Tutorials

How to make a fern (and some other leafy stuff)

Posted by Kekso on 22 Aug 2018, 14:26

Hi guys,
I made small tutorial how to make fern that you can see on my Star Wars vignette.

I won't comment much. I hope most of pictures are self explained.

Tools of the trade. Most important are masking tape and tiny copper wire.
Image

Cut the tape in double length of desired leaf size. I used 20mm wide tape in this tutorial.
Image

Place copper wire on sticky side of the tape. But only on the one half of the tape.
Image

Fold the tape over copper wire. You don't need to be very neat.
Image

Prepare your wife's favourite scissors :xd: ...
Image

... and cut tape into leaf shape
Image

With hobby knife cut leaf from center to the edge to make flaps
Image

Paint leafs in base (green) color
Image

When paint is dry but still fresh, separate individual flaps with tweezers and fingers. Paint glued them together. Repeat that after each highlight.
Image

Make 1st highlight (it's not good shown here):
Image

And 2nd (better). It is up to you how many levels of highlights you will make. Each next should be smaller and closer to the edge and top of leaf. If you will use pigments at the end, you don't need many levels of highlights. But make them more contrasted.
Image

I used some pigments on left and middle leaf. I left right one unpigmented for comparison.
Image

At the end, twist copper wires together and you have a fern.
Image

How many leafs you will use for 1 fern is up to you. I used 9-13 (to get some variety). This ones are suitable for 28-32mm. But with some patience you can easily make it for 1/72 as well.

That way you can make lots of different plants. For example, some broad leafed. Here is palm tree suitable for 1/72. I used same technique to make leafs:
Image
User avatar
Kekso  Croatia

Moderator Moderator
Supporting Member (Bronze) Supporting Member (Bronze)
 
Posts: 6837
Member since:
19 Oct 2011, 18:32


Posted by Susofrick on 22 Aug 2018, 14:32

Nice!
User avatar
Susofrick  Sweden
Supporting Member (Gold) Supporting Member (Gold)
 
Posts: 7678
Member since:
19 Feb 2008, 12:10

Posted by Bluefalchion on 22 Aug 2018, 14:45

Very good idea and nice tutorial. How did you create the texture for the palm tree trunk?
User avatar
Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
Posts: 3575
Member since:
23 Dec 2010, 07:57

Posted by Kekso on 22 Aug 2018, 15:04

Bluefalchion wrote:How did you create the texture for the palm tree trunk?


For the trunk is twisted wire. Then I wrapped it with some more wire but in irregular way. Then I covered it with medium fine sawdust. At the end I painted it and dry brushed it.
User avatar
Kekso  Croatia

Moderator Moderator
Supporting Member (Bronze) Supporting Member (Bronze)
 
Posts: 6837
Member since:
19 Oct 2011, 18:32

Posted by Bluefalchion on 22 Aug 2018, 19:25

Sawdust mixed with pva (white) glue? And water? 50/50 or so?

I like the way they turned out.
User avatar
Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
Posts: 3575
Member since:
23 Dec 2010, 07:57

Posted by Kekso on 22 Aug 2018, 19:30

Bluefalchion wrote:Sawdust mixed with pva (white) glue?


Yes :yeah:

Bluefalchion wrote:And water? 50/50 or so?


I think I didn't use water. Watered down PVA isn't that sticky.
User avatar
Kekso  Croatia

Moderator Moderator
Supporting Member (Bronze) Supporting Member (Bronze)
 
Posts: 6837
Member since:
19 Oct 2011, 18:32

Help keep the forum online!
or become a supporting member

Posted by Beano Boy on 22 Aug 2018, 21:35

Well done Dalibor, beautiful looking end result. :thumbup:
You used your camera along the pathway of construction, :thumbup:
and presented your instructive topic well. :thumbup:

I can well imagine FredG, saying he grew his from seed! :-D BB
Beano Boy  England
Supporting Member (Gold) Supporting Member (Gold)
 
