How do you guys do it? Im just looking for some alternatives to the Woodland Scenics product, not that somethings wrong with it. Im just curious how you guys do it?
Del
I used Envirotex Lite. It’s a two part epoxy resin that takes about a day to set up. I make several pours, each about 1/8 inch thick. I like to tint each pour to add more of an illusion of depth.
If you keep the bottle tops and caps clean and cover the bottles tightly between uses, the product has a very long shelf life.
This can be a bit pricey, but it goes a long way. I buy this at Michael’s, a craft store. Look for one of their ads and you can print out a coupon good for 40% off.
The best product for making great water is Parks Super Glaze available at Big Box stores at a fourth the cost of hobby products.
Mel
How’s this?
Often, what you can combine with a water product is as important as the “water” itself. I used old school two-part casting resin to make my waterfall, the stuff that stinks for a week. The key was the base it was poured over.
I took some poly-fiber (what they stuff pillows and teddy bears with) and wrapped it in some plastic wrap. I fastened this tube-of-poly to the upper lip of the falls. Then I slit the front part of this tube of fiber open. I teased things out to represent the falling water. Then I mixed my resiin, pouring it down from the top of the falls. After the resin cured, I used food grade silicone with white pigment mixed in to highlight the churning water.
Another view of the full falls.
I use Durabond 90 patching plaster, painted with interior latex housepaint, then give it a couple of coats of clear, high-gloss urethane…
Wayne
Great Mel, there’s that pool scene again, with me standing on the barrel peaking over the fence. [:P]
I’ve never seen that product before, Mel. I’ll have to check it out.
I used the Envirotex. The falls were made with a super clear silicone called Lexel.
Mike, I can hear the thunder of those falls, and feel the spray! Nice.
Mike.
PS. Now that my Photobucket seems to be back up and running, I clicked on my own picture to see what I would get. I get the picture, on a black back round, with some ads. [:|]
Mike, that looks spectacular.
Rich
Wayne, you gotta stop using actual prototype photos and claiming that they are scenes from your layout. [swg]
Rich
OMG! [:O] I see the good Dr. snuck in while I was posting. Oh well, forget anything I showed. [(-D]
Had I known my post would be following Wayne, I would have passed. [(-D]
Mike.
PS. Great, now my picture doesn’t even show! I see just a plan little box! Lessoned learned. [sigh]
Mike
I tried everything out there when I was making my pool and the only product that worked without problems was Magic Water and Parks. I started out using WS Realistic Water and twice it turned into a brownish gunk after a couple of years. Envirotex was hard to work with, Magic Water worked excellent except for the cost.
The Parks Super Glaze works easily and is still looking like day one after several years and best of all it costs 82¢ per ounce at Big Box stores and no shipping costs or waiting time.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Mike, when I click on the box, I can see your photo.
Rich
Rich, OK, that worked for me, too. I don’t know whats up with PB now. It has been working great since it’s return.
Mike.
Mike
Maybe Photobucket is just playing with you, I can see your photo.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Expect to get flooded (get it?!) with the number of available resources. Have you seen how people make water on youtube? You can spend hours there and other places, so care to please narrow the qustion a bit? For examplel what type of water product(s) you hope to replicate? Making realistic water requires far more than that.
Can you add color to the Parks Glaze ?
Thanks T.C.
Why would you want to? To get the feeling of depth with any clear casting resin, or what Mel uses, it’s all in the way you paint the area ( the bottom of the pond, lake, or stream) before pouring the resin.
Mike.
Sorry I did not know that, I have never poured any thing to make water . If I wanted to make waves or ripples AKA white water or dark muddy water, I would add color…when ? Thanks T.C.
There are products you can use to make the waves and ripples. Modge Podge comes to mind, it dries clear. There are others.
I used the same silicone caulk that I used on the water fall, to make the waves and ripples, then I highlighted them with white paint.
For dark, murky, and muddy water, I guess you could add a little coloring, like maybe just a touch of dark green or brown, along with painting the bottom of the area a dark, greenish, brownish muddy color would help give the viewer a feeling of depth.
I’ve never added color, so I couldn’t tell you what to use. Good question?
Mike.
Thanks for the kind comments!
To color two-part resins, I’ve found the colors used for stained glass work do the job effectively. These are water-based glass paints. Got mine at Michaels. A few drops are usually sufficient unless you’re going for murky waterr, then use more.
To color the food grade silicone I used to highlight my falls I used standard acrylic white paint.
Lots of good examples and skill being shown here. Another alternative is an old method that can work in some situations, plexiglass painted on the backside and topped with an acrylic medium for water effects.
Regards, Peter
