I was up at my dad's over the last few days. He's a bit poorly but took the 
time to show me around his new layout and in particular the trees he's just 
been making. Anyway his technique is new to me and the results looked 
superb so I thought I'd share it ... apologies if it's old hat.

In essence he uses the stalks from bunches of grapes to form the trunk and 
branches of the tree. Dries them first to make them hard then chops of the 
little knobbly bits on the end of the stalk and lo and behold there you go, 
all ready for flok or covering of your choice.

They looked really good, could see the very fine grain in the stalk I'm 
going to have a bash with them myself over the next few weeks, for anyone 
who hasn't tried using them, give it a go.

-- 
All the best,

Chris Wilson

email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped.
http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway

On 29 May, 19:20, Chris Wilson  wrote:
> I was up at my dad's over the last few days. He's a bit poorly but took the
> time to show me around his new layout and in particular the trees he's just
> been making. Anyway his technique is new to me and the results looked
> superb so I thought I'd share it ... apologies if it's old hat.
>
> In essence he uses the stalks from bunches of grapes to form the trunk and
> branches of the tree. Dries them first to make them hard then chops of the
> little knobbly bits on the end of the stalk and lo and behold there you go,
> all ready for flok or covering of your choice.
>
> They looked really good, could see the very fine grain in the stalk I'm
> going to have a bash with them myself over the next few weeks, for anyone
> who hasn't tried using them, give it a go.

Strange you should mention this Chris ......... we were at Butterley
on Thursday and we were talking to a couple about our sons layout.  He
said he was in the process of building a 'N' layout and was listing
all the things he was using like pan cleaners for hedges and grape
stalks for trees. He said they worked a treat.

Chris

Dragon Heart wrote:
> 
> On 29 May, 19:20, Chris Wilson  wrote:
> > I was up at my dad's over the last few days. He's a bit poorly but took the
> > time to show me around his new layout and in particular the trees he's just
> > been making. Anyway his technique is new to me and the results looked
> > superb so I thought I'd share it ... apologies if it's old hat.
> >
> > In essence he uses the stalks from bunches of grapes to form the trunk and
> > branches of the tree. Dries them first to make them hard then chops of the
> > little knobbly bits on the end of the stalk and lo and behold there you go,
> > all ready for flok or covering of your choice.
> >
> > They looked really good, could see the very fine grain in the stalk I'm
> > going to have a bash with them myself over the next few weeks, for anyone
> > who hasn't tried using them, give it a go.
> 
> Strange you should mention this Chris ......... we were at Butterley
> on Thursday and we were talking to a couple about our sons layout.  He
> said he was in the process of building a 'N' layout and was listing
> all the things he was using like pan cleaners for hedges and grape
> stalks for trees. He said they worked a treat.
> 
> Chris


A problem with grape stalks is that a few years later they will be very
brittle.
Whether that's a problem or not is how long you think your layout will
last.
My layouts seem to remain for a decade or more.

Regards,
Greg.P.

The message 
from Greg Procter  contains these words:

> My layouts seem to remain for a decade or more.

No time for all this short-termism...  I started my current layout in
1985. I'm still working on it, and I hope to live long enough to finish
it...

-- 
Dave,                                     
Frodsham

Greg Procter  wrote in 
news:48405A6D.55FF266A@ihug.co.nz:

> 
> A problem with grape stalks is that a few years later they will be very
> brittle.
> Whether that's a problem or not is how long you think your layout will
> last.

Cheers, I'll try a few "dry" then try a couple left in vasaline. Don't half 
look good though.

-- 
All the best,

Chris Wilson

email to cwilson at britwar dor co dot uk, reply address is spamtrapped.
http://www.the-dormouse.org The Dormouse Line model railway

Chris Wilson wrote:
> Greg Procter  wrote in 
> news:48405A6D.55FF266A@ihug.co.nz:
> 
>> A problem with grape stalks is that a few years later they will be very
>> brittle.
>> Whether that's a problem or not is how long you think your layout will
>> last.
> 
> Cheers, I'll try a few "dry" then try a couple left in vasaline. Don't half 
> look good though.
> 

Make a solution of glycerine, alcohol, and water (approx 1:2:5). Soak 
the plant material in it. That will prevent it from drying out for 
several years.

-- 
wolf k.

On Sat, 31 May 2008 10:08:29 GMT, Chris Wilson
 wrote:

>Greg Procter  wrote in 
>news:48405A6D.55FF266A@ihug.co.nz:
>
>> 
>> A problem with grape stalks is that a few years later they will be very
>> brittle.
>> Whether that's a problem or not is how long you think your layout will
>> last.
>
>Cheers, I'll try a few "dry" then try a couple left in vasaline. Don't half 
>look good though.

Try soaking them in glycerine. That's what the suppliers do for the
lichen and other plant-based material you buy at the model shop.

Chris Wilson wrote:
> 
> Greg Procter  wrote in
> news:48405A6D.55FF266A@ihug.co.nz:
> 
> >
> > A problem with grape stalks is that a few years later they will be very
> > brittle.
> > Whether that's a problem or not is how long you think your layout will
> > last.
> 
> Cheers, I'll try a few "dry" then try a couple left in vasaline. Don't half
> look good though.

That brings to mind a recipie I read in a Railroad Modeller from
somewhere in the early 1960s. I can't remember all the ingredients, but
the concept was to absorb the vaseline into methylated spirits/medical
spirits plus something else and then soak the trunks in it to preserve
them and their flexibility.

Regards,
Greg.P.