Small bush and brush construction

Scenery is a matter of building up layers.  We start with ground cover and then add trees.  What is missing?   Nature fills in between with bushes and smaller trees.  Here a simple method of creating those bushes  and trees.

What is required

  1. Sisal Rope
  2. White glue
  3. Spray paint
  4. 3M Super 77 glue
  5. Selkirk Scenery leaf material

Steps to make a bush

  1. Cut a piece sisal rope to length for the desired height of your bush to scale, remembering to add about 3/8" to 1/2" extra for a base with which to plant.  For my example I am using 2" which creates a 6 foot O scale bush.  Remember to make different heights for your bushes.
  1. Sisal rope is made of with multiple strands bundled into rope which we need to break apart.  First separate the 3 main bundles that forms the rope. 
  1. Take one of these bundles from step 2 and separate in smaller amounts of strands.  Do not make them all equal.  You want to avoid every bush looking the same.  In my example I have broken a bundle from step 2 into roughly 3 parts.
  1. Now glue the base of the bush to hold the strands together.  The easiest way is to put a puddle of glue down on paper and dab the base of your brush in the the glue.  Now roll the base between your thumb and forefinger until the glue is worked in to all the strands.  Put aside for the glue to dry.  Best to do many at one sitting, as applying the glue is rather messy.
  1. Once the glue has dried, you can then separate and straighten the strands to form the shape of your bush. 
  1. Paint the bush.  We use a variety of spray paint, black, brown, and red primer.  Whatever is on sale! It is easier to mount the bushes  in a scrap piece of Styrofoam and paint them all at once.
  1. Apply the Selkirk leaf material by lightly spraying the bush with Super 77 glue, then picking up a small amount of leaves in your hand and dabbing against the bush.  You do not want to sprinkle the leaves on it just leaves a thin layer on each strand.  I have used two different leaf colors for the examples. Click on photo for larger view.

 

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