After a long hiatus away from my layout I have returned to finish the final phase of my modified Atlas Granite Gorge and Northern RR. I have appreciated all of the advice I have been given through the years to get me to my final stage from this group, many thanks.
Not to beat a dead horse to death. I have two long and narrow sections of waterways (a river and a stream) that I need advice on in terms of adding water to. I’ve read the posts from years gone by and have narrowed my choice to two products, 1) Envirotex and 2) Magic Water.
Any advice from users of these products (pros/cons) or something out there that we haven’t seen? I’ve tried the WS water products and don’t care for them. I do have the WS water effects that I plan on using for ripples and such.
It’s nice to be back and hoping to finish my layout in its fifth year before it gets too hot (Phoenix, Arizona).
I have modeled the Cimmaron River running through my Santa Fe in Oklahoma, and it has been in place now since 1989. I wipe it with a damp rag every so often, otherwise no maintenance and it really looks good. I poured it in three pours, adding the ever present Oklahoma red color as I did, and as I said, it has held up very well. Have a few Okies visit from time to time and they usually notice it first thing. This was Evirontex. I can’t comment on the Magic Water.
I have no experience with Magic Water, but have used Envirotex Light, Woodland Scenics Realistic Water, and Polyurethane.
The main thing you must do is thoroughly seal the area in which you plan to pour water. The slightest pinpoint hole allows any water product to leak out and drip all over your floor.
Envirotex Light, Realistic Water, and Polyurethane all tend to creep up the sides of the pour area, so you need to pour several thin layers instead of one thick application. And don’t be surprised if your first layer disappears completely by soaking into the scenery.
My advice would be to avoid using the Woodland Scenics E-Z Water product that is plastic beads that have to be melted on a stove. A fellow modeler here overheated one batch and it turned brown. He poured it on too thick in the wintertime on a cold layout, and it cracked as it cooled. The lake he poured looks like frozen muddy water.
Hi, Can’t beat Grampy’s for realism. Note how the river bends and disappears into the background, on both his photo and mine. The background on my photo is a commercial photo glued to the Luan backdrop. I suggest using Hydrocal plaster as the water proof base. I also, use Magic Water, but Envirotex is excellent also. I will never use WS water. Both Magic Water and Envirotex have a tendency to creep up the sides slightly, but that can be painted over, when the third pour dries. WS Water Effects is excellent. for rapids and waterfalls. The last Dream-Plan-Build DVD shows how to build waterfalls. Bob Hahn
My first suggestion is to go online and print out a coupon from Michaels or A.C. Moore, the craft shops. I know that Michaels will take Moore’s coupons in my area, anyway. Most weeks, there is a coupon for 40% off of one single item. Envirotex is expensive, so you save a lot on that one thing. Look around the store while you’re there, though. They have cheap acrylic craft paints, brushes, balsa wood strips and other things that are useful in modelling. I’ve even found Woodland Scenics trees on occasion.
For this pond, I prepared and painted the base. I use pink foam, so I dug it out, and then covered the lumpy pond bed with plaster cloth, which I painted. I also added some talus, sand and even a couple of small rock castings. I tinted the Envirotex as I mixed it - just a couple of drops of craft paint. The first pour was black/brown, the second green, and the third a lighter green. This gives the water “optical depth” and eliminates the “clear as glass” look.
Many thanks for all the advice and great pictures! I guess both Envirotex and Magic Water are neck 'n neck in terms of quality. I do agree with having to make sure the area is sealed extremely well; my first pour of a small canal some time ago proved disasterous as I didn’t seal the foam area and the product I was using (I think it was WS) soaked in and virtually disapeared.
I’ll probably go with Envirotex since I’ve got a “Michaels” pretty close and I think they carry it, and yes I get those 40% or so off coupons. Again, Many Thanks!
Another product that you might consider is artists gloss medium and gloss gel. I use the former for water and the latter for waterfalls, rapids, and waves.
These are also available at Michaels. Not cheap, but less expensive than Envirotex. Liquitex is a common brand.
I figured that I’d use Envirotex first, let dry then use Liquidtex to make the waves…etc.
Two Questions:
Is there a difference between Liquidtex products and WS water effects in terms of looks (since I have an old bottle of WS water effects laying around)?
To make the waves, rapids…etc. do I need both Liquidtex Gloss Medium and Gloss Gel?
I replied to this on your other post as well. To reiterate:
WS water effects and gloss medium are about the same product. I’ve used both with success. If anything, the WS water effects is more flexible when dry, so if you’re making a waterfall or something off of the layout, it may be easier to attach if you have to bend it.
Gloss gel is the thick stuff, like paste. The gloss medium is a liquid – thinner than white glue. While you can pour a thin layer of it, let it dry for a while, and then tease it with a brush to make waves, it’s easier and faster just to dab on the gel.
