I'm posting this for a fellow N-TRAK buddy whose in the process of building his latest modules. "I am working on several NTrak modules and I would like to have an animated waterfall. I know you have all seen the lighted pictures of Niagra Falls in shopping malls, the one where it looks like the water is flowing in the picture. Is something like that possible on a module? Tried several revolving drum ideas with a light inside it but it did not give the illusion of flowing water. Anyone have any ideas?"
Would it be worth getting one of those cheesy fiberoptic Christmas trees and embedding it into the waterfall and froth? The ones I've seen have a 'flow' setting that might well add the look that you're seeking. Hm. Now I'm going to have to kep an eye out for a cheap lightup tree... it sounds like an interesting idea
I don't know how to model one visually but I might recommend once you do, have a white noise CD or sound generator (or even a small TV nearby tuned to an empty station) to get the sound effects down.
Paul, I wonder if he could use some crinkled plastic film moved by a small blower, such as an aquarium pump. The plastic could be made to look more like water by applying gloss medium.
How about a small pond pump. Or one of those crappy small waterfall things that are sold at Spencer or K Mart? I had a small waterfall type thing that had a round, smooth rock on top of the waterfall, and the waterfall spun this smooth rock around. I got this given to me, but it couldn't have cost more than $30.
Man those are some really good ideas! Initially I was thinking some dry ice flow to simulate scaled frothy falling water. You'd need some place under it to suck up the clouds but I think that would look cool too. -Mike
Why couldn't something like this be incorporated into some scenery? http://www.wildwaterfalls.com/tranquility.php Volcano anyone? http://www.wildwaterfalls.com/volcano.php
A science fair project volcano!!! Where's the baking soda??? Though even if you're modeling Washington State, our continental volcanoes only really eject ash and not the flowing lava.
Rod, I think you're on the right track here. Someone else pointed out to my friend that a simliar technique was written up in a past MR magazine article. For that application they used some plastic/plexiglass/lexan to cover over a verticle hole made in the foam cliff. Then formed the waterfall over the clear plastic, with clear silicon caulk (keeping it thin to not loose it's transparency). Behind the plastic some Christmas foil icilces were hung with a light source pointed at them. A small fan moves them around and you get...moving water. He's making up a test version to see how it looks. Real water used for N-scale or on an NTRAK module doesn't scale very well..it never looks right.
What about a clear plastic tube, covered with envirotex, but with some water running in it? If you do it right you could have something like the old Wurlitzer bubbles going through your waterfall... I can't find any pictures of what I mean. Am I making sense?
