As the subject reads, I need some suggestions as to how I could create a reasonable facsimile of wall ivy. I’ve used putty and wires to create the “trunk” wooden part, but as to the leaves, I’m at a loss as to where to begin. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Take a look at the pics to see what I’m on about.
Check your local craft store to see if you can find a paper punch that closely replicates leaves. Punch out leaves in various shades green and yellow construction paper.
Also scour the various model railroad retailers such as Walthers.com to see what plant material they might have.
Birch tree seed clusters or “catkins” are perfect for this. They can be purchased as dio accessories or hunted out in the woods or in areas with birch trees that are getting ready to shed their seed pods. Break them up and you’ll find these perfect little three leafed seeds that look like ivy leaves.
Sounds interesting renarts, if not elusive. Having read your description I went looking for a photo and found this
is that the thing?
I made a bit of Ivy as a tester for my little vignette “Rudolf’s Roadside Rant” using some Photo-Etch Leaf for the 1st time, I liked how it worked well enough & I still have most of the $8 sheet for another project
!(http://www.militarymodelling.com/sites/1/images/member_albums/41116/ivygreen close.jpg)
Indy,
Here is a decent article that explains what I’m talking about…
http://www.reapermini.com/TheCraft/24
Living in Florida, we don’t get birch trees this far south, but when I travel up north, I usually make a stop and scrounge the seed pods around rest areas, campgrounds and forest areas. In a pinch, you can order some from Ausfwerks.com or (he separates the chaffe from the seeds and bags them) or you can hunt the doll shops, craft stores, railroad shops, and some of the aftermarket suppliers for the dio and figure industry.
renarts–That makes it much more clear! Thanks for the link
don’t know where any of those trees are around here–but I’d like to use it where I need lots of the leaves-----available sold anywhere?
EDIT Schnobs located it for us
From http://ausfwerks.com//store/ausfdesign/501/T.html Big sack for $4.50
(Awsome prices there on Vallejo paints and some Voyager stuff too!)
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I was thinking birch seeds as well. In my parents last house, they had a birch tree in the front yard, so one season I went and collected a full container of the pods, and I’ve got quite a few to use. Airbrushed and drybrushed in shades of green, it should do the job.
Here’s what I would do (unless the actual look of the leaf is really important) is use spices or tea leaves. Oregano looks pretty convincing, here’s a picture of what I’m talking about- this picture is from Shep Panes dio book.
It doesn’t really help the vine part- but I think it makes for good leaves. For the vine you could use wire or maybe even twine. Let us know how it works out!
I sometimes use tea leaves…smear white glue on the offending wall where you want the creepers, then sprinkle loose tea leaves over glue pattern…once dry, paint in your choice of greens…
Of course the look of the leaves is importaint! If details are importaint.
I’ll never use spices on a model again…um… I had a really bad experience a number of years ago doing that. I won’t go into it but to say something about the smell of the spices leading to me not getting a job (in a Hollywood model shop of all places!)
Tea is a bit different though. I have some loose tea leaves in my “assorted ground clutter bin”