I have a need for about 500 filler Gum trees for my logging layout, Willow Creek Railroad [ http://willowcreekrr.net/ so I started raiding my neighbour’s gardens but could not find anything that looked realistic.
My daughter-in-law who is a horticulturist suggested that I have a look at a shrub that she has called “Heavenly Bamboo” which when finished flowering, leaves flower heads that look like miniature trees without their leaves, she could get me as much of this as I needed.

The Nandina domestica 'Pygmaea' or ‘heavenly bamboo’ is a deciduous shrub which typically grows 4-5' tall [shorter in areas where it dies to the ground in winter]. Features a clump of erect, cane-or bamboo-like stems with compound leaves which are divided into narrow, lacy leaflets [1-2" long].  Leaves emerge coppery in spring, turn to green in summer and finally change to reddish-purple in fall. Tiny whitish flowers appear in late spring in loose, erect, terminal clusters [6-12" long]. Flowers are followed by heavy sprays of red berries which persist from fall to spring, providing winter interest.

I made my Spotted Gum trees in the usual way, dip the top of the trees in 50/50 mixture of white glue/water then came something new,  attaching a small amount of tizzed out wool. Did he say WOOL ???? 

Not the usual material for making trees [sometimes you have to look outside of the square] for a model railway, The finishing touch was to paint white splotches on the trunk of the tree. As you can see from the photos this wool does give the resemblance/colour of Gum leaves. I hope this may be of some help to those who find that they need some Spotted Gums. Jeff.

Hi Jeff,

If you find the Nandina too small for your needs, see if your daughter in law can obtain some spent infloresence (flower spikes) from the common Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). These may provide you with some decent 'wood' for your trees as well.

Here is a pic for you..



One problem I found with 'real wood' tree armatures is that they become increasingly brittle with time, even after 6 months. It will only take a light knock and you'll find half the forrest canopy on the floor ! Unfortunately Nandina has very narrow flower stems, generally too narrow for gums etc, whereas Crepe Myrtle has wider stems. If you go down the Nandina or Crepe Myrtle route, make sure the plant/cuttings are sufficiently dry as mould can set in. I have turned to making my own trees using the twisted wire concept.

You can see how I made my trees here - http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=12116&forum_id=21&page=3#p213544  I have written a 'how to' on making trees within this thread. On page 5, you'll find a 'how to' for making simple sapplings using plastic flower armatures.

Although my trees are made for an English scene, it wouldn't take too much to turn them into Aussie gums. I guess you have seen the chap at model railway exhibitions who makes the gums/eucalypts etc "Trackside Trees". Not cheap, but some very nice trees… Contact : Trackside Trees - Ph 02 4936 2227.

Cheers, Gary.

ps, I'm also a horticulturalist…!

Thanks Gary, I'll get her to look out for me and use both to give me different thickness of trunks, Regards Jeff.

Hi Jeff,

One of our club members has been using Sedum for small gum trees which look very effective but as it is early days, I have not had a chance to photograph it for you or anyone else.

However have a look at http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/210290.aspx and get down to MisterBeasley's thread and you can see samples that look to me remarkably like Gums as you and I know them,

Hope this helps and I'm sure if Michael in our club can possibly help with further info, he will,
Cheers from Melbourne
Trevor

Hi again Jeff,  Sorry I just read your thread and I think reading it you have done your trees??? 

Thank you for the info xdford, yes I have made my trees already. Regards Jeff.