The Model Tree Shop

The Model Tree Shop Suppliers of good quality, affordable scale model trees, hedging, flowers and model landscaping requisites.

Established in 2005 we are suppliers of high quality scale model trees and landscaping materials for discerning modellers! Suitable for architectural models, model railways, slot car racing layouts, wargaming, cake decorating, dolls house collectors, gifts............The list is endless!

Twisted wire, plastic, or etched brass? For diorama builders the material you choose changes more than how a tree looks,...
13/07/2026

Twisted wire, plastic, or etched brass? For diorama builders the material you choose changes more than how a tree looks, it changes how it builds into your scene. Here is how we would think it through:

Twisted wire trees come with a spigot fitting, so planting means drilling a small hole and setting the tree in place. They suit dioramas where you want a more organic, irregular branch structure and the freedom to bend and shape the form yourself.

Plastic trees come with their own root system built in, so they plant straight into your base without drilling. They are a solid choice if you want a quicker build or are working across multiple trees at once, and the roots can be disguised easily with static grass or scatter.

Etched brass trees are a different approach entirely. They come as fine metal forms in styles like alder, lime, and oak, giving a level of branch detail that is hard to match in other materials, particularly for close up or hero pieces in a diorama.

There is no such thing as a scale tree, only the right material for what you are building. Think about how close the viewer will get and how much time you want to spend, and the choice usually becomes clear.

Which material are you working with and why? Tell us in the comments. See the full range at themodeltreeshop.co.uk

Building an OO embankment and not sure where to start? Here is a simple scene recipe that gives you a realistic finish w...
09/07/2026

Building an OO embankment and not sure where to start? Here is a simple scene recipe that gives you a realistic finish without overcomplicating things.

Start with your base colour using static grass in a green shade, applying it in patches rather than one flat layer so the ground has some natural variation. Once that base is down, work in a foam or sponge scatter over the top to break up the texture and add depth, especially around the foot of any slopes.

For the trees, mix heights and types rather than lining up identical ones. A few taller trees toward the back of the scene with smaller ones nearer the front gives a sense of distance that flat planting never quite achieves.

Finish with a scatter of foliage clusters or dried leaves tucked into any gaps, particularly where the embankment meets the trackbed. It is these small details that stop a layout looking like a kit and start making it look like a place.

There is no such thing as a scale tree, but there is a right tree for your scene. Take your time choosing and the embankment will reward you for it.

Save this for your next layout build.

Before you buy your next tree, ask yourself the five questions below. Yes, they sound obvious but most people skip them ...
06/07/2026

Before you buy your next tree, ask yourself the five questions below. Yes, they sound obvious but most people skip them anyway and then wonder why the trees look slightly off.

1. What scale am I working in?
Not the gauge, the scale. OO gauge runs at 1:76. N gauge at 1:148. The same tree at the same real-world height produces a very different model height across those two. Get this right first and every other decision gets easier.

2. What season am I depicting?
Autumn, summer, and winter trees are different products, not just different colours. A bare winter tree has an entirely different silhouette from a full summer canopy. If your layout has a fixed season, your trees should too.

3. What density do I need?
A foreground feature tree needs to hold up at close range. Background planting can be denser and less detailed. The best layouts use both, and use cheaper, more uniform trees at the back to make the feature trees at the front earn their place.

4. What is my budget per tree?
Twisted wire trees take more time to make and cost more per unit than plastic. But a single well-placed wire tree can do more for a scene than six cheaper plastic ones. Think about where your trees are going, then decide what they deserve.

5. What material suits my skill level?
If you are new to scenic modelling, start with a ready-made plastic or Heki tree and learn how placement and height variation work. Twisted wire trees reward the time put into them...but that time needs to be there.

Which question catches you out? Tell us in the comments.

Whether you build layouts in OO or N gauge, paint 28mm wargaming terrain, craft dioramas, or model buildings at 1:100 - ...
02/07/2026

Whether you build layouts in OO or N gauge, paint 28mm wargaming terrain, craft dioramas, or model buildings at 1:100 - Ian and The Model Tree Shop team have spent a long time thinking about the materials that make those projects work.

We share what we know here. Scale guides, scene recipes, honest buying advice, and the occasional product we think is worth your attention. And when there are offers on, you will hear about them first.

But the part we enjoy most is seeing what people are actually building. So if you have something on the workbench - a layout in progress, a terrain board, a diorama partway through - drop a photo in the comments. We would genuinely love to see it.

Know a fellow modeller who belongs here too? Tag them in the comments.

Wrong-scale trees are the fastest way to ruin terrain that took you hours to build.A tree that towers over your figures ...
29/06/2026

Wrong-scale trees are the fastest way to ruin terrain that took you hours to build.

A tree that towers over your figures reads as a redwood. One that barely clears their shoulder reads as a shrub. The mismatch pulls the eye out of the scene before a single die is rolled.

