Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Make a 1:48 scale fig tree to suit a mossy rain forest diorama. The tree is made from a galvanized wire armature then covered in toilet paper in a paper mache style. Vines are added using twine. Using a mixture of techniques, from paper mache to filling out the form with acrylic gap filler, this realistic tree would look great in any jungle or rain forest scene.
The model tree is painted with cheap acrylic paints and model scenery foam ground cover is applied as the canopy foliage. None of the materials are organic so this model should last many years.
To complete the scene, moss and rocks are added around the base of the tree and I model mushrooms made from flat head nails.
Contents
00:08 - Introduction to modelling a tree
00:42 - Wire armature for the trunk and branches
01:28 - Paper mache using toilet paper
02:05 - Twine for vines
02:37 - Painting the tree
03:39 - Make a dark wash to add contrast
04:15 - Using dog bed cushion fluff to bulk out the canopy
04:54 - Using spray adhesive to stick foam ground cover on
05:34 - Tint Sculptamold to make an easy earth texture
06:10 - Make mushrooms from flat head nails
07:26 - Final photos of the finished model tree
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Photo of Moreton Bay Fig trees in Hawaii courtesy of Payton Walton. The image here is used to demonstrate how to use the PhotoShop pixelate mosaic feature for identifying the colors in a photo.
Make a 1:48 scale fig tree to suit a mossy rain forest diorama. The tree is made from a galvanized wire armature then covered in toilet paper in a paper mache style. Vines are added using twine. Using a mixture of techniques, from paper mache to filling out the form with acrylic gap filler, this realistic tree would look great in any jungle or rain forest scene.
The model tree is painted with cheap acrylic paints and model scenery foam ground cover is applied as the canopy foliage. None of the materials are organic so this model should last many years.
To complete the scene, moss and rocks are added around the base of the tree and I model mushrooms made from flat head nails.
Contents
00:08 - Introduction to modelling a tree
00:42 - Wire armature for the trunk and branches
01:28 - Paper mache using toilet paper
02:05 - Twine for vines
02:37 - Painting the tree
03:39 - Make a dark wash to add contrast
04:15 - Using dog bed cushion fluff to bulk out the canopy
04:54 - Using spray adhesive to stick foam ground cover on
05:34 - Tint Sculptamold to make an easy earth texture
06:10 - Make mushrooms from flat head nails
07:26 - Final photos of the finished model tree
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Photo of Moreton Bay Fig trees in Hawaii courtesy of Payton Walton. The image here is used to demonstrate how to use the PhotoShop pixelate mosaic feature for identifying the colors in a photo.
