[*] Simple Grape Stem Trees - by Azog

Dagorlad · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:40 am

Yes Azog, its a vine example of article writing, simply grape! Thanks a bunch for raisin it.

Chineselegolas · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:25 am

Groans...
No Comment

But great article, now to remember not to throw the Stem away when I have grapes...

Nygyll of Wyvernhole · **Posted:** Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:58 pm

Could have sworn I posted to here. :S Anyway, superb article, i now have the whole family eating grapes.
I probably won't be able to actually make anything with them but its a start

hithero · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:27 am

Excellent, probably the best tree-making article I have seen, which is cheap, quick and looks fantastic. I can't believe how may grape stalks I have thrown away (every week we have them!) and not thought of this idea.
One question, how long does it take for them to dry and would it be possible to assist drying in an oven or microwave?

Azog · **Posted:** Sun Oct 30, 2005 10:41 pm

Hithero,
It's a bit difficult to be precise on how long to leave them to dry out,
we seem to leave them about a week on our kitchen windowsill. I guess a thin one takes a bit less than that.

I've never tried artificial drying, being wood I guess they could burst into flames if overdone. Perhaps placing some dessicant near a stem would help
in the drying process. That's the stuff you get in those little bags with camera equipment, ummm ..isn't salt a natural dessicant, you could try that perhaps.

I have a big stock of them now, as we have a bunch every week, and I make sure that we get a bunch with an interesting stem. :wink:

Oh yes, thanks for the kind words it is appreciated

Azog

DM · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:58 pm

Its the simplicity that makes this concept such a great one. You have done a great job of making a great looking tree out of simple materials. The second tree in the article looks great.

Thank you for inspiration to have a go, I will definatley be trying this one.

Natarn · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:59 am

I'll have a go at this too. The trunk and roots look great. It's amazing what a good bit of painting can do to really bring a model to life.
Well done. It looks better than the ones I've seen in shops.

TheBucklandBrewer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:54 pm

Uruk-Hai Stealth Bomber wrote:

So what do you do when the grape stem rots???

Anyone has had any experience in this?

El Rabbito · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:48 am

Quote:

So what do you do when the grape stem rots???

Anyone has had any experience in this?

If the trunk..stem is fully dry it wont rot..it will be...erm..a dry twig.
The covering of PVA will also help preserve the stem, keeping moisture out (IF it was fully dry in the first place) and the PVA will strengthen the stem as well as allowing some flex so your branches wont snap off too easily.

Azog · **Posted:** Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:25 pm

All my old ones I've made don't look any different besides perhaps a bit dusty from when they were first made. The trick with everything like this is take your time with natural things to fully dry them out.

For example, I've used moss on some of my terrain by fully drying it out first. I've even over coated it when dry with dilute PVA to seal it and then painted over it.

If you think about dried flower arrangements they can last for years and years without deteriorating.

King Elessar the Uniter · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:13 pm

FANTASTIC idea! :yay:

A GREAT article, thanks!

BurningMithril · **Posted:** Mon May 03, 2010 4:10 pm

At last, an excuse to buy a lot of grapes... :twisted:

Very nice article, welld one. :yay:

[*] Simple Grape Stem Trees - by Azog

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