Making a realistic bush - My Way! ( very easy)

There are many ways or methods to achieving a realistic looking bush. My method is just one way and to me, the most simplest solution. Whatever method works for you:

  1. I used ‘Grey Roof Lichen’(Latin name: Bryoria capillaris), which I collected from a fallen pine tree in my back yard. There’s lots of this stuff. You can also use natural twine rope, which most modellers use. I did not have any on hand, so I decided to go out in nature and test out this material.

This is what it looks like on the tree:



  1. I cleaned off any unnecessary debris from off the Lichen, and tore off a small piece of this material. I picked the thinnest lichen clump I could fine. The thinner the strands the better it will look. At least for me. Then I took a brown Tamiya spray can(any brown color will do, depending on the look you want). I sprayed the lichen until I was satisfied. Left it to dry.


  1. Then I took som Noch, Medium Green leaves. I had this on hand and was perfect for this job. Nice quality too. I sprinkled very sparingly for the ‘sparse look’, I was after.

This is the final results placed on the vignette:



Voila! Now how simple was that??? And absolutely realistic( in my eyes at least). But like I said, whatever suits you, go with that method. I thought this would save you time and money. Good Luck

14 Likes

That looks great and thanks for the turorial! We call it “old mans beard”, plenty of that stuff around.

2 Likes

Fantastic to read your comment. Hope you give it a try.

3 Likes

Is that the same as “Spanish Moss”? There’s nothing more realistic than the real thing! As much as possible I like to use tree, or bush roots. Washed and dried, they work excellently. Although, in the absence of natural product, I’ve used short lengths of copper wire, bent up, and painted light brown/green, brushed with white glue. and sprinkled with model RR foliage.
:smiley: :canada:

4 Likes

Like I mentioned in my post, use whatever suits your taste.

1 Like