Realistic Water -

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I’ve been using Realistic Water for a small river and it was coming along nicely until… I added a layer from a new bottle of “New and Improved” Realistic Water. This was a real thin layer as I was attempting to blend in some ripples made from Realistic Water Effects.

The sequence was that the ripples added after they were dry and clear before placing on the river. After the ripples where in place, I then poured a thin layer from the new bottle of “New and Improved”. The ripples turned white again and are still white a day later. Another complication is that the new layer doesn’t appear to be adhering to the earlier layer which has been in place for a couple of weeks. To make this worse there are a couple of bubbles in the new layer.

The bubbles were popped earlier today and the edges filed down.

I want to add some more ripples but I know have some concerns. Will the ripples that turned white clear up?

If they do clear up, is it better to pour a layer of Realistic water then lay the dried ripples into the liquid layer?

The river looked great before this last addition except the surface was to smooth.

Cheers, RustyKen

2

RustyKen –

I think your problem is the “Realistic Water Effects”. This is an acrylic-based medium used to make waterfalls and other surface effects, whereas the “Realistic Water”, improved or otherwise, is a resin product. It’s not designed to be used between layers of other products.

I have had successive pours of Realistic Water turn the layer underneath milky, because the solvent in the material affects the cured material underneath. I think your “ripples” will eventually turn clear again but I’ve seen it take several days.

Be patient and cross your fingers.