As a result of my post on the Pine Tree topic about willow trees, below is what DCCconcepts have in their range. They do look very nice indeed.

B****r, he's sold out of willows!

I reckon I know how to make one and can do a "how I dun' it" if you like?
I'll need a Willow or two on the Newcastle Emlyn layout.

Marty  please do!

 Mike

Yes indeed Marty. The more variety the better.

Sounds good to me, Marty.

Sitting here drumming my fingers now Marty. :shock:

Les

bring it on Marty,you have a captive audience waiting.
 :wink:  :wink:        8)

OK, I'll see what I can dream up over the weekend.
Me and my big mouth…

Old Man Willow in the making…

OK, a busy weekend in the shops, what with Mother's Day here but the wire frame is twisted up….


My number one son is an apprentice "sparky" and managed to save a couple of meters of earth wire for me.
I cut two lengths of it, each length twice as high as the telegraph pole.
The insulation was stripped off and both lengths were twisted together to form quite a thick trunk.
From a quick count this morning there are about 50 individual strands of wire in a length of wire. So that is now about 100 strands in this tree.
Roots, trunk, main and minor branches twisted up until the height of the telegraph pole was reached and then each individual wire was separated and "drooped" to represent the hanging branches.


The hanging branches need more attention to make them hang straight but I'll do that after I've completed the bark mix, painting and foilage.

Progress reports as they come to hand…

Looking good so far Marty

Very good Marty. Looking forward the the rest of the thread.
Phill

Marty I love it! Looks very willowy indeed. I think you've caught exactly the contorted and gnarled look of them, as well as the lovely weeping habit. It's already the best I've seen.

 I've been wanting a willow for ages. Earth wire eh? I haven't come across any in the shops. Will be looking harder now  :)

 Mike

It is coming on well. Once the leaves are on, planted with a family having a picnic underneath - then it will be spot on!

Thanks Mike.
I'm pretty sure Dick Smiths have it on the roll, buy by the metre either that or find the local sparky and beg an off cut.
cheers

I've got a spot for it on the bank of the river in the Diorama Ron, already given it a test plant… the trunk is easy, not so sure about the foilage though :!:

Oh boy this was worth waiting for - looks great. :D

Les

I like the trunk, Marty.
Now the fun starts. Foliage will be a challenge :!:

That looks superb!

Do you do pollarded ones too?

 8)

Thanks Chris… got to get the foilage on yet :shock:

Can't see why I couldn't do a pollarded one.
Maybe put a tiny bead or bit of wood at the trimming pointand wrap the wire around it, which will create the bulge that the new growth shoots from.
This multistrand earth wire is pretty useful for that sort of thing.
I'll add it to the list but don't hold your breath.
cheers