During my recent de-cluttering of the wargames hut I came across a box of trees, the flocked twisted wire variety. I do not recall how I came to have them, probably a donation from a friend so perhaps cost me nothing.
The downside was that the trees had no bases!
While I am stuck with Painters Block I thought I would have a go at basing them. Here is how I did them.
I cut some 50mm squares from a gray PVC foam board which I get from eBay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=A4+3MM+GREY+FOAM+PVC&_sacat=220&_from=R40
I have no connection with the seller.
I round these off using a combination of snips, a coarse file and sandpaper. I also drill a pilot hole in the approximate centre to be enlarged later. I also make another set about 35mm square and round them off too!
I enlarge the central holes with a larger drillbit until the twisted wire trunks fit in with a little bit of persuasion.
I then glue the two bases together with the holes lined up and then I insert the trunks into the hole using a twisting motion and the twisted wire trunk will make a good firm connection. Make sure you don't go right through or the tree will wobble on its base.
I make sure the base of the trunk is well coated with glue as this will strengthen the join as well as adding a bit of irregularity to the trunk.
This is the glue I used, from a local hardware store. It take a few hours to dry but makes a very strong bond that will last forever. It also takes acrylic paint nicely.
As you can see the trees rank up nicely together and their bases will receive a scenic finish in due course. I did 9 trees while watching some Youtube movies as a touch of therapy while trying to pluck up the courage to attack my Painters Block.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI had not heard of this glue before ... but having read about it sounds perfect for this sort of job.
I have some palm trees that need attaching to their bases ... and now I think that I have the solution as to how to fix them!
All the best,
Bob
As it says on the cardboard packing it can deal with a variety of materials, wood, metal, leather, plastic, stone and glass. It cost just under £8 at my local B&Q.
DeleteI had some similar trees and used pliers to splay out the bottom 5mm or so of wire and glued this to a flat base. The effect was reminiscent of Roco pine trees. This gives a thinner overall base though your method is probably quicker. Will look out for that glue which could be useful.
ReplyDeleteHi Nigel
DeleteI have used your method before with other trees. The twisted wire on these trees was quite robust and would be a struggle to splay out!