Since this is a multi purpose space are you going to attempt anyway to control dust? The one pet peeve I have always had is dust covering my layout. I am trying to decide if there is a feasible and attractive way to seal off the layout when not in use
Devon,
I have though about this a lot. And after a lot of research i fond that what I was already doing was about the best you can do unless you plan on spending a bunch of money. Several years back found that a box fan was about 20x20 . That was perfect for a standard furnace filter. I built a box around a $20 fan and i just add a furnace filter . I have 2 of theses in 2 parts of the room. I generally run them on low for a couple days after I do any work in the room. You can leave one running all the time. It does collect a lot of dust. I tried running it with 2 filters at one time but you don’t move as much air…
Oh. I have even hung one of the 2 from the ceiling so it may moving air more efficiently.
Thats a great idea.
Most of my large evergreen trees are made by hand with a preserved Blueberry Juniper foliage. Well the other day I ran into a different armature to try…
Here is the Blueberry Juniper tree…
Here is the new tree. It is an artificial armature, this is the natural color…
I thought the color was too light so I painted it with some artificial plant paint “moss green”
Well no fair telling us about a new tree and not telling us what your using. I like both and gives variation. I have every intention of copying the juniper one. But what’s the new one. Both are on your custom trunk right. I think I am going to make a couple trunks in a couple sizes then try casting them in resin. I also want to try preserving the juniper myself in glycerin. I think the juniper looks like cedar the other one looks more fir like.
Landrel
Did you find a source for “Ming fern”? inquiring minds want to know.
Al P.
Devon,
I found the armatures at Hobby lobby. They were on sale last week for 50% off. so about $2 per stem. There are about 12 pieces on each one. It takes about 3-4 armatures to make a tree. There are 2 sizes on the armature.
The trunks are hand made. I do a lot of casting but the cost of casting the trunks would be to much for me. They are easy to make the painting is the pain . Most of my trees average from 18" to 32 " …
I did a lot of research on preserving the juniper and there is even a paper someone wrote on it. I lost the link… But its cheaper just to buy it. I attempted it but without success… I did find out that you have to put the branches in a very bright room so that they will draw in the fluid better.
I even found a place last year that i was able to get the branches with very few berries on them . That saves a lot of time…
Al, I did re check my source on the Ming Fern. It is no longer imported into the US. I did look it up and you can grow it yourself. It is a asparagus plant and gets pretty big. …
Ty
Though I haven’t ordered from any of the following suppliers, it does appear that it is still available. I saw their use in a Sundance Central Railroad video on tree making and liked the look (I no longer have the link); it’s just one more project that is on my list that I haven’t started yet. There are a couple of good pictures of the trees in this Model Railroader article.
http://www.amazonflowers.us/Ming-Fern-_p_96.html
http://www.everleafgreens.com/mingfern.html
http://www.johnsens.co/web/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=ming+fern&product_id=12623
http://www.floralsuppliesandmore.com/dried/foliage.html
I like Ty’s trees and his description (thanks) on how to make them and I’ll probably try those also, again when I get around to it! (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
an asparagus huh? well now I have to go out in the yard and look at my asparagus and see if it would be use full. Now you raise a great point though and one I often forget. Sometimes it just isnt worth doing something yourself. It would be a giant pain to preserve the juniper for what it would cost to just buy what i need. Good point. I will be running to hobby lobby to see if i can find some of that stuff.
Thanks again as always for the tip.
Hey Guys the Ming fern does make a really nice tree. But it does not like to travel. It will shed if handled a lot. I did another search for the preserved Ming Fern. I called the companies at those links . No one has Preserved Ming Fern on hand. The top to links has fresh Ming fern and it will wilt in about 10 days. I talked to Johnsen"s and they said they don’t have it in hand but could get it. So I emailed them to see how much I could get at one time. Will let you know what I find out . If they do have it i would buy some and lay it back for later use…
I still have enough to make about 20 or so trees…
Ty
I was able to get one of these twigs had to pay a whole 4 bucks for it but I do like the looks of it a lot. The one I have has 18 individual armatures you say your using 4 per tree? I assume your cutting them down to taper toward the top and if it takes 4 then these should easily yield 4 trees per. At a dollar a tree plus what ever wood and bondo that pretty dang cheap. still want to do the juniper as I thing that gives a much different look more like a cedar and I also like Bobs filter fabric idea.
If you do come across the ming fern and want to divide and order i might be wiling to get some from you. That looks the best of all in my opinion.
Guys,
The Sundance Central tree guru did a clinic @ the 2014 NNGC in Kansas city. I was totally bummed out after finding out the Ming fern in it preserved state was not readily available. they have switched to the juniper, but I have been unable to find it w/out berries. they said at the clinic that getting the preserved variety is important, they had tried to do the preservation bit themselves w/out success. So I to would be interested in being part of a bulk order.
Al P.
Devon,
It took almost 4 whole Stems to do one tree. That would be $16 worth at full price. If you wait for them to be 50% off you would do much better…
You need to get the hobby lobby app and they have a 40% off coupon you can use on one item each day…
that makes more sense. I need to buy them out I guess.
Ok I have a lot of catching up to do…
You can see all of the spots I have added to the area and You can also see the blue lights that I have added. And if you look around the inside of the frame work the are 2 strands of blue Christmas lights.
This gives me a night time look. Once I have all the buildings lighted and street lights it should look pretty good…Hopefully
Looking nice. I sure am glad you are going before me. When I decide to pull the trigger down stairs it wi go alot easier with all your suggestions. Adding the blue light for night is a great idea and I should have known that one. In aquariums (especially oral reef tanks) they use blue for night time appearance, as many corals will only reproduce at night. Never thought of carrying that over but you bet I will be incorporating some blue into the mix.
I love where the whole thing is going. Keep it up.
Devon, Thanks for all the kind words.
I really got inspiration after see the Sundance Central and a great DVD to get is "The Making of Tom Millers Fabulous F-Scale Layout 2-DVD Set. It will get the juices flowing. I just wish I had more vision and more space.
Oh BTW hobby lobby has all their floral stems on sale this week for 50% off…
Ty