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Photo 1 In this condition, a bag of 100 plastic tropical plants look unsuitable for a model railroad. In six different sizes, they are not marketed with any scale stated

Photographer Unknown

Photo 2 Advertised Photo

Photo 3 Use a cardboard box as a painting stand. First spray on matt finish; next, hand paint with yellow, green, and bright green acrylic paints. These plants are awaiting the application of acrylic paint by brush.

Photo 4 Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 249087 Matte Clear 12 oz (340g)

claims it "bonds to plastic"; its 12 oz. of contents is a better deal than Dull Cote

Photo 5 This step five follows spraying Matte Clear and allowing to dry overnight and outside your home - the fumes can be bad. These are Apple Barrel acrylic paints 20472 Leaf Green (8 fl oz.), Bright Yellow 20513, and Craftsmart Light Green acrylic paint

Photo 6 First batch (hand painted) installed in February 2022; at the rear is a Waipahu Sugar Mill false front

Photo 7 These plastic plants add realism to Armand P. Bayardi's dead tree trunk casting; realism dictates that one be unsparing in planting these models at the base of the casting. In nature plants tend to try to crowd each other out - in distinction to crops. The vine adds a nice touch though a military modeler might have made a greater effort to give some shape to the paper vine I used. Notice the local trash pile (auto tire, etc.) to the right

Photo 8 Tropical plants obscure Oahu Sugar Company Cane Car number 268

Photo 9 Shell Oil Tank car delivering fuel for Oahu Sugar Company locomotives

Photo 10 Oahu Sugar Company; behind the Waipahu engine house.

Photo 11 O scale Town of Waipahu in the distance

Photo 12 Cut these and use as stems for the plants lacking a plastic stem

Photo 13 Small plants with metal stems waiting to be planted

Photo 14 Smaller plants installed into pink foam with metal stems; this is the POW camp area.

One look at a clear pouch of these plastic plants and one would not be faulted for dismissing them as child-like toys worthy only of a juvenile diorama; however, painted they look spectacular. I found no flash that required removal. First step Cut slots into a cardboard box (remove the flaps first).

Second step Insert the plant stems into the slots.

Third step Spray the plants with a matte finish - I used the Rustoleum rattle can I had on hand.

Fourth step Squirt out three paints on a palette (I used a disposable piece of cardboard) mixing some but also leaving most of the paint unmixed. Any old stiff bristle paint brush will do - make sure it is not too big as that would make it more difficult to paint each leaf. Fifth step Be sure to paint the top and bottom of each leaf and the stems as well. These 100 plants cost only $ 9.99 (2022) and are much less expensive than similar plants of this sort sold by vendors catering to military modelers. At this low cost I can plant them bunched together as they would have appeared in the prototype. A good rule of thumb is to purchase about triple or quadruple the number of plants you believe you will need - ask me how I know. Ordering all you need in one shot may also save you some shipping costs.

Sixth step Poke holes into your layout surface using a tool of choice.

Seventh step Plant these specimens. A tip - keep the tool you used to poke your hole in the hole until you have your plant in hand and your cardboard paint stand; do not discard it too soon - it serves as a handy holder for your plants after they have dried and you are carrying them around your layout selecting where they should go.

Here is how Momoonnon described them on Amazon - "Package include: 100 pcs mixed model trees flowers in 6 sizes; Size: Approx. 0.43 - 2.36 inches (H); Color: Green, Yellow, White, Red; Material: These railroad scenery model plants are made of plastic material, well workmanship [sic], flexible and durable"

Revised May 1, 2022

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