Nope, this is not a new product announcement :wink3: I'm actually building a layout in between filling orders and I wanted as real looking trees as possible. They are too labor intensive to sell affordably but I can tell you how if you really want to know. Key words here are "labor intensive"! i didn't fix these photos either. Maybe its just me but I think these hit the mark. Too bad I have a couple hundred more to make.
Wow! They look like naturally grown trees on the Z-scale planet. I bet, there are people, who are willing to pay top $$$ for your trees. The secret is, when you think the price is too high, just double it.
I really want to know. I agree with Lajos about the price. However you must also remember to double the promised delivery time. If you think it will take you a month, say you will deliver in 2 months! LOL! Lindley PS Put Loren to work!
Karin, I'm interested, too. They look great. My "stranded wire" method is too labor intensive as well. So, maybe your way will actually save me some time in the end. You never know. Dan S.
Put me to work? What do you think I do from the moment I open my eyes to the moment I close them......sit around and watch my wrinkles deepen? ) I've got my own tree worries with a business deal in the works if I can shorten my time needed to make the little tree hugger homes....
My friend John M. wanted a closer look, so I zoomed in on one of the photos. I know, not like macro but for a closer look I'd like to use it on a diorama or layout. OK John? :curl-lip:
Karin and Loren: Spinning air pots, like cotton candy machines or large blender (paddles, not blades) or a hair drier attached to half a salvaged squirl cage blower (with out the blower) with a capped column attached. Tacky up the trees, dip in the whirling foam and move on to the next one ! Stellar mix of colors ! FINALLY someone gets it right ! .
Jeff, it isn't quite that simple my friend If only it were simple and fast....remember the saying....'good things take time'. These take time. no short cut I'm afraid.
Wow! Awesome trees Karin! Exactly what I need. I probably do not have the skill (patience?) to make but please share how to make or reconsider selling! ron
Karen: How long does it take to produce one tree and have you done various evergreens like pines or spruce. I ask because for my layout which is mostly all mountain, I estimate I will probably need about 5000 or more and if it is going to be too costly to get them from other sources, I might have to do them myself which might be more cost effective as you suggest. I'd be interested in learning how to construct them. Ken
Ken, if you need bulk trees, you can get them from Architrees, made in the Philippines. Contact: Filemon at Architrees. He has an ebay store. Simply enter: Architrees in the 'ebay' link up at the top of this page. Then click on any item listed and on the left of the page, 'Store Home'. Contact seller and tell him you want a bulk of 1000 trees, <1", 1", 2" and 3" pines. It's about $100 per 1,000. Their not bad at all. They are quite varied in shape (especially between production runs) but they are all the same color. Simply LIGHTLY spray a slighly off color quickly over some. I use a few different shades of green, yellows and browns to vary them up a bit. Poke them in a piece of cardboard and make a fast pass or two with any given color. .
Karin, beautiful deciduous trees! Allow me a suggestion that may save you some time on armatures. I ordered trunks from a vendor in Wyoming (?) whose name I can't remember. They were sagebrush, excellent, and required very little modification. But later, I found very good sagebrush only 20-25 miles from home up I-5 around Hilt. Again, very little modification required to make nice armatures (I think my N-scale oaks would look good on a Z-scale layout). Just a thought. Scott
Hi Scott, nice to see you over in the Z scale forum! The armatures I use are some kind of weed from Scandinavia and are from scenic express. Its simply the difference in how they are treated beforehand that makes all the difference in the world and also the modification. The whole process starts with 25 minutes of boiling them and then hanging them all upside down with a weight on to help straighten them. Some are flocked with real greenery plucked from trees and bushes then baked and ground. Then the modifying starts to make them good enough for Z. Besides, I'd rather see you and Lori again before i go chasing tumbleweed across the Rogue Valley!!!!
