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| These five simple steps will show you how to make miniature aspen and birch trees using Sweetwater Scenery's methods. Using these procedures, you can re-create realistic model trees in any season. The example below is a Fall Aspen tree, using Sweetwater's Tan Poly-Fiber and Light Tree Branch Fibers. |
Supplies needed:
- Sweetwater Poly-Fiber
- Sweetwater Tree Branch Fibers
- Sweetwater Deciduous Armature
- AMSI Ground Foam
- Aqua Net Unscented Super Hold Hairspray
- Spray Adhesive
- Clear Enamel Spray Paint
- Scissors
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 Use Sweetwater’s Tree Branch Fibers – The purpose of using Tree Branch Fibers is to generate volume and create a durable, easy to use base. Spray the top of the tree structure with Spray Adhesive, allow this to set up until tacky, around 30 seconds. Take a pinch of the tree branch fibers and dab them lightly onto the end of each individual branch. Fibers should be placed vertically on the top of the limb and extended horizontally from the end of the branch. Try to keep the fibers separated and avoid clumps. Repeat this process, by reapplying Spray Adhesive and placing additional tree branch fibers over the previous ones. This build up of fibers gives the tree structure the additional volume it needs. |
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 Use Sweetwater’s Poly-Fiber –
While holding the tree structure and a small handful of the Poly-Fiber in one hand, tease out the fibers super thin with your free hand. Place these teased out fibers horizontally over the top of the Tree Branch Fibers that are already placed on the branches. The Poly-Fiber should extend from the trunk to beyond the end of the branch. It is extremely important to keep your teased Poly-Fiber ultra thin in order to get a light, airy tree. |
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 Additional tufts of Poly-Fiber should be placed on top of the horizontal layer of Poly-Fiber. These tufts should be rounded, thinned out balls of Poly-Fiber. These tufts will help fill out the tree. Spray all of the fibers with Clear Spray Enamel. This stiffens the Poly-Fiber, conceals the Spray Adhesive and adheres all of the fibers together. Allow to dry. Spray fibers generously with Aqua Net Unscented Super Hold hair spray. This is your “glue” to adhere the foam to the fiber. |
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 Lightly sprinkle the desired color of ground foam on the underside and top of the fibers. Use just enough foam to conceal the fibers. We prefer a mixture of A.M.S.I. ground foam. Spray the foam lightly with Aqua Net Hairspray. Allow to dry. If the tree is not full enough, reapply more Poly-Fiber. Then, gently spray the tree with hair spray and sprinkle with a small amount of foam. Allow to dry completely. The purpose of this step is to make sure that tree has the general shape that you desire. |
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 Trim wayward strands and create windows by cutting holes into the fibers horizontally. Cut vertically into the top of the tree to create additional detail. Once the final shape of the tree is achieved, spray with Clear Enamel to help set and stiffen the tree. Careful trimming on this final step is important to obtain a realistic scale model tree. |
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