling applications we could use with these two products used together.
Also, if you are enjoying the video please consider supporting me over on Patreon, every little bit really helps.
Music:
Roboskater by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@wanderingintime]

Baking soda instantly curing superglue... invaluable tip sir.

[@WalkRobotFilm]

wanderingintime that is the best tip I’ve heard in a long time and then I heard it again on a video from tested where they worked on miniatures and I was hooked with this method of curing. I used Krazy glue and baking soda for the tree I was making and after you paint it,those seams are amazing

[@waltdog123]

I literally just said to myself “hmm...” never knew that. Then read your reply..lol.

[@wanderingintime]

@@waltdog123 apparently super glue can also make cardboard as stiff and sandable as wood. havent tried it myself but I've seen it on youtube. good to experiment with, especially in miniature.

[@waltdog123]

@@wanderingintime interesting but I wonder how much it would take.. And the risk of disaster seems high lol.

[@wanderingintime]

@@waltdog123 look up youtuber Heather Tracy . she has awesome stuff imo but the video DIY foxes (or some such name) shows how she applies the super glue to cereal boxes or 'chipboard' as it it called. she uses it a lot but that is the quickest one I could find without spending too much time!

[@B1LL01]

Does anyone else who watches these videos have no interest in making models, they simply just find it interesting and calming?

[@LukeTowan]

I get a few different people saying similar things, it's good to know that even though you don't build the models you still enjoy watching 😊 Thanks

[@rencanajahad]

Yess

[@sory27a]

B1LL01 I do

[@micmic_]

YES ☺️

[@MohamedMohamed-mj1tu]

yes

[@paulrippcord506]

I find these to be some of the most relaxing videos on KZbin in very much the same way watching How It's Made or Bob Ross.

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks for the fantastic compliment Paul 😊

[@GreatBasinCarShops]

You are the Bob Ross of model railroading, apparently

[@luuk341]

Paul Rippcord speaks the absolute truth!

[@ejameskehoe]

Thank you. As a first-time diorama builder, your lesson is clear, helpful, and indeed calming. When I showed my spouse, she was inspired to suggest using dried Greek oregano for small and large bushes.

[@MechbossBoogie]

Probably going to watch the whole series, now. This is probably the best looking method I've seen for making trees.

[@0406angelica]

An incredible meticulousness and precision in everything. Masterfully! Thank you,very much!

[@madnessbydesign1415]

Another winner! I've never seen the baking soda trick before, but it looks great! I'm always amazed at the pacing of your videos: everything is thoroughly explained, but it never drags. Concise, clear, lively, and fun. Well done again...

[@obi1988]

I love that you used part of a real tree. Its been holdn me back but now im ready to make some nice, real looking trees. Tyty sir.

[@dwcwoody]

Hi Luke, I started to watch your videos recently and I'm very impressed. I'm an older (68) modeler and have been model railroading since I was about 6, and you certainly can teach an old dog how to do new tricks. You have a clear way of instructing followers about your techniques with the construction of scenery modeling that makes it easy to understand. In some of the groups I'm involved in, I suggest they watch your videos to learn how to make scenery the best way possible. Thank you for sharing as sometimes I have a difficulty in learning and you have made it much more easier for this old bloke to learn.

[@nails6365]

You make it look so easy! truly professional work, thank you for sharing. Brighton, UK.

[@7spiritualcompass706]

Wow. I'm going watch these over and over again while practicing on some branches. Very realistic. Thank you

[@jazzman1626]

Wow! No wonder the trees look realistic it’s trees made from... bits of trees! Best trees I’ve seen.

[@pherja]

Luke is the rare modeler. He has both the skill AND the eye. I can't recommend his videos enough.

[@alravella2548]

Luke I watch all your videos so I have seen your progression not only in your modeling techniques but in your video product. Great work and keep it up. I am an old dog now but I can still learn and you have taught me a lot of very useful and cost effective tricks and tips. - Al

[@LukeTowan]

Thank you Al 🙂

[@w.rustylane5650]

