Artificial foliage for outdoor layouts

[Hope Mountain Railway]

Has anyone out there had any experience of any materials that make suitable foliage/brush/ bramble/trees/bushes as part of a low relief backscene on a garden railway. I've thought of a few things, but no idea how long they will last in the weather. Perhaps Rubberised Horsehair, Pan Scourers, .... any ideas, preferebly that have lasted the test of time? ...... Thanks.

[Peter Butler]

Sorry but I can't offer any suggestions, however I do have a question......
If you have any natural foliage on your railway it will change with the seasons, whereas artificial scenery will not and may not sit comfortably with its neighbour! Is this what you have in mind?

[METHSSNIFFER]

Now I'm looking for a conifer tree exactly the same and my line of thoughts are Christmas trees Now for bushes there are so many alpines hebes and heathers that when trimmed pass well for foliage.
If you are looking for synthetic then doormats, sheeps wool are a couple but have you tried lichen and scenic material as used on model railways. Not the sawdust stuff. You can build a tree called forest in a box may work.

Pan scourers like brillo are excellent for introducing rust outside and disintergrate well but remove soap first.

Trees can be made with flex cable and multi strand wire using heat shrink you can form branches and paint dull brown for trees

Look at dried flower arrangements.

Some dead plants can offer another alternative

[Peter Butler]

[quote="METHSSNIFFER:89317"] You can build a tree called forest in a box may work.
/quote]

When my son was building an 00 gauge layout he bought a 'Forest in a box' and there it stayed! Designed for indoor use only, it looked better with the lid on!

[METHSSNIFFER]

Also check out aquarium stuff as well as vivarium in petstores

[Peter Butler]

Also check out aquarium stuff as well as vivarium in petstores

Now this I like....... a garden railway infested with reptiles!!!

[METHSSNIFFER]

Forest in the box can be sprayed to waterproof with acrylic clear lacquer and can serve the purpose you are looking for outdoors

[Peter Butler]

Forest in the box can be sprayed to waterproof with acrylic clear lacquer and can serve the purpose you are looking for outdoors

As long as you keep it in the box!!!!!

[METHSSNIFFER]

[Peter Butler]

'I 'ate you, Butler!!!'

[andymctractor]

I use a number of flower and plant arrangements from dolls house accessories to smarten up station platforms. However, I have to put away most things after a running session to protect them from my dog, so they don't get exposed to the weather for long periods.

[Peter Butler]

I'm going to get shot down again for continuing the subject of dogs, but my two have no respect for garden railways either.
How can you tell a dog which is garden railway and which is just garden?
One of my Springers is positively vegetarian. He will eat grass, bananas, apples etc... so even plants aren't safe when he's around.
I'm not sure how he would react to artificial plants!

[METHSSNIFFER]

Has Hope Mountain got dogs... !

[andymctractor]

I'm going to get shot down again for continuing the subject of dogs, but my two have no respect for garden railways either.

My first kit built building was a wooden Brandbright station building with lean to loo. My dog had the loo off and crushed to matchwood before I had a chance to admire my work. The loo as it was is now a stand alone fire bucket stand.
Now he just walks over anything that is left out. Also any tree that starts to look like it is maturing into a proper shape will get the pee treatment.
He is my first dog and before I got him I didn't know what I was missing and I wouldn't swap him for anything.

'Matelot' on the North Norfolk Railway a couple of weekends ago.