Posts: 8083
Member since:
03 Sep 2013, 14:45

Posted by Bluefalchion on 23 Aug 2018, 01:23

But Dalibor's technique is quicker, and very inexpensive to boot.
User avatar
Bluefalchion  United States of America
 
Posts: 3575
Member since:
23 Dec 2010, 07:57

Posted by MABO on 23 Aug 2018, 01:38

Thanks for sharing. A good a idea!
User avatar
MABO  Europe
Supporting Member (Gold) Supporting Member (Gold)
 
Posts: 9127
Member since:
12 May 2008, 18:01

Posted by Kekso on 23 Aug 2018, 10:21

Beano Boy wrote:I can well imagine FredG, saying he grew his from seed! :-D BB


FredG hasn't visited forum for almost 2 and half months. I hope he's ok.

EDIT: It seems he's live and well on his forum http://fredg.boards.net/board/3/introductions
User avatar
Kekso  Croatia

Moderator Moderator
Supporting Member (Bronze) Supporting Member (Bronze)
 
Posts: 6837
Member since:
19 Oct 2011, 18:32

Posted by Peter on 19 Sep 2018, 21:39

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing! :thumbup:
User avatar
Peter  Belgium

Moderator Moderator
 
Posts: 22501
Member since:
25 Mar 2008, 18:51

Posted by FredG on 23 Sep 2018, 12:33

Kekso wrote:
FredG hasn't visited forum for almost 2 and half months. I hope he's ok.

EDIT: It seems he's live and well on his forum http://fredg.boards.net/board/3/introductions


I've had a word with him and he says it was his annual summer break from painting.
He should be back shortly.

He also says that for some reason his stash has grown even more.
User avatar
FredG  United Kingdom
 
Posts: 1594
Member since:
09 Dec 2011, 21:47

Posted by Wiking on 23 Sep 2018, 21:57

He is still alive !
(Unkraut vergeht nicht. :-D )

And he wrote:
He also says that for some reason his stash has grown even more.

And he feel fine !
:mrgreen:
User avatar
Wiking  Germany
 
Posts: 2825
Member since:
14 Sep 2015, 10:03

Posted by Mr. Andrea on 24 Sep 2018, 10:12

thanks for sharing, Dali. Great palm you did!
Not to mention what you use as colour palette. That's another great idea
User avatar
Mr. Andrea  Europe
 
Posts: 916
Member since:
18 Mar 2015, 12:43

Posted by Kekso on 24 Sep 2018, 11:57

Mr. Andrea wrote: Not to mention what you use as colour palette. That's another great idea


That's not my idea originally. I saw it somewhere on Youtube.
Luckily, my girlfriend is a nurse so I have lifetime supply of empty pill cases. :xd:
User avatar
Kekso  Croatia

Moderator Moderator
Supporting Member (Bronze) Supporting Member (Bronze)
 
Posts: 6837
Member since:
19 Oct 2011, 18:32

Posted by FredG on 24 Sep 2018, 15:45

Beano Boy wrote:
I can well imagine FredG, saying he grew his from seed! :-D BB


My greenhouses are full so I commisioned the Chinese to grow them for me :-D

Image

This little lot cost £3.88 (€4.33) including postage.
User avatar
FredG  United Kingdom
 
Posts: 1594
Member since:
09 Dec 2011, 21:47

Help keep the forum online!
or become a supporting member

Posted by Beano Boy on 24 Sep 2018, 19:17

:coffee: I ordered some from China FRED, and received a blue marble after five months!
I guess someone at the ends of the earth is saying where`s my marble? BB
Beano Boy  England
Supporting Member (Gold) Supporting Member (Gold)
 
Posts: 8083
Member since:
03 Sep 2013, 14:45

Posted by FredG on 24 Sep 2018, 21:02

Probably in the podge hole with mine.
User avatar
FredG  United Kingdom
 
Posts: 1594
Member since:
09 Dec 2011, 21:47

Posted by Leonid Kireev on 30 Jun 2019, 15:12

Thanks for the advice)
User avatar
Leonid Kireev  Russia
 
Posts: 184
Member since:
23 Sep 2012, 16:41


Return to Tutorials