I model on the cheap. I make all my own ground scatter (flocking) out of either sawdust that gets coloured in the electric coffee grinder my wife gave me for modeling, or foam rubber done same way in the coffee grinder. That way you can control the colours and the granularity of your finished product. I also make my own iron oxide (rust) by soaking about 4 pieces of 0000 steel wool in a quart jar with white vinegar. After about a month sitting in the window, I pour the mixture into a large pan (I use my old 11" x 14" stainless steel photo fixer trays when I had a darkroom) or baking dish and wait for the mixture to completely dry (usually about 2 to 3 weeks). Then I take a single edge razor blade and pulverize the contents into a fine powder and store it in little tins. Each batch I've done comes out a little different in colour. Then you use the rust as you would any weathering powder or chalk. It looks real, 'cause it IS real rust! I also colour my own chalk with acrylic paint and food colouring. I never buy weathering powders. Instead, I go to the dollar store and buy women's makeup in the little plastic containers. For $1.00 you can get quite a collection of different colours and they adhere better than weathering powders. For trees, I use the Nandena bush after the little red berries fall off, it leaves a perfect tree trunk (armature). I also have a TON of lichen growing out back on the hill behind my house. When using the Nandena bush tree armatures, you can paint them whatever colour you want--even grey for aspen trees. Cover the armatures with lichen, seafoam or whatever you want, then add your own home-made flocking and you're done. For pine trees, I use florist wire (wrapped) doubled and bits of jute cut in1 to 1 1/2" laid in the wire, then using a drill, twist the wire while holding the other end in a pair of pliers.. I also use barbeque bamboo skewers with pig hair (horse hair) furnace filters (they're already green); have to paint the skewers first. And I never use spray paint since I use my airbrush for all my painting. I can use either acrylic or oil base paints; I usually use one airbrush for acrylic and the other one for oil base paints. Cheers from W Rusty Lane K9POW in eastern Tennessee

[@chronus1015]

thanks for this info and technique-will definitely look for similarly dried vegetation to use!!!

[@byronsagun1379]

I'm an architecture student and scale models are very common project, your videos are very helpful to me. Fantastic work!

[@MindfulConnections2040]

Are you done with your study?

[@artcodemedia7685]

Hi ! i watched every one of your videos and literally YOU ARE THE BEST in this business ! Good luck !

[@yvelleartstudio]

Amazing work with simple materials, the amount of detail is mesmerizing. Although it's a lot of work, it's definitely worth it.

[@miguelmaxime8814]

You are amazing I love watching you work with these miniature models. Love ya. Much love 💘

[@Alexitine]

I now know where to get my tree armatures from thanks to your great tutorial. I recognised your shopping location for your tree armatures as I don't live that far away. There should be more tutorials like yours, well done.

[@abstractcreations246]

your the best I've seen so far make model trees, glad I came across this channel

[@Terranscapes]

The gel superglue and baking soda combo is fantastic. It fills the gaps so effectively. I've known about the combo before but never really considered it seriously. I can see many applications for the technique. Thanks for another great video!

[@1701paxton]

That was awesome!. I never thought when I am out driving or bush walking to grab some bits of salt bush, thanks mate!.

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

I like the different layers that you placed on the tree to give it definition.

[@patsmith5947]

These are so cute, I can’t hardly believe how great he make a little miniature tree look.

[@douglaswoods2554]

Love your use of accessories in order to make more viewable

[@Abrougall]

I don't even build any models and never have but your videos are just so well made that I always watch them anyway!

[@LukeTowan]

thanks Abraham, really glad you enjoy watching them for the enjoyment 😀 It's good to know people just appreciate the process even if they aren't intending to replicate it. Thanks again 😀

[@Abrougall]

No Problem keep it up!

[@danegan3151]

Have no train models, however, some of your terrain pieces go great with my 40K hobby. Cheers mate!

[@aquabluerose7734]

Same here, I only have a front of a small train and don't build worlds for it, but I have dolls of my OCs (original characters) and I realized their fantasy themed world would look a lot better with plants. I wonder how I would scale this up though bc the dolls are kinda huge (many are 17 inches to 2ft tall) and I might want to make the trees look young or bonsai or else they will have to be 4 ft tall or larger... Yikes. The castle for them is already gonna be 7 feet tall...

[@krazytrainguy]

Thanks for presenting this video. I am always in pursuit of making low cost trees and will give this idea a whirl.

[@hilceramirezaranda.5792]

Wish me luck with my model, it's almost finished and this is going to give it a lot of life. THANK YOU!

[@petej3800]

Post it so we can see

[@bradster1708]

Amazing looking tree, I will be giving this technique a try

[@josh1674]

Best tree technique I’ve ever seen!

[@railfan1956]

Luke, in the south the type of dead foliage you show is hard to find, but trimmings from Dwarf Boxwoods and Dwarf Alberta Spruce work well. Both have small branches that can be manipulated to look like trees. The 10 trees I made like your tall pine trees worked well and are now on the railroad museum layout in town.

[@Moshartz]

I love this tutorial, thank you so much 4 sharing your knowledge. This is exaclty what I was looking for

[@modeltreestore]

Definitely a master. I was slammed for daring to start doing videos without being as good as you and told to come watch so here I am! lol. Brilliant insights and I'll certainly watch many more and use you as a mentor to improve my presentation. Thanks for spending the time doing this.

