Scale plants, trees, etc. for Endor diorama

[dragnink]

I'm going to be putting together a large Endor bunker diorama display in preparation for Steve's release of the AT-ST kit. I was wondering if there are any places I could score ultra-realistic foliage close to 1/25 scale that would closely resemble a redwood forest?

I'll need redwood shavings for the forest floor, western sword ferns (or something similar), small sticks and realistic logs i could dress up with lichen. Some douglas fir and pinecones wouldn't hurt either.

I've kind of always been unimpressed with the foliage in most of the model railroads I've seen over the years, so I'd really like this to have the extra edge and look believable.

Just tell me how far out in left field I am, I know I'm somewhere between third base and the next town over. :lol

 

[ralphee]

Try some vinyl foliage, you can cut it to scale if need be, ill be doing the same kinda of deal, one for my scratch, and one for Steves kit.
As for shavings, try out some reptile dealers (a passion of mine).
Try cutting cork bark strips for a back drop to the display,itll add an effect of huge trunks when covered sporadically with foliage. A lot of vivarium ground substrate also comes in a redwood color, im not sure what they will badge it under in the US maybe Zoo med?, but if you have a decent reptile stockist near you, trust me its worth a look.
The substrate (bark chippings) can be cut smaller or shredded to good effect i reckon.
For finer effects (possibly the feet of the prop?), model railroad earth and lichen pigment will work out cool, ive used this stuff and its very cool!
Hope that may help a little, but ive been pondering this for a while lol.

lee