We are planning on adding a lake or river to our layout. We see both of these prodcts from Woodland Scenics, but are confused as to which one to use. Their website doesn’t help much either.
Can anyone shed light on which product is used for what?
Thanks for all the great help here.
I had excellent results from using a product called KraftKote. It is a two part epoxy
made by a company named Klockit. The stuff sets up in a few hours and is fully
cured in 24 hours.
I have heard mixed reviews on Realistic Water and bad things about EZ Water.
Here’s a couple of photos of the creek I made using KraftKote. Good luck, Dave
(click for a larger view)
The WS Realistic Water works very well as does the water effects product. You just have to build up thin layers which takes overnight for each to dry.
The EZ Water is terrible. These are the beads that you melt. WS had this before they made Realistic. It’s difficult to melt and pour, you waste a pot, and mine dried yellow (too hot?) with some air bubbles.
Either way make sure the base is perfectly level, not even a pinhole, and well dammed at edges.
I put spackling over plywood, painted Rustoleum flat black, and poured Realistic Water. Still some layers to go.
close up view
view from above
Realistic Water is a far, far better product than EZ Water. If the instructions are followed carefully the results for Realistic Water are excellent. Tinting is not easy but probably no more so than for any artificial water-looking product. Realistic Water is rather senitive to humidity levels when drying, so be sure to give it ample time between layers/coats. It will also find even the tiniest hole in your riverbed to leak out from so do your prep-work carefully.
CNJ831
Ditto, on the WS Realistic Water and Water Effects. Have been using it lately for streams, ponds and small pools. Remember to follow the directions- have a well sealed and flat area and don’t pour any thicher than 1/8" at a time or it will remain cloudy and not dry for days or even weeks. To add water to very large or deep areas, I would recommend using Envirotex resin. The WS water may take numerous pours to acheive the same results.
One trick I have found with WS water is that in between pours I started experimenting w/ dry brushing murky brown and pullman green swirled on the surface. After 4-5 pours repeating the painting a cloudy, murky tranlucent look to the water is acheived. Fine grasses T-4and T-45 burnt and green grass was sprinkled and clumped @ a few spots immediatly after pouring the ground foam sinks and looks like weed or algae. The last pours will be experimenting w/ cattails and grasses, have only done this w/ resin not sure if the WS water will hold them upright as the resin does.
Bob K.
So is this the Envirotex casting resin? Is it available at craft stores like Michael’s? The photos you guys included look great!
Karl
Ever try Artists’ Gloss medium?? Economical ($5.00/pint +/-) and sold. The best price i’ve found is Wal-mart in the atrs/crafts section.
My local train shop stocks Envirotex in different sizes. But yes, a craft store would have it.
People use it to harden and seal natural wood for display … decaupage (sp?).
It has always worked great for me … used it in dioramas and school projects, etc. Its not as nasty as other epoxies. I have not used the new WS product yet.
Jim
Artists’ Gloss medium,eh? At the price and if it works as well as the others, this may be the way to go. Tomorrow I’ll visit the local Wally World and see if they have a pint. Plenty there for me to do some experimenting before I use it on the layout. Thanks all for the info.
Karl
EZ WATER IS TERRIBLE!!! I do not mean to badmouth Woodland Scenics, but it is bad. You have to either waste a pot or can or use an industrial heat gun. I used a heat gun and it took two hours to melt all the beads!!! I have not used realistic water, but EZ water is very bad!
I used this for my pond and stream. Good stuff. Cheap, easy to work with, and no overpowering fumes.
I’m a little confused about why it has been said that multiple pours (layers) are needed. Is this to achieve depth? I’ve always approached this in the way the bottom is painted.
MABruce,
Great job on the pond! I also love the way the trees break up the visual of the train in the background and the backdrop is excellent.