[@pauldaciuk3320]

Just found this channel and now I won't sleep tonight cos I gotta binge on ur content. Would love to have the artistic mind to do stuff like this dude

[@minitrain2746]

Bonjour Luke. Très belle vidéo, c'est un plaisir que de regarder vos réalisations. Continuez de nous régaler avec ces réalisations. J'espère pouvoir mettre en place toute les astuces que vous nous dévoilez. Bonne continuation.

[@Augusto_Tenorio]

Now I know how to make good trees for my model!

[@Wachtmeister-Ruediger]

Hello Luke, now i've see soo much to your Vid's and i'm everywhere surprised HOW SIMPLY it is, when YOU make the sceneries. FOR ME, you'r one of the best modellers ever i've see. "Officer Rüdiger" , Germany

[@oldmancrow6676]

Wow man, I can’t believe how realistic that tree looks. Almost makes me wish I was an ho scale modeler. Lol. I am learning a lot of cool tips from your channel brother. My only hardship is going to be trying to figure out how to incorporate these tips into 1:24 scale. Keep the videos coming.

[@melzbellz8294]

Love your way off making trees here i hopefully be able find plenty dead tree bits here in oz being so close to summer thank you for sharing this bloody amazing mate !!

[@Caring7982]

Es usted un maestro en el arte de la miniaturización!!!!!

[@pabitramohangayen6338]

My head is whirling to find it so amazing. Yoe are awesome dear sir. Salutes

[@mehhhness]

Yes!! I can finally recognise easy-to-get materials from a KZbin model maker! G'day fellow Australian :D

[@robertrosson4870]

Great how to video. Im doing N scale, however I like all scales my favorite part of this hobby is making trees and buildings from scratch I've learned over the years if I take a picture of the scene and the people who I show the picture to think it's a real place then I know I acomplished my goal and made the scene look as realistic as possible thanks for sharing your videos I really enjoy seeing different ways and idea's to making fantastic sceneries

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks Robert, glad you are enjoying the videos and good luck with building your N scale layout 😊

[@forestbear1]

your videos are fantastic. a suggestion, if possible, is to list the supplies you use. this would make it easier for novices like me to go shopping online. thanks for an amazing video

[@redshoesgirl]

i totally agree!

[@samoyha1]

YES

[@jusam6854]

Of all the videos I've watched about making trees and bushes, this is by far the best. Absolutely brilliant use of natural materials. Yours are the best looking most realistic trees I've seen. I'm making a table top train set for my grandson. I have a 3d printer but it takes way to long to make a bunch of trees and they don't look half as good as yours. As I've been shopping online for sets of trees and bushes I was gobsmacked at the prices. 30/40 count tree sets for 20/30/40$, and that is ridiculous. I'm out of the house in a few on the hunt for some dead bushes ha ha, thanks for taking the time to make and upload this little bit of brilliance.

[@geofreyr]

so therapeutic to watch, great work!

[@antjeklausmelgarejoroman1419]

Wundervoll, endlich mal besondere Bäumchen. Frohes Weihnachtsfest und ein guten Rutsch in das Neue Jahr. Grüße aus Deutschland. Great vom Germany.

[@davidkelsey2864]

Great video, very professionally done. How could anyone click an unlike on this!

[@markgriffith3076]

Your vids are so AWESOME and helpful Luke, thanks mate🙏

[@AbsharInks]

Always delivering the best content!! Such a helpful channel. You're amazing Luke.

[@LukeTowan]

Thank you Abshar, glad you liked the video 😀

[@timothyjerry2455]

That was awesome. Great work. Thank you for sharing that! 👍🏻

[@Larrikins54]

Well produced, good vision and clear narrative. Great job Luke. Love ya work.

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks mate, glad you're enjoying the videos

[@daveogarf]

You, sir, are AMAZING!

[@carlossena7217]

You are a true artist. Congratulations.

[@denizegem3807]

baking powder and superglue is the best duo ever thank you for the tip!

[@kevinmacintosh3644]

Brilliant mate.I love all your vids.very helpful.would love to see a blue gum tree tutorial

[@ianalan4367]

Just started watching your videos. Amazing work. I enjoy them and don't even own a train much less do scale model scenes. Thinking I might though.

[@fasco69]

amazing lookin tree.

[@ashevilletrainman6989]

LOVE THE VIDEO!!!! Basically any dried up bush could work aye? Keep up the good work... I envy your video skills!!

[@TYSniper]

Luke, your videos are the best; so informative and relaxing. Your diorama building techniques are what I hope to achieve once I am able to have time for a hobby :). Cheers!

