enviro-tex for water

[Anonymous]

others probably have better ideas than I do but for large bodies of water. I have used clear plexiglass scraps and then spray painted them with blue and/or other colors on one side then placed the painted side down with the non painted side up for the glassy watery look and then worked it into the layout scenery. It looked fairly decent when I finished. But use what ever method works for you. This was just an idea that worked for me.

[Anonymous]

Check out this thread....

(Too tired to re-type.)

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10214

[wp8thsub]

Try a commercial plastics supplier or craft distributor. In my area there are several that sell Enviro-Tex or the interchangeable Crystal Sheen in gallon containers. The last time I bought some it was about $30 - $35 for a two gallon kit. Hardware stores/home centers usually only sell smaller quantities for use as adhesives.

Using epoxy resin for large pours isn't difficult. You just need some disposable containers for measuring and mixing. I always try to ensure that I get a little more hardener than resin in the mixture which guarantees the whole pour will set properly. If you have too much resin you'll likely get uneven setting.

Coloring is easily accomplished with oil based or enamel hobby paints, mixed only a few drops per batch. I like colors like Pullman green and Testors Dark Tan, depending on what the prototype water is doing. Since the resin tries to level itself and give a smooth surface, forget trying to whip up waves as it sets and apply acrylic gloss medium (from an art store) for waves after the epoxy cures. Acrylic white paint can be used for rapids, etc.

[Anonymous]

Acutally, it's not the best method for LARGE bodies of water, because it's expensive and unwieldy. Typically, you pour it in layers no deeper than 1/8", so smaller creeks are a better choice for it. For something like a harbor, you might want to look into painted plywood (or other, better, smoother surface) topped with gloss medium or some kind of varnish. Another option is frosted glass, like what is sold for shower doors or the plastic lenses for office flourescent light fixtures. These can be laid flat over either a painted surface or a deep modeled lake bed, although you won't have the opportunity to add color to the water like you can with epoxy (you can mix in minor amounts of latex or acrylic paints), since there will really just be air.

Epoxy comes in two equal-sized tubes, and to use it you mix them together at a 1:1 ratio, and you must mix them thoroughly. Once mixed, you have an hour or so to get it poured, and then it starts setting; it cures to become effectively one giant molecule, so there's no going back. It will also find any leaks in your streambed, so be ready to catch drips in something expendable if you're not absolutely certain of the water-tightness.

I prefer epoxy myself, since I can add in pigments (I mix in tans to represent suspended sediment) and still see through it to the bottom, plus the process of creating the stream rquires that you first model an entire dry riverbed. The "water" finds its own level, realistically forming its own shoreline. However, the epoxy will creep up the shoreline a bit, so you might need to come back later and place some scenic materials over this edge, to get a crisp barrier between wet and dry. As for where to get it, I usually go the hobby shop; I've never looked for it in a hardware store or home center, though I bet they'd have it amongst other glues and sealers.

[Anonymous]

I have seen this used for large bodies of water but what department is it sold in at the store, I asked at my home center and they said it was a 2 part glue, and came in small tubes. Thanks in advance