Any ideas for scratchbuilding a 1:18 scale palm tree?? I have seen some you can purchase online, but the scale is too small and they want $30 for one!!

Ideas?

This may give you some ideas.

http://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/75

Cheers,
Jim

Hi,try to get hold of Tamiya Model Magazine Dec 99/Jan 2000 issue 77,
there is a good article on how to construct palm trees from scratch.For back issues contact [email protected]. Wise Owl used to distribute in the USA,or you could try the wanted section on this site or hobby shows.
HTH.....Dave.

Hi,

How brave are you??

I have made a few Banana palms using this method.

take a piece of heavy duty left over Plastic Sprue.

Heat carefully until soft to the point of being floopy, then quickly roll it out with a piece of woden dowel, rather like rolling pastry, best on to a wood surface or heat resistant surface but wood is best

" not the other halfs best kitchen units though" that s where the brave bit comes in doing it in the kitchen ;0)

(Saftey tip ....no seriously ware some heat proof gloves the thinner type protect your hands

and work in a well ventilated area.. do not over heat or set fire to the sprue it drips and burns.. so good trousers are a must...old jeans with no holes in them)

Now back to the build..

Pulling slightly while rolling will give you a long stem or a short stem. However, you generally get good shaped banana palm, if it does not work at first try again, the failures can be used as dead leaves.

If you reheat the leaf it curls up or deforms this does take some practice but can offer a really good result.

Pulling out the stem can also give some interesting results.

The trunk can be made of spare sprues heated and twisted together some filing and assembly work is necessary but not too much its up to you, the leaves are quite thin and cutting them can improve the finish.

if you paint then various colours and shade using filters gloss the top surface it looks stunning..

What I must point out is !! that you have to be brave and carefull its hot and sticky mind your hands and fingers. Do Not heat it too much and do one bit at a time

sorry for the lesson not teaching you to suck eggs.

anyway

Hope this is ok for you take care ..

Blue

Here is another feature that might help

Tropical Foiliage