Hi. I was working on a vignette with scratch-built figures motivated by a favorite outdoor pastime of many. Wanted to capture a special moment in the woods. This is a good friend’s farm somewhere in Kentucky. I started with a look at this guy’s tree stand he designed and built years ago as a boy. More to follow soon.
If you know what Morel Mushrooms are, they should be popping soon in that area!
TREE STAND Scratch built model of this tree stand was created by stick build in 1:35 scale. We old model airplane builders used to practice similar stick and white glue skills. Scale basswood stick lumber came from G and G Model Shop in Texas. This included odd stick cross sections like 3/64 x 3/32 inch GNG-0022, 3/64 X 1/8 inch GNG-0023, 3/64 x 5/32 inch GNG-0024, 3/32 x 3/32 inch GNG-0070.
The return to the farm to measure this tree stand was an eye opener. Not really 100 feet in the air as was first assumed
Well try, try again until it looks right
Had to laugh once I gained a clearer understanding of the strap attachment to the tree. It’ll be fine
Yes that was a wasp nest under the platform where one may enjoy sitting with nature for some hours.
Added wasp nest representation in 1:35 scale
The strap ratchet is a modified VOYAGERMODEL 1:35 scale modern strap buckle photo etch item.
The knotted strap section was created with plastic strip cut from a clear food storage bag and painted.
Used Vallero paints in USMC green, orange brown and black plus various weathering
Thanks for looking. More to follow soon.
The stand looks great and the strap is awesome. What did you use for the tree?
Thank you Ryan! This tree was just a bent wooden dowel with Milliput Superfine 2-Part Self Hardening Putty added for a root/base. The wood dowel was textured using different wood saw teeth scraped over the surface. I learned a lot about scale trees on the YouTube channels out there.
CROSSBOW The Centerpoint 370 Sniper crossbow had a lot of visual items that look like the lower of an Armalite Rifle.
The big problem was making the 1/35 scale crossbow limbs that were thin enough to look scale and be durable enough to be man handled during the build.
The limbs were formed with copper wire that was hammered flat to be as thin as possible before trim and bending to shape.
Two wire limbs were added to part of a modified resin crossbow figure. The hand and fore stock of the MAIM “Crossbow Survivor” was added to a 1/35 scale Trumpeter (kit item 00510) M4 rifle buttstock and grip.
The scope used a Live Resin offering from Yaroslav.
This lower frame and the wire limbs formed the basic crossbow. Pully wheels were punched from plastic sheet then placed at either end of the limbs. Stretched sprue formed the string sections.
The Centerpoint 370 crossbow uses 20 inch long bolts (arrows) that are stored in a removable quiver.
are stored in a removable quiver:
The scale scratch-built quiver was made with piano wire and plastic scraps. Added three cut plastic sheet quills to each wire arrow.
Foil straps for the sling with PE swivels were added and painted.
More to follow soon
HUNTER Created a seated figure with a mix of leftover 1/35 scale tank and infantry figures from the spares box. The body parts were chosen for the bulky layers of clothing and baggy pants. The figure’s front chest was updated with foil to represent a partially open jacket zipper.
Also foil at the figure’s right waist represented the jacket partially covering the Glock 19 pistol. This was shown in a BlackHawk CQC Serpa Holster, 1/35 scale (LRE 35222) by Live Resin. Of course, 9mm recommended in case of wild dogs, coyotes and such as one enjoys nature.
The best tread match for the snake proof high top boots proved to be Live Resin (LRE 35296) LOWA Zephyr GTX Boots with low trouser-leg position in 1/35 scale. Good to protect the feet.
Painting Mossy Oak BREAK-UP COUNTRY pattern required detailed branch and leaf spots.
Took the figure head from a Russian 'polite green man" for the rendering of the cloth face covering. Heavily modified the top of the head into a Remington baseball cap.
Added a scratch made rolled up shooting mat for a back rest. The mat pad was made from Milliput & paper straps.
When the figure was placed up in the stand, the butt gap off the stand platform was apparent.
Putty was added.
Does this putty make my butt look fat?