Unless you're disenchanted by WS now, (I might be in your position), what about filling some of the ripple troughs in with Water Effects? I don't think it could make them look any worse could it?
91% isopropyl alcohol is the highest I've seen that is commercially available, and I've had to special order it at my local pharmacy. It shouldn't harm anything but, if it does, you could always pour a thin coat over the mess. I use a hair dryer set on low to create ripples in a random pattern.
Just food for thought. Kind of contrary to what I have always said before "Nature is random, and not perfect". That said, and going back to my way outdated physics stuff. Physics and their laws are perfect, and symmetrical. If you take a rock and plop it in the water, it makes ripples in the water. It is the impact and water displacement, and "concussion" that makes the ripples. It is more a "wave" than anything else, and that "wave" is perfect and symmetrical. A sound wave, magnetism or any other form of natural physics "Wave" is linear and perfectly spaced based on the laws that pertain to it. A sound wave traveling through the water will make perfectly symmetrical ripples. Anyway.. My physics like I said are based on way outdated science (Back when the earth was flat), and just food for thought. Ripples can look very symmetrical in water... But not always.. again, back to the unpredictable nature..
Thanks for your suggestion. I have found 99 percent isopropyl alchohol here and am going to try on 2 test ponds. When you say "it shouldn't harm anything, but if it does. you could always pour a thin coat over the mess"...do you mean another layer of Realistic Water? Not sure the mess would not show through. That is what I am worried about. I did find out however that the original and the new RW product should not be layered on top of one another. This created small mounds.
Hi gang. After testing the 99 percent isopropyl alcohol on my two test ponds, I found it to work amazingly well. Even on the one test pond where I had originally poured a layer of the original Realistic Water and then poured a layer of the new RW which didn't seem to bond very well, the alcohol did a great job at smoothing out the surface imperfections. I used a small paint brush to lightly brush the surface while it was wet which also helped. So I tried it on the layout pond. Using an eyedropper at first and then applied a second coat shortly afterwards but while it was wet lightly brushed the surface. Now there is a slight hint of ripples but definitely looks a lot more natural now. Thanks.
Here are some photos (sorry for the quality but I took several closer ones and just kept getting shadows and glare from the lighting) However the ripples are a lot softer and subdued now. They were more pronounced before which unfortunately the previous photos did not illustrate very well.
The reason I think it worked before is because on a pond, ripples are quite uniform. If you add noise then the ripples take on the appearance of a swirling stream. The pond you show is pretty narrow, so I think it works either way. I'd call this one done. :thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
But, Why? Alcohol Smoothes the WS Water? Why does the alcohol smooth the Woodland Scenics Realistic Water? Would it have the same effect on Famowood or Envirotex? This water looks very nice. It looked good before and now it looks really good. I would also say, "Complete."
Thank you for your kind comments. I think the alcohol acts like a thinner of sorts but not sure how it would work on the other products you mentioned. It was recommended by Woodland Scenics who make the RW product. You can always do like I did and just make a test pond and see what it does. Good luck.
I would strongly suggest not using any alcohol below 90%. The lower percentage will probably be labeled as RUBBING ALCOHOL. That means it has body oils in it and will leave a residue. Much like WD-40. I to like the looks of your work. :thumbs_up:
Are you saying Future floor wax is all one needs for water simulation ? And, can we assume it drys up hard and as clear as any other material ? Must be dirt cheap compaired to the commercial modeling products (or should I say 'water cheap' ?)
Asking again: Does Future floor wax produce a good water effect ? And, if so, can I assume one merely pours it onto plywood where say, rocks, river bottom and embankments have been created ? Sounds way cheaper than commercial modeling substances..No ? Also, I plan no waterfall ( which I know is a different animal to make )..
Hi Mark - I have not tried the Future technique, but here is a discussion about it: Making Rivers, Streams & Lakes Using Future's Floor Wax & Modge Podge - Jeff
