I'm pretty happy with the calm pond and stream I've put on my layout, but now I'm ready for a more open body of water. I went to a train show and a club open house over the weekend, and I saw the same issue - all the water was dead flat.
So, how do people make waves and ripples on their water models? Is this something you put on at the end, after doing an Envirotex base, or do you start with different materials from the bottom?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MB,
There was an article in MR 2 or 3 months back about adding rapids to a moving stream. I would think that the same method/product applied could be used on a larger body of water. I have also read of folks who have used a hair dryer/heat gun(?) on water products before they cure to create wave effects.
Hope that helps...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have two fairly large harbors on my HO layout. There are transluscent ceiling panels, with raised random patterns for use,(over two tube shoplights), on suspended ceilings. I paint the smooth bottom side of the panels with a varigated pattern of dark blue green. Since these are deep water harbors, there is no blending to tan near the shoreline (but, for a shallow pond one could, of course, blend the color to sand color near the shoreline. These panels fit so closely together that the edges match perfectly (especially, if your harbor is filled with boats) One could,of course, add Envirotex to the surface and blow with a hair dryer to create more ripples. The enclosed pictures show only a small portion of the harbors. Click on the images to enlarge the pictures. Bob Hahn
Hi Mr. B.: Here is one possible method of making ripples/waves. I used WS water effects, dabbed on with a brush, then dry brushed with off white latex paint. You did a great job on your pond!
maybe try some clear silicone to create the ripples you want using a brush and spatula. After it cures then put on the water. It would take a little trial n error to get the height of the ripples right but it would give you more control over the end product.
edit; as for the silicone, you could even use latex caulk before painting
The March/April 2008 NGSL Gazette had an article on Jerry Kinney's Mineral Valley Railway which has perhaps the best water I've ever seen. It's decribed as a painted Masonite base, with a layer of Mod-Podge to create waves and ripples, covered by several coats of high gloss clear urethane.
It seems to me than Envirotex covered by Mod-Podge or clear gloss acrylic might create an even better result. In fact I tried it, but poured the acrylic too thick, which caused it to crack. Except for all the cracks, it looked pretty good. Time to start over.
- Harry
I use modge podge covered over envirotex. I dab on a decent amount of the modge podge onto the envirotex and push it with a small brush to get the ripples. Once its dry I usually have to add to it a couple more times to get the right effect. In the end it looks good. It doesn't produce white caps, but I do get nice waves and ripples.
Mike
How are modge-podge and WS Water Effects to work with? It sounds like they hold their shape once you put them down. Do they also "hold" small-scale stuff like brush strokes, or does that kind of mush out as it settles a bit before hardening?
Which modge-podge do you use? I think I've seen both gloss and matte finishes on that, but I could be mistaken.
Any pictures of modge-podge ripples?
MisterBeasley wrote:How are modge-podge and WS Water Effects to work with? It sounds like they hold their shape once you put them down. Do they also "hold" small-scale stuff like brush strokes, or does that kind of mush out as it settles a bit before hardening?They will mush out. Which modge-podge do you use? I think I've seen both gloss and matte finishes on that, but I could be mistaken.Gloss.Any pictures of modge-podge ripples?Sorry, I'm reworking it now. One thing I learned - brush it on, don't pour it on. Actually I used clear acrylic, but I've used Mod-Podge in the past, and it seems to be the same thing.
They will mush out.
Gloss.
Sorry, I'm reworking it now. One thing I learned - brush it on, don't pour it on. Actually I used clear acrylic, but I've used Mod-Podge in the past, and it seems to be the same thing.
Modge-Podge, if like the gloss medium I have used before, tends to settle and try to level out, but won't go all the way flat down. It would be useful for slight waves and ripples over a clear base like Envirotex, and that is the way I have used it for a slow moving river. (By the way, the gloss Modge-Podge is what should be used for water, just like gloss medium.)
I have also used WS water effects for making waves in a shipping channel under a swing bridge. It stays where you put it.
Trying to do anything with Envirotex seems like a waste of time to me, as it wants to level out so fast.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.