I’m building a river that looks like the Rio grande see photo . With a real small MR budget what is good to use not to expense but look good ? Thanks
When you asked three different people how to make realistic looking water on your layout, you are most likely to get at least 4 answers, as there are many different ways.
The industry offers a number of products, each with its merits, but also drawbacks. WS E-Z water works quite well, at least I have tried it with plausible results.
The cheapest way to add a water feature is using diluted white glue. You can use it for shallow water. If applied in thin layers, it dries clear and leaves a shiny gloss on the surface.
High gloss varnish can give good results. It’s what I used for my first river, and it didn’t cost a lot.
Heck, if you are on a tight budget, just buy a can of high gloss spray paint. I have done that in the past and it works like a charm. Also, your local Ace Hardware or Home Depot will have paint chips that you can take home to find the right color and tint for your lighting if you decide to brush the paint on.
Rich
I use Envirotex Lite for my layout water. It’s a 2-part epoxy resin. It dries very hard and very clear, and it’s extremely durable. You can tint it with very small amounts of paint.
It’s not what you’d call “cheap,” but if you don’t have a large space, the smaller package (8 ounces, if I recall correctly) will do. Generally, model “water” is very thin, with the “depth” factor gained through careful painting. I’ve put quite a bit of “water” on my layout, and I’ve still got about a third of my original 16-ounce supply.
If you go to A.C. Moore or Michaels, you’ll find that craft stores are less expensive than hobby stores. Even better, both of these companies have weekly coupons on their web sites. Generally, you can find a 40% off coupon for one item, and the two stores take each other’s coupons, too. If you wait for a 50% off coupon, you can get the 8-ounce Envirotex package for about 10 or 12 dollars.
Getting “water” to look good is mostly base preparation, not the material you use.