Real Water test - how to?

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Magic Water is thicker, but seems to have a stronger wicking effect.

Don't think I was clear before: did the Magic Water on a diorama.  That one leaked as there was a hole somewhere above where I had previously poured MS Realist Water.  On my real 1'x4' module, I've laid the riverbed and fixed the debris in with 1:1 whiteglue.  I am pretty sure I laid out the plaster of the riverbed pretty well (all the paper towels overlapped and I poured extra plaster around the bottom).  And I've been saturating the shizzle out of the riverbed with diluted glue, and nothing's leaked yet.

I was just wondering about different ways to not have Magic Water magically appear in my pull-out control panel drawer.  Thin layers, perhaps.

[markpierce]

mcfunkeymonkey

So... if I do a "real water test" & pour a bit of real h20 on the riverbed: how tell where the pinhole leaks are? (seems to be seeping from a hard to see location).  Also, if "successful" and the water DOESN'T leak, then what do you do with the water? let evaporate? and won't that mess up the water-based paint on the riverbed?

Not sure H20 will be a good way to test.  Are the surface tensions for water and Magic Water the same?

Mark

[HarryHotspur]

 Perhaps I don't understand, but couldn't you just patch the hole?  With a dab of plaster or something?

[rs2mike]

Any way you could seal it up with caulk from the backside since you know where it is leaking from?

[mcfunkeymonkey]

I spotted the small hole above the waterline.  phooey.
And I guess I should have real water tested my main module before I fixed the talus & wood debris to the river bed with glue.
Oops.
Well, I'm pretty sure I laid out the plaster & towels carefully so that there wouldn't be any holes.  But we'll see!
This riverbed only lays directly over my control drawer, so it's not like any spillage would affect anything important. ]

On the plus side, I am learning a TON about making rivers!    So much so I could cry me one.

I guess I could do a very thin pour of Magic Water, just enough to dribble amongst the rocks and debris.  Let that dry.  Then there'd be a better chance of any small holes on the bottom getting plugged.  Then just do thin pours and build it up.  Better than a big pour breaking open a floodgate.

Any other ideas?  Thanks!
--Mark

[cowman]

Not sure why you have a leak if you already have a coat of Realistic Water in the riverbed already.  Must be above the current "waterline."  What did you seal your original riverbed with?  As long as your waterbased paint in the riverbed is dry water should not effect it.  I'd sponge or an absorbing cloth to get most of the water out after you are satisfied with your test.

Good luck,

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Well, just tried some Magic Water on my test diorama and it leaked.  There was already a layer of WS Realistic Water on the riverbed, so I thought things were sealed, but guess not! (hopin' it'll self-seal soon!)

So... if I do a "real water test" & pour a bit of real h20 on the riverbed: how tell where the pinhole leaks are? (seems to be seeping from a hard to see location).  Also, if "successful" and the water DOESN'T leak, then what do you do with the water? let evaporate? and won't that mess up the water-based paint on the riverbed?

Thanks for the advice!