Creating Black Spruce Trees with Martin Tärnrot
Martin TärnrotDescription
In this video lesson, you’ll learn how model railroader Martin Tärnrot models black spruce trees for layouts. Although black spruce trees do not grow everywhere, the modeling methods Martin uses can be applied almost universally to make other types of trees. The trunks are made from 4-mm flower support sticks or similar wooden sticks. He drills small holes around the stick for the branches, including the top of the tree. To save time, he makes about ten trees at once. The branches are made from 0.7-mm steel wire, which he cuts into three different lengths. For top branches he uses inch-long wires, middle branches at 1.5 inches, and low branches at 2 inches in length. He runs the wire through the holes he has created in the appropriate lengths, bending the branches differently depending on where in the tree they are. The lower branches are bent sharply towards the ground while the top branches point upward.
The next step is to apply the thinner branches to further fill out the tree. Martin uses a thin SikaBond glue, a multipurpose glue. He thins it down with equal parts water and dips the tree in this glue, using a brush to coat the wire evenly. Once saturated, he adds 12-mm brown static grass into his static grass applicator. Martin applies the grass to the wire so there are at least ten fibers on each branch. On a black spruce tree, all of the branches are pointing downward, so Martin uses a blow dryer to blow the grass downwards. He goes on to apply another layer of static grass, repeating the same technique, with 1.5 to 2.5 mm-length grass to create a more dense look. After the tree is dried, Martin goes on to painting. For more tips on creating scenery or creating trees from nature, visit the Model Railroad Academy archives.
Hello and welcome to a Model Railroad Academy video. In this video, we will model black spruce. Yeah. Black spruce do not grow everywhere but the methods presented here is kind of universal and can be applied even making other type of trees. So here goes. The trunks are made from four millimeter flower support sticks or similar wooden sticks. I start by drilling holes for all of the branches including the top sprout. I typically make 10 out at a time because these are kind of fast to make. The brunches are made from 0.7 millimeter steel wire. I cut these into three different length. The top parts are just one inch whilst the mid parts are one and a half and the lower branches, two inches. Start by inserting the top sprout and thereafter all the branches all the way down. The branches are bent differently depending on where in the tree they're located. The lower branches point sharply towards the ground whilst the top branches points upwards. Next step now is to attach a large number of thinner branches. They're attached using our thinned PVA glue, that's Elmer all purpose or multipurpose glue mixed with equal amount of water. I just dip the top part of the tree and then I dip the branches or the steel wires into this glue water mix. Once all the branches have their water mix, I load 12 millimeter brown static grass into my static grass applicator. I then apply the 12 millimeter static grass fibers so that each branch get at least five to 10 of those. Now on our black spruce, all of the branches is pointing downward. This is achieved by using a hairdryer. The airflow from the hairdryer will push the fibers downwards. This is the result after using the hairdryer. Next step is to apply another layer of static grass. This time it's either a 1.5 or 2.5 millimeter length grass which will help the foliage to look more dense. Let the glue dry properly then it's time for some painting. I spray this using a light gray paint. I paint this quite richly and then I missed over some brown paint which will mix slightly with the wet gray paint. This wet mix from the gray and brown paint gives a highly realistic look to the trunk. Only thing that remains now is the fur needles for the foliage. I then again, dip all of the branches into this glue water mix. Make sure to get some extra on the top. And then I just sprinkle Woodland sonic green fine turf over all of the branches. Sprinkle enough so you'd get a nice looking realistic density. I hope you like this video about how to model black spruce. If you did, please level up and gain access to the premium content here on Model Railroad Academy. See you in there.
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