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Hi there friendly pals of DakkaDakka,

I'm based in Australia and working on some Necrons in a jungle theme but have hit a complete roadblock and hope somebody will be able to provide a solution. I have used various sources for inspiration but the main source is from another Dakka member, neal1975, with his stunning Tyranids - Hive Fleet Colossus.

Neal has explained that the plants are plastic plants found in a shop called Hobby Lobby but this isn't a franchise found in Australia. I have searched through every Pet Shop and Dollar Store in my area and I cannot find any plastic plants even remotely usable - They are all too large or fluro colors like bright orange. There are a few sellers on eBay with similar plastic plants but it's extremely difficult to tell if they are the right sizing based purely on pictures alone.

Does anybody know of any good online retailers that I could purchase these sorts of plastic plants from?


Here are some example pictures from the Tyranids I drew inspiration from. Note the variety of types and sizes:

You'll laugh at this but try a pet or aquarium store - most of those are plastic fish tank plants...

 mad_eddy_13 wrote:
You'll laugh at this but try a pet or aquarium store - most of those are plastic fish tank plants...

He says he's been to pet stores in the OP. I find it odd they wouldn't carry them.

 Grimtuff wrote:

 mad_eddy_13 wrote:
You'll laugh at this but try a pet or aquarium store - most of those are plastic fish tank plants...

He says he's been to pet stores in the OP. I find it odd they wouldn't carry them.

my bad, maybe online somewhere? Or a florists shop?

Most any hobby/craft shop here in the States have the same thing available. Most of those look to be silk greenery rather than aquarium plants.

Yep - though, the fluro colored ones can be painted...

Anywho, when I type words like "plastic aquarium plants Australia" into Google, I get a few hits that look promising. Mats and ground covers are usually 1-1 1/2" tall. For shorter items, you usually buy the big stuff then start ripping it apart. Most of them go together as a series of interlocking sections. You can pull off what you need and then cut them down further still.

Also, while there might not be Hobby Lobbys in Australia - I am pretty sure there is an equivalent. You will want to track down the stores that sell interior decorating stuff. The silk/plastic plant sections are pretty common - and most craft stores I have been in (US and Europe) have them. Again - the parts will be much bigger than what you need, but you can cut them down to fit your needs.

Since most of this sort of thing isn't actually sold for this sort of thing...getting measurements can be a bit tough. It does help to see them in person instead.

For specific sizing that is useful, you can look at scale model accessories:

http://www.jttmicroscale.com/

http://www.fredericus-rex.de/Green-Line-Gelaendebau/

http://pegasushobbies.net/catalog/Peg.-School-Project/c5/index.html

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/Wild-Plants/products/1264/

http://www.realityinscale.com/epages/61537336.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61537336/Categories/ModelScene/%22Laser%20cut%20paper%20Leaves%20%26%20Plants%22

http://kamizukuri.jp/product.html

http://www.wargameminiatures.com.au/trees-grasses/laser-cut-paper-plants.html

http://www.noch.com/en/produktkatalog/listview_neu.php?submenue=n&navi_Kategorie1=NOCH&navi_Kategorie2=Figures+and+Miniature+Scenes&navi_Kategorie3=Laser-Cut+Minis&jahrNeuheiten=

Barring that - my go to source for aquarium decorations to be used for scenery is:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-decorations#!aquarium-decorations

You should be able to identify some brands and back track them that way, or if you find enough to meet the minimum order level for international shipments ($150) than you could order as well. Beyond just the plants though - they have a ton of other stuff that I go through and repurpose (lots of ruins and what not).

mad_eddy_13 wrote:You'll laugh at this but try a pet or aquarium store - most of those are plastic fish tank plants...

I have already been to every pet store in my area, they have plastic plants but they are either ridiculously too large or bright fluro colors.

helotaxi wrote:Most any hobby/craft shop here in the States have the same thing available. Most of those look to be silk greenery rather than aquarium plants.

I think you're right about a lot of the plants in the images being silk greenery, I might go check some local florists and see if they have any.

Sean_OBrien wrote:Yep - though, the fluro colored ones can be painted...

Anywho, when I type words like "plastic aquarium plants Australia" into Google, I get a few hits that look promising. Mats and ground covers are usually 1-1 1/2" tall. For shorter items, you usually buy the big stuff then start ripping it apart. Most of them go together as a series of interlocking sections. You can pull off what you need and then cut them down further still.

Also, while there might not be Hobby Lobbys in Australia - I am pretty sure there is an equivalent. You will want to track down the stores that sell interior decorating stuff. The silk/plastic plant sections are pretty common - and most craft stores I have been in (US and Europe) have them. Again - the parts will be much bigger than what you need, but you can cut them down to fit your needs.

Since most of this sort of thing isn't actually sold for this sort of thing...getting measurements can be a bit tough. It does help to see them in person instead.

For specific sizing that is useful, you can look at scale model accessories:

http://www.jttmicroscale.com/

http://www.fredericus-rex.de/Green-Line-Gelaendebau/

http://pegasushobbies.net/catalog/Peg.-School-Project/c5/index.html

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/Wild-Plants/products/1264/

http://www.realityinscale.com/epages/61537336.sf/en_US/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61537336/Categories/ModelScene/%22Laser%20cut%20paper%20Leaves%20%26%20Plants%22

http://kamizukuri.jp/product.html

http://www.wargameminiatures.com.au/trees-grasses/laser-cut-paper-plants.html

http://www.noch.com/en/produktkatalog/listview_neu.php?submenue=n&navi_Kategorie1=NOCH&navi_Kategorie2=Figures+and+Miniature+Scenes&navi_Kategorie3=Laser-Cut+Minis&jahrNeuheiten=

Barring that - my go to source for aquarium decorations to be used for scenery is:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquarium-supplies/aquarium-decorations#!aquarium-decorations

You should be able to identify some brands and back track them that way, or if you find enough to meet the minimum order level for international shipments ($150) than you could order as well. Beyond just the plants though - they have a ton of other stuff that I go through and repurpose (lots of ruins and what not).

Thankyou for those links! I didn't even consider paper plants (Didn't know they were a thing!). I'm going to go to some nearby florists and see if I can find some silk plants too.



Thanks everyone for the replies!

Hasslefree Miniatures do etched brass foliage.

http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?category=accessories~etched-brass-%28foliage%29

I like etched brass, just keep in mind the etching process puts a molecular thin razor sharp edge on the brass. When you put it on bases, you will want to make sure you take sand paper to the edges to square them off. Otherwise, you may end up with a nice slice in your finger when you move them.

I, too, have searched around and come up with not much that is at a reasonable price. Pet stores have huge mark-ups here.

I've resorted to shopping around here:

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=+Plastic+Plant

Could even add "aquarium" to the search.

Give it a crack. There is a ton of stuff to sift through but shipping is usually free and stuff arrives in around a week or 2.

Hope that helps.