The Reforestation Project (K&M Trees)

I wanted some new trees and found the company which used to manufacturer the old GW trees, called K&M Trees out of the UK.

 

I picked up a bunch of them and set to work basing them.  Here are the easy steps.

Step 01: The trees come with extended wire trunks - they're intended to be pushed into foam train layouts, so sadly you have to spend an extra $10 to get a pack of plastic bases. The trees come with a brown waxy paper 'fake' trunk applied to the top of the wire.

Step 02: You can simply clip and peel away the wax paper on the wire trunk (you won't need it if you're applying the plastic bases - it gets in the way and makes the trees look weird).

Step 03:  Take the plastic bases (they come dark brown/black plastic, so you'll want to spray them before hand - I used Vallejo 'Field Grey' spray which produces a perfect trunk grey.  Measure the wire against the base and using wire-clippers (not shown - don't use your hobby clippers!) cut down the wire trunk so it slots into the plastic base.

Step 04: Once you have several cut/measured, etc.  Slot on the plastic trunks and then invert the trees and put some epoxy into the base, so it'll grab the wire trunk and connect it to the base.  I also did this with some heavy wood glue, but the epoxy feels much stronger.  Let this dry.

 

Step 05: These trees shed quite a bit, so you'll want to scoop up the excess and hold onto it.  You can never have too much flock.

Step 06: Find or make your basing materials.  I used 3mm Sintra which is also called 'foamed PVC'.  It cuts nicely with a box cutter and can be carved to give it graded edges with a sharp hobby knife.  I mostly based my trees in pairs, but kept a handful as singles.  You'll want to sand the sintra on both sides to make sure it grips the table and takes paint easily.  It comes with a kind of glossy sheen on the outer layer that you need to buff down.

Step 07: Attach the trees to the bases (make sure you sand/roughen your tree bases as well so you get good contact between the bases/sintra.  Wood glue works fine here, though epoxy is easier/faster.

Step 07A (Not Pictured): When the trees are based, hit them with some hair spray or matte varnish to help reduce the flock shedding.  Any flock adhesive spray will probably also work.

 

Step 08: Apply your basing textures and materials.  I use Vallejo Dark Mud paste.

Step 09:  I finished up with a dry brush, some tufts, a few twigs/rocks from the yard, and some static grass, etc.