Friday 19 May 2017

Cherry Blossom

This post, and the resulting terrain items, are as of a direct result of a post I read on the wonderfully entertaining and creative ‘da Gobbo’s Grotto’.  It has been such a boon to my own Bushido development having Andy’s work as inspiration and reference and the post in question, imaginatively titled*, ‘Cherry Blossom’, is no exception.  
The post in question details Andy’s process of making a series of cherry trees in full blossom.  I was so taken with these that I decided to have a go myself and to all extents and purposes copied his method to the letter.  As a result I won’t go through a blow by blow ‘how to’ here instead you can read that on Andy’s blog, but I will point out my own observations.  
*So imaginatively titled that I stole that as well!
I have often wondered about the reliability or even logistic improbability of ordering cheap trees from China.  Would they ever turn up?  Are they any good?  Hearing that Andy had had a good experience encouraged me to give it a go and whilst I am not in the habit of throwing money away I had resigned myself to the fact that I could cover the loss in funds if they were to go awry.  Fortunately they arrived in good time and just as described.  Whilst I may wrestle with my conscience regarding my ever increasing carbon footprint, it is difficult to knock the service!
Like Andy I placed my trees on two different sizes or ‘Warbases’ MDF discs, 40mm and 60mm.   I had already ordered some of the rather nice 3D printed Yukimi Japanese Lanterns from ‘Master Crafted Miniatures’ and decided to place one on each of the larger bases.
This really was the only departure from the ones showcased on Andy’s blog and I really can’t stress how straightforward it all was, a measure of just how clear and insightful the original post was.  Unfortunately I didn’t have enough bases in stock to do all ten of my trees, but I have a cunning plan for the couple left over – more of that in the next post.

73 comments:

  1. That is all coming together beautifully. I bet the pupils are having a blast!

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    1. They certainly seem to be pleased with the new look board. :)

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  2. They look great! I love the little lanterns, too - might have to get some of those myself.

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    1. Thank you Roly, they really are lovely little pieces.

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  3. Delightfully delicate trees, they complement your other scenery and figures and the lanterns are a nice touch.
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you so much Iain, it all seems to be coming together.

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  4. Splendid. As for the carbon foot print do not worry about it, every car driver increases it on a daily basis and thinks nothing of just nipping along the shops when they could just as easily walk!

    I also get trees from China they are just so cheap and I have never had any problems.

    Overall a most excellent post dude! Now where's my car I have shopping to do in the local convenience store located only 2 minutes away! JK

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  5. Bloody excellent - really brings out the Japanese feel.

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  6. cherry tree blossoms
    gentle breeze, fly far from here!
    fall to the earth, grow....

    best haiku i could come up with at this time of the day.

    They look fab Michael, very nicely done, can't wait to see what you do with the others.

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  7. They do look wonderful! Already on my 'terrain' to-buy list but I shall be waiting until our final house move is behind us some time after August!

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    1. Thank you Gordon, for the price you really can't complain.

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  8. They are awesome! Definitely look the part.

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  9. The trees do look good and immediately identify any game as oriental, making them an almost 'must have'. Lanterns are an added bonus too!

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  10. Simple but massively effective. It would be interesting to see a full Bushido battle report if you have the time? Not that I need more distractions.

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    1. Thank you Mike as for a report we are only getting a quick hour's game in at a time, but I shall have to jot a few notes down.

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  11. I did exactly the same on the trees and I also steal terrain ideas from Andy' blog shamelessly. On that basis, I heartily approve of your work here!

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    1. When the originals were so good it seemed silly not to pilfer the idea. :)

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  12. Lovely, Gobbo's work is amazing isn't it

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  13. What a niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice job!

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  14. Great work, they really bring the board to life!

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    1. Thank you Brian, I was certainly pleased with how they came together.

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  15. Very eye catching trees! Well done Micheal!

    Christopher

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  16. Beautiful landscape!
    And Thank you for pointing out to Master Crafted Miniatures it seems that they have all nice Japanese scenery bits I was lacking for so long. :)

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    1. Thank you and you are more than welcome, good customer service too.

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  17. lovely work, both of you.

    Cheers Roger.

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  18. They really do look the part! Great stuff!

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    1. Thank you Sander, they were good fun to do too.

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  19. Lovely work mate. I'm planning some of these for my Peking project too.

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    1. Thank you Millsy, they would lovely with your stunning terrain.

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  20. Great work, these look excellent. I've ordered a few bags of model trees from China in recent months. They were very cheap, all arrived, & all of decent quality.

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    1. Thank you, I shall certainly be tempted to order more in the future.

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  21. Those are very effective.

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  22. 非常好。 但他们让我打喷嚏!

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  23. Stunning. Simply stunning, Michael. Not sure how any of this fits in with your "Blake's Seven" project, but they're stunning nonetheless ;-)

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    1. Thank you Simon, I can just see Blake teleporting down to an exotic location with blossom blowing gently blowing in the breeze, "Down and safe." :D

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  24. These look great Michael. We went to Kyoto at the beginning April to see the cherry trees bloom. I'm missing it all over again...

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    1. Thank you Rod, that sounds like an amazing trip - wow!

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  25. Great post Michael, I had not come across Master Crafted Miniatures before. Lanterns duly order.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    1. Thank you Stuart, I hope you get on with Master Crafted Miniatures, good customer service too.

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  26. These look lovely, and the painting on the little statues on the bases is equally nice.

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  27. Nice. I like the idea for Andy´s used for creating the bases.

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    1. It was the glue gun roots that sold it to me.

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  28. Lovely...but needs something.

    Poetry I think. Definitely needs poetry.

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    1. You are an absolutely right, more poetry in the next post.

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  29. That's quite a beautiful sight.
    Love the lanterns.

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  30. Good work Michael! Just like Andy's for sure and those lanterns are a great touch.

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  31. Wow those looks superb. Very effective looking with the all the other elements in the last few pics.

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  32. I can imagine that once other pupils see the painted models and scenery you've put together for this project, you may get a few more players. Excellent work, Michael.

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  33. That is looking delightful. I can almost smell the cherry blossom.

    "They are all perfect."

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  34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpFjsMtCb0

    Because your beautiful trees deserve to be serenaded by the folk song. ^_^

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  35. Cherry blossoms great
    Yukimi lanterns awesome too
    last five syllables.

    - Baconfat

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