How to model weeping willow trees

I haven't done it, but if that were my aim I would use a bunch of fine brass wires. Hold them spagetti wise and solder the trunk - divide into suitable branches and solder a bit more etc etc until you have the complete tree. Paint with acrylics (perhaps car undercoat spray first) Foliage? Woodland Scenics must have something suitable.

Regards, Greg.P.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Scott,

I knew I had seen these for sale "someplace" so I did a quick search at Walthers and came up with two of them, with photo:

and . . .

The first is by Busch, and the second by Faller. Don't know if this is what you're looking for, it doesn't look much like a willow to me, more of a representation of one, but it may be OK for you.

Hope this was of help.

Paul - "The CB&Q Guy" (In Illinois)

I don't have the info at hand, but there is a kind of multi-stranded cable with extremely fine strands, used in home wiring, iirc, that is excellent for making weeping willows. After stripping the insulation, the bunch of wires can be twisted together to form a trunk, then the hundreds of individual wires twisted into branches, until you've got a nice weeping effect. Paint it a grayish color and apply fine ground foam and you've got it.

Mark Alan Miller

Typical home wiring material (in the US, at least) is solid conductor insulated wires bundled in a plastic sheath ("Romex"), most commonly 14/2,

14/3 and 12/3 (14 gauge in 2 or 3 wire, 12 gauge in 3 wire).

However, there is 12/2 AWGstranded wire available... it's used for low-voltage landscape lighting applications. Check your local home store/lumberyard - ask SPECIFICALLY for the _low-voltage_ wire.

This stuff is also good for bus wiring for modules, especially when DCC is involved.

Well, uh, yard wiring, as opposed to home wiring.

I will.

"Lamp cord" is what the op meant. It is "home wiring", but not "inside the walls" fixed wiring.

I've seen it at the Home Depots and Loews as large as 12 gauge. (no, not a shotgun).

-- Jim McLaughlin

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No, this was something more exotic than Romex. I've seen it demoed at an NMRA convention clinic. It isn't the sort of thing available at your typical Home Depot, but is used for some more specialized purpose, I believe in places that require more flexibility than solid-conductor wires. Unfortunately, the clinic handouts I have don't seem to specify the material. Wish I remembered, because it is really useful stuff.

Mark Alan Miller