Found this article on a forum, Hope it helps someone, I'm going to try it when I lay my water in my river and mill pond, Jeff. [FONT="]WONDERWATER[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]Article ~ [/FONT]http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/t...dID=109150&PostID=1259902&PermaPostID=1259902 [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]From ~ http://www.mossfoam.com/MainPages/wonderwater.htm[/FONT] [FONT="] [/FONT] [FONT="]My river bed has carved foam banks so I wanted to keep away from products that either had to be melted at a high temperature or generated a lot of heat when they cure. Also have the basement closed up for the winter with no screens to keep varmints out so I had to avoid anything that was going to create a lot of fumes. [/FONT] [FONT="]So basically any kind of melted pellets, resin, epoxy or varnish was out. Also any kind of clear draft-stop caulking that stinks to high heaven.[/FONT] [FONT="]At a major craft store I explained my predicament to one of the clerks and she showed me something that's used to simulate water in artificial flower arrangements. It's called Wonder Water. The thing that attracted me was you only need to stick the bottle of it in a pot of hot (130 degrees F) water and wait a few minutes for it to liquefy.[/FONT] [FONT="]I sealed up any sources of leaks (front of layout, backdrop) heated the stuff up and poured. It turned out very well except that you have to watch as it sets fairly quickly. Also the bane of epoxy type water: bubbles. I first of all tried a heat gun but it started making waves like the latest tropical storm was bearing down. So I ran, got a pin, and was able to *** most of the bubbles. Maybe a heat lamp would work well, can't remember where I put mine.[/FONT] [FONT="]Overall results: pretty good considering it was my first try. I had found the various, more exotic methods of modeling water to be an obstacle to getting my river done. This was a much simpler solution and the results seem satisfactory [/FONT] [FONT="]It came out very clear in my application, approx 1/4" to 1/2" thick. I had painted the river bed and rocks burnt umber. The overall effect reminds me of many of the shallow rocky rivers that wind through southern Ontario, which I'm modeling. Also most of the air bubbles seem to have dissipated. One potential drawback I found: It doesn't harden as much as other material I suppose. As of this morning, it still is very rubbery to the touch and rather soft. I don't think it will move when the temporary dams are removed, but it may be prone to damage if it gets accidentally poked or something fell on it. But then again, we have to be careful around other scenery items.[/FONT] [FONT="]I guess it is like a very thick gel as it requires only 130 degrees F to melt it. Not something to use in an attic layout without climate control. My basement seldom goes above 70 even in the summer so it should suit my purposes.[/FONT]
I don't think I'll go with it. Apparently the stuff never hardens but remains a gel. That means people will push on it, "...to see if the water is real" and soon your water begins to look like a miniature FBI fingerprint depository. I'll stick with Environtex.
Why don't you just plaster the bottom of the water area and use Magic Water? Hear wonderful things about that stuff.
Sorry I goofed, just thought that any information was worth looking at as it may be of help to someone. Regards Jeff.