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks Tyler 😊 I'm fortunate to have a lot of spare time with my current job but it never seems have enough! Especially for this kind of hobby 😊

[@adhesivehamsandwich3737]

THANK YOU oh my god I’ve been trying to make a good looking tree for my diorama and this is perfect i want to hug you😅

[@kadriyasalmanova9056]

Excellent! Thank you so much x

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Luke more fantastic work thanks for sharing

[@valborchardt3596]

Thanks Luke x

[@keithmiller554]

Quality TOP OF THE TREE !!

[@nicf.6378]

That's *the* idea !!! Thank you from.Germany 👍💐🍀🍀🍀🐈

[@vortexmodeling]

thank you, loved the tutorial .. clear and on the point.

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks Vortex, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@Fred-cc8qb]

Pretty dang awesome. Thanks for the tips.

[@michaelinscoe7547]

Once my scenery is finished i will share.. Hopefully before Summer 2020... You'll see why when finished.. These videos help to get it the way I want it.

[@SirHenrik88]

I am very impressed with your work and your videos are very inspiring. I have a question for you. I have started to make woodland trees and I use hob-e-tac to glue clump foliage on the branches. I've noticed that clumps easily falls off. Is there any way I can make them sit stronger?

[@milehighmodelgarage7929]

Awesome! Love the detail!

[@DennisDuboisLifeview]

Your tutorials are always so top shelf! Beautiful work.

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks Dennis, glad you are enjoying the videos

[@artisan2287]

Excellent work

[@newgravityfilms]

Excellent tutorial!! Thank you!

[@escapefromny2012]

Love your work and videos. Thanks.

[@boris1932]

Great video Luke! Have to try this in the future.

[@richarddavid5970]

Parabéns, sou do Brasil, excelentes vídeos, acompanho sempre

[@bridgethooper5258]

Love it, thank you!!

[@tonimancer8075]

Great stuff Luke very informative.

[@jessicasouza0238]

Maravilhoso trabalho...parabéns.. adoraria ganhar algo assim de presente...admiro muito quem faz.😃😃

[@Petrolhead350cui]

Love your video's and work Luke.

[@winkipinky]

FANTASTIC Videos... Everything looks so great!

[@renemarinero4318]

Excelente video tutorial muchas gracias broder mejor explicado imposible !!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Greetings from El Salvador 🇸🇻

[@johnhermanson5249]

Great looking trees, much better than commonly available plastic.

[@aemerje]

i really jelouse and admire ur creativity... 👍👍

[@Bjoerns-Eisenbahnwelt]

I follow your videos in Germany am also from Germany. Find the right thing you do as I continue to follow your videos. Your video where you build the fence I am the best will also try to make my model railroad system so. Top keep going.

[@LukeTowan]

thanks mate 😊 Good luck building the fence, I hope you continue to enjoy my videos 😊

[@babicpetar94]

Dude,you are amaizing! Your videos are my therapy, i find them very relaxing and enjoyable to watch. Thank you very much :)

[@LukeTowan]

No worries Petar, glad you enjoy watching 😊

[@peterrogers5145]

Absolutely stunning. I've looked for local twigs and such like but nothing comes even close to the salt bush you use. We don't have access in Melbourne to this stuff and what I have seen at the beach seems to be a different species and does not seem to have the right "form" This salt bush you use is gold. I'm surprised you don't sell it!!!! Of all the dioramas creators I've seen to date, you are simply tops.

[@ashevilletrainman6989]

Basically any dried up bush could work aye? Keep up the good work... I envy your video skills!!

[@E111Bellota]

Un gran trabajo, Felicidades.

[@killersofa]

Amazing video, thank you so much! I’m having a hard time finding similar twigs here in Canada, no clue where I can find the right sticks! I’m making barren trees for an autumn miniature.

[@LukeTowan]

Thanks, you could try using Sagebrush? I'm pretty sure you should be able to find some in Canada, it's very similar. Some art shops may sell it, or some hobby shops.

[@planty1727]

This is so helpful, cheers!

[@davidc6742]

Splendid work!

[@peculiarpreacher9083]

Man. You are the best out there!!!! Class!

[@VanadiumBromide]

Cool and good.

[@highlonesomebluegrass8286]

Nice one Luke, btw at 2:58 there was an ant.

[@Vemppu_Lutku]

Jered Gillis-pie i bet he ate it.

[@LukeTowan]

ha ha 😄 It was a small spider that was hanging around, it's amazing how many little critters were on those dead branches!

[@JimSteinbrecher]

it wasnt an ant, it was in fact a large rat. these arent models, luke is a giant.

[@LukeTowan]

Ha ha... Nice one Jim 😄

[@Andy203504]

Jim Steinbrecher He's not a giant, he is in fact the real Antman, Luke doesn't need the suit though... 😊😉

[@seniorpz1969]

Very nice! And the end was priceless :)