Instead of having a rough-textured bark like Mark Jones's tree, we decided to take Chad's approach. We needed a very smooth finish to emulate the bark of this type of swamp-grown vegetation.

Step 1: Fully mix the two-part epoxy putty together. Create flat strips and wrap the putty around the trunk of the tree and ignore the roots and branches for the time being. Flatten and blend the putty with water and your fingertips.

Step 2: Repeat Step 1 for the root system. Try holding the branches so that the you don't gouge the previous application of putty with your fingernails. Set the tree aside on a piece of paper.

Step 3: Place the Whirlwind on a piece of Plexiglas. Roll out varying-sized snakes of putty and apply these snakes to the top and sides of the tank, radiating out from the turret socket.

Step 4: Carefully pick up the tree and gently push the trunk into the turret hole until the trunk and all the roots (or nearly all of them) are resting on the tank interior and Plexiglas.

Step 5: Next, add additional putty snakes to the tree trunk to create a dense network of intertwined roots. Continue adding vine-like rooks until you are satisfied. Allow the putty to harden to a consistency of soft leather and then cut the roots free from the Plexiglas with a sharp hobby knife.