1:72 Dense-flowered Mullein

The real subject

Mullein is a conspicuous herb of dry banks, embankments, waste ground and roadsides. It grows from a ground rosette of felted leaves and drives up a firm stem densely set with flowers, so in a scene it works as a vertical accent above low vegetation. A plant about a meter and a half tall comes out at two centimeters in 1:72 scale, that is at a feature clearly visible on a diorama without overpowering the model.

Why it pays off

A grassy area made of a single mass looks like a carpet. Only individual plants with a shape of their own reveal that this is living vegetation. Mullein serves well for that, because it has a pronounced vertical shape and in nature grows scattered, not in continuous stands. A few pieces set out irregularly along the edge of a road, at the foot of a wall or on an embankment behind a track do more for the credibility of a scene than another model.

Placing it in the scene

Place the plants where they would really grow: on unkept and dry ground, in spots a scythe cannot reach, at the foot of a post, on the shoulder of a road and on a heap of soil. Do not plant them in a row or at regular intervals. Pierce a hole in the base, set the plant into it and secure it with a drop of glue; then scatter grit or grass around the foot so that the transition does not show. The material of the parts, their number and the recommended assembly procedure are given by the manufacturer in the enclosed instructions.

Terms of supply

The vegetation accessory alone is supplied. A base, terrain materials, glue and paints are not included, unless stated otherwise.