The good news is the fix is straightforward. Here at The Model Tree Shop, we categorise trees by wargaming figure scale, so you can shop directly for your game rather than having to cross-reference sizes yourself.

10mm figures - browse the N gauge tree range
15mm figures - browse the OO/HO scale tree range
28mm figures - the wargaming section has its own scale guide

All three at themodeltreeshop.co.uk/product-category/war-gaming/

Save this post before your next terrain order.

23/06/2026

Last chance!!

The Model Tree Shop summer sale wraps up tomorrow. There is 10% off everything in the shop until 24 June so, if there's something you've been meaning to pick up for a layout, diorama or display, tonight or tomorrow morning is the moment.

Code summer-26 at checkout, or head straight there via the link in our bio and comments.

PS we would love to see what you are working on, tell us more in the comments!

20/06/2026

If you're mid-build and your layout still needs a few more trees or a bit more scatter, this is a good week to sort it.

The summer sale is still running at The Model Tree Shop, with 10% off everything until 24 June. That includes twisted wire trees, plastic trees, static grass in every length, hedgerows, scatter, and ground cover. Useful whether you're finishing an OO embankment or starting something new in N gauge.

Use code summer-26 at checkout. Link in bio and comments below.

What's on the workbench at the moment? Drop it in the comments. 🌳

16/06/2026

The summer sale is now live at The Model Tree Shop!!!

Until 24 June, you can get 10% off everything in the shop, from model trees, hedges, bushes, scatter, foliage, scenic materials to layout details. Whether you're topping up essentials or picking out something specific for a build you've been putting off, now's a good time to move on it.

To claim your discount, just use code summer-26 at checkout or go straight to the sale page via this link: themodeltreeshop.co.uk/coupon/summer-26

Happy building!

Ian and the team.

Hi everyone, and welcome to The Model Tree Shop page.I'm Ian, and I've been running TMTS from York since taking over in ...
12/06/2026

Hi everyone, and welcome to The Model Tree Shop page.

I'm Ian, and I've been running TMTS from York since taking over in 2024. The shop itself has been around since 2005, so there's a fair bit of history here, and I'm genuinely proud to be the one carrying it forward.

What we do is pretty straightforward: we stock scale model trees and landscaping materials for modellers who care about getting the scenic side of their projects right. Whether you're building an OO layout with a wooded embankment, putting together a 28mm wargaming table, detailing a diorama, or working on an architectural model at 1:100, the right tree or ground cover makes a real difference to how the finished scene reads.

We stock everything from twisted wire and etched brass trees to static grass, scatters, and ground cover across all the main scales and gauges. The aim is always to help you find what actually works for your project, not just what's on the shelf.

One thing I say a lot: there's no such thing as a scale tree. But there is such a thing as the right tree for your layout, and that's what we're here to help with.

So, tell us in the comments: what are you building right now? Can we help?

The question we get asked more than any other: what size tree for my gauge?Here is something worth knowing before you bu...
08/06/2026

The question we get asked more than any other: what size tree for my gauge?

Here is something worth knowing before you buy a single tree for your layout: there is no such thing as a scale tree. A real oak (full grown) can stand anywhere from 15 to 30 metres tall. That means the "right" tree for your layout is not a fixed size. It is a starting point, shaped by your gauge, your scene, and what you are trying to suggest.

That said, gauge and scale gives you a very useful anchor. Here is how it breaks down in practice.

T Gauge runs at 1:450. A 50mm tree represents roughly 74 feet in the real world. You are working very small, so even a modest tree model reads as a mature specimen. Trees in the 30 to 55mm range tend to work well here, but we do have some smaller.

N Gauge sits at 1:148, 1:150 or 1:160. A 70 to 80mm tree comes in at around 37 feet, which is a solid mid-sized deciduous. For larger trees, 100 to 105mm gives you something that reads as genuinely tall without dominating the scene.

OO Gauge, the most popular scale in the UK at 1:76, is where most of us live. A 100mm tree represents roughly 25 feet. For a convincing mature oak or ash alongside the lineside, you are looking at 120 to 150mm. Larger is possible but not many of us have space! Smaller 70 to 80mm trees work well as younger growth or hedgerow fillers.

O Gauge at 1:43 is the big one. Trees need to earn their place here. A 150mm tree is only around 21 feet at this scale, so you often want to be looking at larger specimens to avoid everything reading as saplings. Our Large Scale trees go up to around 350mm tall.

The full scale chart is at themodeltreeshop.co.uk/scale-charts-tools/ if you want to work through the numbers for your specific scene.

Every gauge has a practical tree size range that makes a scene read as convincing, and the team at The Model Tree Shop know exactly what that range is for yours. Drop your gauge in the comments and we will help you find the right trees for your layout.

Address

Unit 15, The Bull Commercial Centre
Duns
YO329LE

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

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