OK as promised here we go with my first tutorial.
......hold on....it wan't be so quick for the next ones....this one is a tutorial i've made a couple of years ago.
For the next ones i need to shot picture and write a text........will take a while
Ok,let's start.
This is my way how I make palm trees, of course there are several way to make palms but i found this one quite a realistic one (i'll explain later why)
Needed materials:
- wire (0,2 to 0,5 thick)
- DAS Pronto (modelling clay)
- special glue
STEP 1
Take about 50-60 cm of Alu foil and fold it in two. Alu foils have a "shining" and a "matt" side, fold it so that the matt side is "outside". Glue the two shining sides together with a very strong glue (special glue....remember it's Alu!). Let the glue dry (give attention that you spread well the glue) and then after spray it with a dark shade of green or dark olive green. Once the paint is dry give it a little layer of matt varnish (otherwise the paint will chip of).
STEP 2
Draw the form of the palm leaves on the Alu foil (make big, small and medium size to have a choice). Cut the leaves one by one out and check that ALL are well glued together. Take a wire (lead or silver.....i'm using silver one because they are "softer") and cut it a bit longer than the leaf itself, glue it in the center of the leaf (use rapid drying glue).
STEP 3
Here is the moment to paint the leaves.
My way to do it is that i will use two shade of a lighter green and then a wash with dark green (very diluited). Now the last touch:
Using yellow or similar shades, drybrush the leaves very lightly, retouch if necessary the greens. The central wire is in golden brown or somethings similar (it can be also in a green shade).
STEP 4
Using a "curved" cissor, start to cut the leaves. I always start from the top, "slicing" the alu until you "feel" the central wire. Once you've cut the leaves, you must give the last retouches. In fact cutting the alu will make it so that probably in some "spots" you'll have a shining alu!! Just give a touch of green or yellow on the spot. Give now on the whole leaf a diluited black wash.
STEP 5
The leaves are now finished. Just give them the shape you want and that's it!!
STEP 6
Let's make the palm trunk now.
Take a piece of plastic of the required lenght you want (you can use sprues plastic or barbecue wood sticks). This will be the "heart" of the trunk. Take a quantity of modelling clay and roll it like a cigar until you reach the desired diameter. Stick the plastic or wood all trough the modelling clay cigar.
Wait about 5-10 minutes and then, with a knife start to modell the trunk by just pressing the knife on the trunk, simulating the typical palm trunk.
To paint the trunk, i usualy use a very dark shade as a base and then lightening with light colours.....at the end a brown or black wash.
STEP 7
Now we have to assembly the whole thing.
Drill small holes in the palm trunk, take the leaves one by one, and with a strong glue, glue it in the holes you've made. Shape leaf by leaf now, giving them the shape you desire.
Here some example of finished Palm trees:
OK, i think ....this is it!!
Feel free to ask any questions.
Last word:
This technik has advantage and disvantage:
Advantage is that you can give the form you like at the leaves, you can even shape the small strip on the leaves one by one (if you like!!). The result is, in my opinion, very realistic.
Disvantages are basically the long working procedure (...good and nice things ...need time!!)
The same technik you can use it with paper made leaves but these ones are much difficult to shape and bend.....and at the end the result is better with alu.
OK, i hope you can understand my english and my explanation......otherwise, just ask again
Enjoy it and........keep modelling!!!
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