The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

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I then cut out a little from the top area.



Here is a better photo of how one looks after I removed some of the branches.



I'm using several different trees in the photos so some will look different but the process is the same.

More in a few.

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I then soaked the trees in matte medium for about 30 minutes. They were removed from the matte medium and hung up to dry. I soaked almost 175 trees to start the pine forest.

Here is a tree that is dry and ready for the trunk to get a better girth.




Believe it or not, it has been over two years since I posted a question of Florida pine trees.

http://modelersforum.com/general-daily-discussion/opinion-on-pine-trees-florida-slash-pine-type/

Bob Leonard, RWL forum menber, suggested a way to thicken the trunks on the super trees. His suggestion is on the second page.

I didn't follow exactly his method but I did use the information.

I mixed a 50/50 mix of Joint compound and full strength white glue. I didn't dilute the mix with water.




Continued in a few.

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As mentioned, I mixed it 50/50 in a plastic cup from Micro-Mark.



The 50/50 mix was thick enough to not drip but thin  enough to be painted on the tree trunks.



More in a few.

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Here are two that have the 50/50 mix painted on the trunks.



Here is one that is shaped differently.



When I was finished with the mix I simply covered the cup with heavy aluminum foil. This mix is a week old and hasn't dried at all due to the foil seal.

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After the tree trunks dried, I sprayed the trees with Hammered Bronze Dark rattle can paint from Rust-Oleum.

I then dry brushed the trunks with Floquil Boxcar Red.




Tree farm with joint compound/white glue tree trunks.



More in a few. Diet Pepsi time.

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Before -



After -



More in a few.

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Reading Bob and I attended the 2012 EXPO in Lancaster, PA.  The very first purchase we made together was for the TURBO Tree foliage system sold by Hal Reynolds of Atlantic Scale Models.




It only took me 5 years to use it but I'm telling you this little thing is amazing.

The bottom of the top has gator clip attached. Simply clip a tree to the clip. Put some scenic material of your choice in the clear plastic jar. There is a small servo type motor at the bottom of the jar that swirls the material around and onto the tree.

I first sprayed the tree with some Pantene (any hair spray should work fine) hair spray, put the tree in the clip and replaced the lid.



Continued in a few.

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I then turned on the system and here is how the tree came out. It took less than a minute to spray the tree, turn it on and remove the tree.



The one change I made to Hal's tree foliage system was to install an on/off switch. If you don't you have to plug it in and unplug it to turn it off.




More in a few.

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This morning I put the Judge to work making a few trees.

In the next photo he is spraying hair spray on a tree. It looks like he doesn't have a tree in his left hand put he does.



He put the tree in the jar and turned it on. He is holding it up so you can see the swirling action of the scenery foliage.



More in a few.

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I forgot to mention the material I'm using for the pine needles if Scenic Express 4 and 6 mm Silfor grass.



Here is my version/vision of what a Southern Pine looks like.




More in a few.

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Here is another before and after for you viewing.




I have another tree trunk farm going here.



Continued in a few.

[BandOGuy]

Just curious?
Prior to this morning, when was the last time The Judge had anything to do with hair spray? 

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Here I have some pine trees waiting to be planted in the WPA, Works Progress Administration, fashion, in rows. The WPA was formed to put millions of Americans to work. It was formed in 1935 and dissolved in 1943.



I did plant some others around the layout.

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Just curious?
Prior to this morning, when was the last time The Judge had anything to do with hair spray? 

Chip,

Happy belated Birthday. Now to answer the question. It has been decades for us both. He longer than me.


I appreciate you checking in.

Tom

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