About four years ago I bought a Woodland Scenics “Realistic Tree Kit” but never got around to making the trees. As I now have a proper wargame table I’m in need of a bit more scenery so last night I finally opened up the box. The trees are very simple and satisfying to make – just bend the branches and stick the foliage on with wood glue.When I started wargaming as a teenager I never had much in the way of scenery and I always wanted to have some decent trees like the ones made by Peter Gilder and pictured in Miniature Warfare. My brother and I had to make do with some of the Merit trees (out of the “Blue & Grey” ACW Playset) with the odd Britains one thrown in for good measure. Eventually I progressed to the ownership of some K&M trees in various scales that I still have and use today.
Anyway, I’m really pleased with these new ones and there’s enough stuff in the box to make six trees which I thought was pretty good value for money. Not quite as good as Gilder’s but near enough for me.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI own a bag full of these trees... Could you post a picture of a 'true' wood to see the effect?
Regards
Rafa
Handsome trees, Ian - very pleasing. I thought I'd mention that the one on the right seems to be dead, since we've had some problems with dead trees here recently.
ReplyDeleteI am still pretty much stuck with my elderly Merit trees, I am afraid. This is partly because I am a lazy so-and-so, but is also because I have a dread of getting stray flock on the dining room floor (which will not be a problem in your new wargames room). The Merit trees are serviceable, especially if you stick em on plywood bases for stability, but the passing years have made them frighteningly brittle - I lose a couple each time I set up the battlefield, so I need to do something about it. I am taking notes - thanks for this.
Tony
Actually those don't look bad. I've been looking at differant sorts of trees too. I might have to look into that. Are the armatures provided in a variety of heights or just the two in the picture?
ReplyDeleteRafa - I will post a picture of the complete wood when I finish them. Handy for La Bois de Paris?
ReplyDeleteTony - Yes, one of the trees seems to have some terrible blight. I've always thought it a pity that nobody makes any good winter trees for re-fights of Eylau or the retreat from Moscow. You could use these trees without the foliage but they would look more "nuclear winter" rather than just plain winter.
Conrad - the box contains two at about 7" and four around the 5" mark. By bending the branches in different ways you get a pleasing variation in appearance. The box cost around £15 about 4 years ago.