Making Water

David Hauver Oct 14, 2004

  1. David Hauver

    David Hauver E-Mail Bounces

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    I am about to try making running water (stream) and water falls. My experience with "how to" books is negative since it's what they don't tell ya that gets ya.

    Looking for tips on materials and techniques.
     
  2. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    David:

    Do you mean real running water on your layout?

    Or do you mean the appearance of running water?

    I haven't tried either one, but I heard that the humidity was a problem with real running water.
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you are referring to using real water, very few people have successfully ever done this. It's a problem to keep from any leaking. Plus there will likely be humidity and/or mildew troubles.

    [​IMG]

    Boxcab E50
     
  4. Biggerhammer

    Biggerhammer TrainBoard Member

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    I'm planning on using Envirotex (a two-part product frequently used to coat bar tops and other light-traffic surfaces that need significant thickness and high clarity/gloss). My river is a calm one, though, no waterfalls to worry about.

    I have read about people usign clear silicone caulk along with Envirotex to make more textured water, such as surf, rapids or waterfalls. Haven't done it myself, though.
     
  5. Derek

    Derek TrainBoard Member

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    I have silicone caulk and a bottle of Woodland Scenics Realistic Water. I'm fairly satisfied w/the WS stuff, you just pour it into an area for calm water, but if there's anything porous nearby it tends to climb up it, i.e. if you had ground foam already installed on your riverbanks.

    I have a rapid mountain stream in the planning process also and I was thinking of using the silicone caulk which is very moldable and stretchable and dries clear. It's definitely going to be a learning experiment for me, so if anybody else has tried it I'm curious too...
     
  6. disisme

    disisme TrainBoard Supporter

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    I agree, the Silicone caulk seems to be the way to go (I also havent done it...yet). I suspect, because I havent read about anyone painting the silicone caulk, that it dries white if 'teased up'. The thinner the section, the whiter the effect. So a fairly thick layer will be relatively clear, but tease up a wave on it and the wave goes white.....

    Remember to tease it up abit on the downstream side of anything sticking out of the water (bridge piers etc).
     
  7. David Hauver

    David Hauver E-Mail Bounces

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    I am not planning on real water because of all the inherent problems. My main complaint on the water that I've seen on layouts is that it tends to shrink when dry leaving water going uphill on surrounding scenery.
     
  8. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    David,

    All liquids will show a meniscus or the convex or concave look formed by the capilarity of the liquid. It really has nothing to do with the dryning of the material. Don't do as I and overfill an area attempting to compensate for "shrinkage". I don't think envirotex shrinks. It cures chemically ????
     

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