STOP Using the Same Trees — 3 Levels of Realism Explained If your trees all look the same, your layout will never look realistic.
In this tutorial I show how to create model trees at three different
levels of detail — from simple background trees, to midground-, and
highly detailed foreground trees. Learn how to combine these techniques
to create depth, improve realism, and avoid the common mistake of using
the same type of trees across your entire layout, diorama, or miniature
scene..
That means low level of detail on trees far back in the facility because details should not be visible on trees far away. In the middle of the facility, moderately detailed species-correct trees are good. Trees at the front and in the center of the action should be large and well detailed.
Photos of the final result:
Trees and Forest for your Model Railroad
Collecting Bridewort flowers The flowers on the Bridewort / Meadowsweet (Spirea salicifolia) are the perfect starting material for making models of both trees with leaves and also conifers. I usually pick just one hundred pieces each fall in late September. 100pcs can sound a lot, but partly between 500-2000pcs trees are needed for a medium size layout and partly the work becomes much more efficient when doing 100pcs at a time.
Photos of the final result
Euroasian Aspen trees
How to model Euroasian Apsen trees
Detailed guide DIY how to model a realistic miniature Aspen tree. Aspen tree (the Euroasian type) is a good starting point if you´re new to crafting miniature trees. This video tutorial explains in detail the entire process including my latest improved methods for tree crafting.
Photos of the final result:
Realistic Spruce trees
How to model realistic Spruce trees
Detailed guide DIY how-to model very realistic spruce trees easy in H0-scale for model railroad, diorama, RPG or table top fantasy. This guide applies specificly to the Canadian "Black Spruce" and "Norwegian Spruce" tree, which both are members of the conifer family of trees, but has a specific look. The latin name for the Norwegian spruce is 'Picea Abies'. These type of trees grows commonly in the northen hemisphere (Canada, Northen Europe, Finland, Russia, Ukrain etc..)
Photos of the final result:
An example of the forest hill presented here behind the trains:
