In Case You Didn't Know - Scenic Express Super Trees.

[ACL1504]

Last week I purchased a box of Scenic Express Super trees to start a new forest area on the Atlantic and Southern RR.

I got the box home and opened it to check out the trees. I found the trees in the box to be damp and very limp. I picked a few out of the batch and they felt a little like rubber.

It's been two years since I purchased any SE super trees but decided I wouldn't be able to use any of these. In addition to them being limp, they wouldn't stand up straight.

I called Scenic Express, and was told for the better part of the last two years they have been taking the raw trees and boiling them in hot water and then boiling them in  Glycerine.

I was told they do this as people complained the trees were to stiff.

So, just so you know, I'm not even sure Walthers knows the trees are cooked in Glycerine.

In the photo below, the tree on the left is raw and the one on the right is treated with Glycerine.



When I went to pull off a few branches, the whole armature bent and stretched. As I said, a little like rubber.

I had SE send me a huge box of the virgin/raw trees.



I'll probably be able to get 500 to 600 trees out of this batch.

Some may like the new Glycerine trees but just wanted to pass on the information.

You can get the untreated trees but only from Scenic Express.

Tom

[S&S RR]

Tom


Wow - I just read your post and had to let you know I just had the same experience. I thought the latest case I bought was green or something.  Getting the seed pods off is like impossible. And when you put them in the Matt Medium the stems turn to mush. I have made cases of these tree for the S&S RR. And have many more to go. Sounds like I will be calling SE on Monday to get some of the "to stiff trees".  I have never had any problems with them.


Did SE tell you anything about a change in procedures in using their new cooked trees?

[ACL1504]

Tom


Wow - I just read your post and had to let you know I just had the same experience. I thought the latest case I bought was green or something.  Getting the seed pods off is like impossible. And when you put them in the Matt Medium the stems turn to mush. I have made cases of these tree for the S&S RR. And have many more to go. Sounds like I will be calling SE on Monday to get some of the "to stiff trees".  I have never had any problems with them.


Did SE tell you anything about a change in procedures in using their new cooked trees?

John,

All SE said was they started doing it in response to folks complaining the trees were to stiff to work with.

NOI!

Tom

[bparrish]

Tom...

Try putting them out in the sun or on a cookie sheet on your car dash in the sun. that should pull some of it out.

A million years ago Tru Scale imported Norway lichen for trees and shrubs.  It was washed in glycerine to keep it from getting brittle.  I use lichen from north central Idaho and it stays soft. No idea what is different.

I have in the past used lichen and blasted it with spray contact cement and then dusted on ground foam.  Hair spray is not sticky enough around operators.

For trees I use dried  sage brush branches and glue on ground foam with contact cement.  We have no shortage of sage brush here in the west.



see ya
Bob

[Zephyrus52246]

I was just going to post some questions on Super Trees.     I had heard about boiling them in water and also in glycerin.  It was supposed to make them less brittle and when dried with weights on the end, straighter.  Is this not true?  Tom, do you just use them out of the box?  Do you soak them in matte medium?  Inquiring minds and all that. 

Jeff

[S&S RR]

I was just going to post some questions on Super Trees.     I had heard about boiling them in water and also in glycerin.  It was supposed to make them less brittle and when dried with weights on the end, straighter.  Is this not true?  Tom, do you just use them out of the box?  Do you soak them in matte medium?  Inquiring minds and all that. 

Jeff

Jeff


Up until this last case, which is with SE's new process, I have used the trees right out of the box - the hardest part is getting the seed pods out. Then trim them to the shape you want. For Aspens - paint them off white and then add the black dots. Then I soak them in matte medium for a few minutes just before I add the flocking material. Hang them on a line to dry and I've been real happy with the results. The trees that have a bad curve to them I add a soldiering clamp while they dry.  Note: the curved ones work real well on the side of a hill.  This process is described with pictures on my build thread - check the index.


This last case the trees are rubbery like Tom described. After the matte medium dries they are stiff enough to glue in a hole but I think I will be buying the ones straight out of the box without the new treatment. The biggest problem is you destroy the rubbery trees getting the seed pods out.   I will be calling SE next week to get more information. 

[tom.boyd.125]

 Always helps to read thru all the threads to learn something today that you were not aware of . Did not know some of this Super Tree information that was shared .
Tommy

[jerryrbeach]

Thanks for the information.  I had been going to pick up a bag of the Super Trees from my local hobby shop.  I may have to rethink that idea.

[S&S RR]

Here is a picture of the Aspen trees I was talking about above.  I have posted more information on my build thread.

[ACL1504]

I just don't like the Glycerine soaked trees. I know it has been used to keep lichen soft but lichen scenery is way way out of date.

I've always used the stiff super trees and here is how I prepare them.

I clean out any seed stems and then trim the branches to the desired shape.

I then soak the stiff trees in a 50/50 solution of matte medium for 15 to 20 minutes. I then hang them of a line to dry using clothes pins and tweezers on the end to hold them straight while them dry.

I then paint them the desired color using a tan or light brown rattle can spray.

I used rattle can hair spray on the trees and then sprinkle the scenic material over the tree. I set aside to dry.

[Dave K.]

That's exactly the process I always used. Haven't bought Super Trees in a while as I've had a couple boxes on hand since leaving the club. Hope the old stuff will still be available!

[ACL1504]

That's exactly the process I always used. Haven't bought Super Trees in a while as I've had a couple boxes on hand since leaving the club. Hope the old stuff will still be available!

Dave,

The old stuff is still available from Scenic Express. According to SE the LHS and Walthers are getting the Glycerine soaked tress.

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks for the tree info, gents.  I need to see if the wife still has clothespins somewhere.   


Jeff

[oldbloodhound]

BOILING in water and THEN BOILING in glycerin is the WRONG process.
There is no need for boiling AT ALL.  And water is not needed.
Hot glycerin, then dip the pieces into it and let them dry.  Does not come out rubbery.

[S&S RR]

I just got off the phone with Wayne Olson and can now complete the story of the glycerin trees.  The bottom line is I have 1500 trees on the layout with the old - right out of the box trees. I will soon have about 300 with the glycerin trees.  The only way to tell them apart is to do a destructive test - for the engineers out there.  The glycerin trees are more durable on the layout. I have noticed for a long time that the trees where very brittle after they dried out. So - rather than post all the details in two places - I will post our new and improved process on my build thread, so we will be able to find it easier in a month or two when us older modelers have forgotten where we put it.  Wayne made all the improvements while I was enjoy the sun out in AZ with Frank. Wayne gets a big thank you here - future purchases for the S&S RR will be the glycerin processed trees.