What is you best advice on how to make a small river and lake? What do you use for the “water” and what do you put under it for color? What is the cost, etc?
Thanks
There are a couple of good ways to do this. Some folks prefer one over the other and some “effects” work better with one technique over the other. Most people start by constructing the bottom of the body of water by either cutting out or sculpting the exisiting base material. You then paint and scenic this the way you would any other element of the layout. Suggestions are to paint the shallows in lighter colors and blend into darker colors for the deeper areas. At this point some people will just cover this area with clear plastic which can be tinted/rippled or they will try to fill the sculpted area with clear resin. The clear resin technique REQUIRES that the hollowed out area be completly sealed or the resin will run out and wind up in areas you didn’t want resin coated.
I used regular acryllic paints from the art supply store, and painted shades of green to blue to black as the “water” got deeper. After drying I coated the surface with “gloss medium” stippled with a paint brush. Easy, cheap, effective.
Jon [8D]
really cool looking water kooljock. I was thinking of adding water to my layout also.
john
Kooljock1’
Good lookin water!! Where do I get this gloss medium? Art supply store?? Sounds like what I’m lookin for.
Thanks
I’ve used all sorts of things. Gloss medium you can pick up in an art supply or crafts store. Regular 'ol acrylic paints - dark colors layered under clear or light colors - esp. toward ‘shore’; I’ve also used stippled plastic over blue wallpaper and also blue banquet paper. Lately, since I walk around the layout following the canal ‘path’ - I’ve used a textured blue blanket - easier on the knees.
Below are 2 photos of my layout’s rivers. Very simple to create. I just painted the river bottoms blue. Dark blue in the center, faded out to sand colored banks. White caps were then brushed on over the blue. Then I just poured gloss medium over it and spread it with a brush. Really, really easy!
Jim
I’ve used epoxy, gloss medium and resin in the past but didn’t always do it right. Keep in mind:
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Mix contents exactly per instructions
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Using old epoxy left in the garage makes a gooey mess
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fumes really suck (even epoxy fumes)
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Don’t pour resin over painted styrofoam
Guess that about does it.
great Jim! Seeing as how it is so easy - what time will you be coming by to add some lakes and rivers to my layout?
Frank,
It really is as easy as I described. I painted my whole layout a sandy color way back in the beginning. Then the rivers were painted with dark indigo blue acryllics in the center. I just faded the blue off to each side with a wet brush. After that dried, I brushed in some whitecaps with the rear of a brush and let that dry. Then the gloss medium was applied. While that was still wet, I tossed in some rocks and let them fall where they may. Instant river!
From the looks of your layout, you need no help from anyone. You’re doing a super job all by yourself!
Jim
That’s very kind of you Jim. Tell you what, I’ll trade you a Club Car Lounge - for a lake and a river:
Frank,
You should be the one helping me with my layout! Love that lounge!
Jim