These conifer tree armatures by Woodland Scenics are very nice and versatile. Twist and bend with the aid of a small craft torch and then spray with a textured paint like those made for patio furniture. Apply dark foliage in small bits one limb at a time and concentrate it toward the ends of the branch - not the tree trunk. Skip a branch here and there for realism or to provide a perch for crows or hawks. Using Woodland Scenics Fall Foliage in orange will give the impression of a dying conifer such as might be found in a swamp or too close to the R/R right-of-way. These frost nicely with Woodland Scenics Flake Snow for your winter scape as well.....

I have been looking on model railroad videos on how to make your own pine trees for my mountain railroad scenes. I was disappointed with how to make any realistic looking pine trees without a lot of work and trouble. I was very skeptical about trying these Woodlands scenics pine trees but have been surprised on how nice they have turned out. The branches could be a bit longer, maybe a 1/4 inch or more each. I carefully twisted and carefully painted the trees with some dark grays and a touch of green. Then used Hobbytack to apply the foliage to the branches. I made a few of trees that looked like healthy spruce using dark green. Then a group of white pines using light green. I also made some dead and dying looking trees like there always are in any group of pines. To make these I bent the branches down and applied the glue to only about half the branches and then sprinkled burnt grass, static grass on the branches. looked very realistic. I even laid a few of them on there sides among my pine thickets like dead trees or diseased or lightening struck trees. From a few feet away it was very convincing and very easy on the wallet and only took me a week of modeling time to make over a hundred trees and plant them on my layout. I will be buying a few more.