I am putting in a canal in my layout. I will have to cut down through two inches of Dowfoam to get to the wood base. My question is how thick can Envirotex or any other water medium be safely poured?
Larry
If it doesn't say in the instructions, I would pour up to 1/2" at a time, and no more. If that hardens nicely and tacky free in about 6-10 hours, I would then do another pour if you desire a lot of depth.
Note that 1/2" in HO scale is really 44" in depth. Not too many natural accumulations of water allow you to see far into it. If you do two such pours, now you have 87" of water, and that gets quite dark, especially if there is any vegetation and rotting matter down at the bottom.
Do you have to have it that deep? And BTW, are you aware that you will have to fully seal the edges where the foam and wood surface meets? You will have to use a caulk or a putty of some kind.
I would use a much shallower cut, but then use paint to give the illusion of depth. There was an article in MR a few months back about making a pond. The principles are the same.
For those who have used Envirotex (my jar is still unopened,) if you simply gouge out a depression in pink foam and paint it, will it hold the Envirotex, or do you need some additional sealer?
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MisterBeasley wrote: I would use a much shallower cut, but then use paint to give the illusion of depth. There was an article in MR a few months back about making a pond. The principles are the same.For those who have used Envirotex (my jar is still unopened,) if you simply gouge out a depression in pink foam and paint it, will it hold the Envirotex, or do you need some additional sealer?
Many will scenic or coat with plaster or?, then paint. I like the added insurance of the scenery material to stop any leaks. Envirotex may seem thick, but it can find even the tinyest hole to leak out of.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
It doesn't have to be that deep. I guess I will some how have to build up the base with either wood or 1" styrofoam and then seal that with a coat of drywall mud. Another question comes to mind; how do you get the stippling on the surface of the pond?
68 camaro wrote: It doesn't have to be that deep. I guess I will some how have to build up the base with either wood or 1" styrofoam and then seal that with a coat of drywall mud. Another question comes to mind; how do you get the stippling on the surface of the pond? Larry
Waves, and other water effects are usually done with painting gloss medium on the cured Envirotex. Real turbulent water can be done with translucent caulks even the WS water Effects does this but stays a bit soft and too rubbery. Some use clear silicone. I would refrain from any silicone, paint won't stick on silicone. I have tried blowing fans and teasing Envirotex to get surface detail and waves, but it just doesn't work for me, it still wants to be flat.
I agree with the general consensus on this.
I wouldn't make it any deeper than it has to be. Envirotex isn't exactly cheap.
1/8 of an inch for each pour. Instructions recommend to cover it for the first six or seven hours until it sets enough that dust will not stick to it. I put scrap cardboard a few inches about the surface and that worked fine.
Envirotex Lite can be had very cheaply if you check around. I got 16oz of the stuff from a woodworking web site for $7.10 just before Christmas.
Thanks all for the replies.