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View Full Version : Building Trees by Racel - lots of pics, long post!


Pr0fane
04-06-2006, 12:25 AM
OK, Grafter has asked me to help do a few things to get ready for GAMA(2005), and against my better judgement, I have agreed to help. Still waiting to see what fallout it will cause with my wife, but she has not said too much, so maybe she is easing up a little on her say no to gaming campaign (I hope so . . :( ).

I have been working on a few tree design ideas, and so far I am leaning toward those pictured below. I am using twisted wire to make the main body and branches. I an then using an special gel with fine sand-like particles mixed in to coat the wire. The gel does not total cover the wire, but it makes the whole tree more solid and adds a slightly rough feel. I am also using a similar gel with larger sand particles as the last step to add a little more texture. Hopefully once I get these painted (once I get some spray paint since mine is under lock and key), I will be able to see how they look after drybrushing. Also need flock etc to add some leaves and to work on bases (damn, it sucks my terrain supplies are locked away under too much crap to get to!).

What do you guys think? The little trees/bushes (I have about 5 now) are expected to be used on a desert or wastland type board. They should represent trees with stunted growth due to the environmental conditions. The larger trees would likely find there way onto a swamp board for the Brood. I have some other swamp tress made with Wire and Magic Sculp, but not sure if I like them (may post pictures later).

These are for small 2'x2' round demo boards, so I am looking at only a few trees and such to breakup the otherwise "flat" terrain, and not really as a source of cover.

Also, I am actually taking picture while I work this time so that if you guys like how this project turns out, I can write up a "How-to" guide to post later.

http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/907938Smalltree.JPG
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/907939Largetree.JPG
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/907941DATreeSizeComp.JPG
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/907942DATreeSizeComp2.JPG


OK, I painted the trees and am ready to see what you guys think of them. They will need to be based and flocked, but I have to get supplies to do that. I have also included my prototype "Swamp Tree", but not sure I like it. One of the guys in my group said it looked alive (before painting it), which I guess is good for a Brood swamp. It is made of wire and Magic Sculp, so it will take a LOT of abuse. Since there is still wire sicking out so I can base it, I had to use foam to make it stand. Sorry the pics are so bad, but its late and I did not feel like extra lights or special lenses on the camera.

http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909132alltrees.jpg
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909135BigTree.jpg
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909136SmallTrees.jpg
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909137SmallTrees2.jpg
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909138Swamptree1.jpg
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909140Swamptree2.jpg
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/909141Swamptree3.jpg


OK, I am scared about how much you guys like the swamp tree. It was in my opinion , not very good. I am beginning to wonder who is crazy, you guys or me. I may even make more swamp trees, but that will happen after I get my head examined. :wink:

Ok, I need to know if I should flock the small bushes. They are to go on a desert/wasteland board to represent som small little trees/srubs. I was thinking about using some darkgreen (almost conifer green flock). Take a look at the pics and let me know what you think. (Flock not glued on yet.)

Jeff

http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/910999smallbush2.JPG
http://prod.bsis.bellsouth.net/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/130153/911000smallbush2.JPG
awakeneddragon
04-06-2006, 12:56 AM
~(O. O~) Ooo, very nice! Thank you!
Racel
04-06-2006, 01:14 AM
Wait, that was tree version 1, there was a better tree version 2. Will have to see if I can find that one.

Jeff
Kyle
04-06-2006, 01:15 AM
One of the things I really love about these trees is that they are actually the size of trees! Just step out in the yard and you'll realize how much bigger trees are than people. Jeff's trees look right even with Dragyri Trueborns.
Racel
04-06-2006, 01:24 AM
Ok,

Tree version two (AKA Grey Tree) was done in the very same manner as version one with one major change. I did not like the way you could see the wire in the first version, so I decided to use brown florest tape (the kind that is paper thin and gets sticky when stretched) to cover the entire outside of the tree. Once the tree was wrapped, you could no longer see the wire. I then used a texture mix (apoxy bounder and sand) to put a light coating over all the tape to both hold it together better and to add some rough teture to the tree. After the texture dried, I then dry-brushed the entire thing adding white highlights on the raised areas.

Forgot to mention that I used florest wire for the trees. It comes in may different weights (guages), so you can find one that wourks for your project. I would suggest plyers and gloves for twisting the thicker wire like I was using.

Hope that helps, but feel free to ask more questions if you want.

