The first photo is an incredibly realistic portrayal of ocean waves. This person seems to do quite well with water effects (even if it is a larger scale than we normally work with!)
Am looking for information regarding realistic water, waves, ripples etc for HO scale. I know that Woodland Scenics has some products out but am looking more for techniques for modeling wind ripples on the surfaceof a pond, maybe some ripples.
Ideas, links, article referrals would be appreciated!
I caught a TV show called Tracks Ahead last Sunday on PBS. One segment featured a model railroad layout that had excelent scenery. The builder was also an art teacher and he used cotton painted with Matt Medium for white water effects for a water fall. He said the strands of painted cotton were picked and torn in a way that made it look like falling water. Looked great too!
I’ve seen several ways to model different kinds of water. The most unusual was a thin sheet of clear plexiglas over a 3-D river bed at the front edge of the layout . Imagine the river like a cut-a-way, so to speak, or cross section, viewed looking up or down the river. Like you’re standing in the river. It stopped at the facia, but the facia was clear plastic at the river section (I wish I could show you a photo of it) because the designer didn’t want the facia to look like a dam. The river bed was painted a mucky color, like a riverbed. He had all sorts of junk inbeded in the bed. Old rusted car, tires, barres, all sorts of stuff. On the surface was a fisherman in a little row boat with the fishing line and hook at the end. Holes were made for the bottom of the boat and fishing line to give it the effect of the boat floating and the line under the water. Even fish were on fine wires, painted the muddy river bottom color to blend in. The top of the water was painted with thinned out clear latex caulking to simulate ripples. I’m not sure, but I think the plexiglass was tinted a dirty shade of green.
Well Rick, I have to get out of here now and go home. I’ll have some more info for you later. Meanwhile take a look at this article on Lilly pads, cattails and pond scum
I don’t know what books you have or know about Rick, but one that I have, Scenery for Your Model Railroad by Mike Danneman, has good info on making water effects. There are other books by Dave Frary and Lou Sassi that demonstrate modeling water.
Another method of modeling falling water I’ve seen was several strands of fine fishing line with layers of gloss medium painted over it. It did give the effect of falling water.
One old school method was to use clear resin. That is the worst stuff to use. The fumes are toxic and seem to linger forever. And it takes a lot of time for the resin to cure to the point where it’s not sticky. Also dust is a problem with it. It’s best to avoid it altogether. EnviroTex is now the product replacement for clear resin to model water. I haven’t used it, so I can’t report on how well it works or doesn’t work. However, I have read here in M.R. Forum of others that have used it. Your lake, river, stream or whatever would have to be perfectly level since the liquid would pool up at one end or the other. And if there is even a small pin hole in the bed, the liquid will find it and leak out, making an awful mess below.
John Allen used real water to model water on the G&D, but the moisture caused problems with plaster scenery. Another modeler, featured in an Allen Keller video, had a copper tray filled with water to model a logging pond. It was equipped with a drain valve and he would drained it after an operating session. Can you imagine growing mushrooms on a layout?
I have used Envirotex, Woodland Scenices E-Z Water, Woodland Scenics Realist Water, Woodland Scenics Water Effects, and just plain old clear chaulk.
Envirotex lite has basically no real bad order but takes awhile to set mostly over night when mixed right easy to work with, and is self leveling. While its drying take a tooth pick and make ripples and waves or what not in it. Its easily tintable I tinted mine lightly with some color green cant remember which green.
Woodland Scenics E-Z Water I will say stay way from it yellows and just isnt good to work with cause you need a heat source near the layout till your done.And it can really burn you if you touches your skin while its heated up.
Woodland Scenics Realist Water is basically a premixed resin of some sort that doesnt harden till its exposed to the air. Dries clear and self levels, you can tease it while it dries with a tooth pick to create waves etc just like Envirotex light.
Woodland Scenics Water Effects is a thick substnce that you can spread out with a toth pick or bru***o create waves ripples etc etc and even waterfalls. I like tis item cause its easy to work with give it a try. After you create the ripples, waves, etc dry brush white over them so they are noticeable.
Clear Chaulk I used once to make a river on Christmas layout.spread some over the river and brushed out which automatically gave it a wave apperance but I had to make it more flat since I modeled more of a frozen over river.
ok so far this is one picture I can find I know I got more somewhere. This is Envirotex Lite and Woodland Scenics Realistic water Effects combined its hard to see the ripples but you can see them if you look hard enough. I need to dry brush white on them still. The pier is home built by me.
And heres another one of the same river. but you can see the water effects a little better.
Rick,
I am glad I gave you some ideas on how to create water effects and the difference between them. I went through a lot of money testing all the products. Each one has a down fall but doesnt everything. as for adding things into the water I suggest doing so before you pour. Also adding boats is sinple I put a thin layer of Woodland Scenics water effects where I wanted to put it and stuck the boat into that rippled it from the boat and it looks great, If I get downstairs today I will try to snap more photos.
Ok Rick here goes;
This is my first attempt at chimeing in with my 2 cents on these forums.
Here is a link I found with alot of usefull info, in my search of resources for this hobby. ( http://www.aglasshalffull.org/article-model-water.html )
(or if this didn’t work I did a search of yahoo for “10 ways to model water”, it was the first site listed)
Much has changed since my days of an oval and my Lionel HO set, (Block wireing, DCC, Electronics, etc.) My Dad built my first layout in 1952 when I was 2 years old, (He started it when I was born. 027 Lionel) My oval was actually part of my Aurora Model Motering with RR crossing which was the most fun part of both trains and slot cars. I always wanted to build a layout like those in MR mag. After 30+ years I’m finally giving it a try.
Although I am not a true Model Railroader, (operations, prototype modeling etc.) I am still combineing slots & trains on this layout. (I have seen a couple of people who have done it.)
OPPS, I am getting off TRACK, So good luck on your water!
John:
Thanks for the link! I was born in 53, so just a little bit younger. I have also been on a hiatis from the modelling end … for about 30 years :: So I too am ‘starting over’ with all of the new stuff (WooHoo - toys!). Good luck to you… keep in touch and let me know how you’re doing. email me at rick-at-kasparek-dot-com
Just remember the great thing about water effects is you cant really mess it up, because water is unpredictable. Also we all had to learn how to do, and I dont think there is a true method on how to make water look like real water unless you use the real thing and they say real water is out of scale.
: just my luck! A good show detailing water effects and I missed it!
