Another Models Group question - playing effect per object

[AussiePhil]

Bit of background,

I have had two largely identical megatrees in the front yard for quite a few seasons now and I normally just have them doing the same thing for most of the time. Vixen made this easy with it's grouping function.

The model I did for testing was 2 x 32x50 pixel megatrees drawn at each end of the preview window then grouped together.
The two trees do not have consecutive channel numbering.

Now the Model grouping behaves differently in XL4 with the spacing between the trees seemingly taken into account when applying an effect on the group, this leads to some weird things when my trees are at opposite ends of the yard.

I've added a third megatree last year and this season that makes it slightly better as it's in the middle but is a different size.

I guess my question is.... Is there a way to have an effect dropped on the model group to either play on each model independently or across the model group as if there is no space between the models?

Or am I missing something easy.....

[dkulp]

When creating the model group, I THINK if you select the horizontal stacked type, it would accomplish the "make it look like no space between them" style.   I'd give that a try.