Jeff

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/102/102860/folders/131512/918193Tree2.JPG
Racel
04-06-2006, 01:27 AM
One of the things I really love about these trees is that they are actually the size of trees! Just step out in the yard and you'll realize how much bigger trees are than people. Jeff's trees look right even with Dragyri Trueborns.

Thanks Kyle. I have other trees where I used special branches and bush material that were sold for model railroads, but nothing will take the abuse that wire trees will. Add a base and blend the bottom wire nubs into the ground as tree roots and you have a great looking tree thats easy to make and hard to break.

Jeff
Shinobi
04-06-2006, 02:08 AM
You know, I would love to see reports like these as .pdf documents on the Main Site download area. Especially focusing on DA specific terrain and miniature painting etc.

Nice stuff here, looks like some trees may be used on the next Malaysian Outcast table.
Racel
04-06-2006, 02:20 AM
You know, I would love to see reports like these as .pdf documents on the Main Site download area. Especially focusing on DA specific terrain and miniature painting etc.

One of these days, I might even have time to do this. I enjoy terrain a lot, so might be worth the effort.

Jeff
Chopa
04-06-2006, 03:21 AM
Those look great I hope ill be able to make a few someday
Stunke
04-06-2006, 07:17 AM
I have been searching for hours on end trying to find a dead-tree tutorial, and you go an post one right under my nose!

Those are some really excellent trees.
i am utterly awestruck of just how cool and inventive that is.
I need some charred dead trees with pointy branches poking out everywhere for my wasteland board (featuring: "fire and wire") and those are just perfect!

Keep it up, I'm impressed.
DA_Magpie
04-06-2006, 09:48 AM
Great stuff. Thanks very much.

Meh... Forget my dissertation. Nobody will mind if I spend the next fortnight making trees.
Vaxillus
04-06-2006, 10:35 PM
Very cool. I actually tried this myself, but have yet to finish it. What would look really swampy is if someone were to drape some cotton swabs soaked in 'Goblin' green paint from the trees to look like lichen or something. Not sure exactly what that stuff is actually, but it seems common in swamps.
Racel
04-06-2006, 11:32 PM
Very cool. I actually tried this myself, but have yet to finish it. What would look really swampy is if someone were to drape some cotton swabs soaked in 'Goblin' green paint from the trees to look like lichen or something. Not sure exactly what that stuff is actually, but it seems common in swamps.

:D I have moss like this on my "Flaoting Terrain" for Vor. Will have to try and dig up some pictures. The stuff is call moss.

Jeff
Irish1983
07-29-2008, 07:38 PM
Its Lichen and Moss.
gunslinger
07-29-2008, 07:42 PM
Its Lichen and Moss.

Gah! I call necromancy.. it's a nice article, but had been dead for over 2 years.. :shock:
Irish1983
07-29-2008, 07:46 PM
I was looking for terrain discussion and this came up...sadly the pics are dead along with the thread gun :( .

I want to make swamp trees for when my zuzzy mat arrives.
gunslinger
07-29-2008, 08:01 PM
I was looking for terrain discussion and this came up...sadly the pics are dead along with the thread gun :( .

I want to make swamp trees for when my zuzzy mat arrives.

yeah, the links have been dead along time.. perhaps we can wake up jeff and get him to repost them.. :wink: :)
Pr0fane
07-29-2008, 10:21 PM
Yep, sorry guys. Those pics were all remotely hosted.

If Racel wants to email them to me, I'll put them up on the DA server.
Racel
07-30-2008, 02:29 AM
Yep, sorry guys. Those pics were all remotely hosted.

If Racel wants to email them to me, I'll put them up on the DA server.

I will look for them and send them to Pr0fane. I'm not dead, occasionally post on TMP and watch the Vor forum, but been busy looking for a new job and dying in the current one. I own a VERY importing reporting job where I get to feel the entire weight of a mega corporation on my back daily. Its 60 to 70 hours a week, many weekends and I am still not even treading water. Masako has only one question, "when are you going to quit". I thought the old company could be bad int he past, but this new one is far far worse . . . . If only I could get laid off with a package . . . . . . .

I have only a small space on he web and had to take the pictures down to post others.

Sorry,

Jeff
Irish1983
07-30-2008, 02:32 AM
No apologies needed sir I just got excited and then bummed. Its cool I am sure I can figure it out if you haven't the time. Thank you though.
Racel
07-31-2008, 01:05 AM
I sent Pr0 the tree pictures so hopefully he can resurrect a few things.

Jeff
Irish1983
07-31-2008, 02:50 AM
Thank you for finding the time sir I greatly appreciate it.