It has often been said that Nature reproduces herself on many scales.  I had been diligently searching for the miniature representation of large Pine trees during various hikes in the Rocky Mountains but nothing really had the right texture.  I kept looking for something similiar to the Red Cedar of Northern Michigan that grows on many acres of our family hunting camp.  As luck would have it, my brothers and I had scheduled a Father’s Day weekend in June and I flew back for the festivities.

I did get some strange looks from the wife with the addition to my suitcase but what Model Railroader hasn’t seen that look?

A few minutes on the bandsaw and I had some nice looking logs for my completely unweathered log cars.

The bark is perhaps a bit oversized on this one but it is eons better than what I could do carving out and staining balsa.  It looks natural and I am happy.  I also cut up some of the ends for use as stumps.  The stumps below are patiently waiting along side the right of way to be ‘planted’.  Some clay might work well to create more of a substantial base.

My modeling has been moving about as fast as the stumps by the side of the road.  My usual summer slowdown is in effect.