Has anyone ever modeled ocean waves with maybe surfers riding them. I am doing a Southern California costal layout which goes from San juan Capristrano to San Diego. The line runs along the coast and would love to have some ocean scenes on the layout. Thanks for anyones help.
Welcome to the forum.
Ken Patterson modeled a beachside stretch of the ATSF Surf Line for a diorama covered in the July 1996 Model Railroader. He modeled smaller waves (not really surf-able) with clear silicone caulk, paint, and a gloss overcoat. (He also did a nice job with the riprap and the beach.)
Surfable waves might be built up with plaster (tricky) or carved from extruded foam (even trickier), but to make them look right might take artistic talent.
Although there is no beach scene, Keith Jordan modeled a good stretch of the Surf Line in his previous layout, covered in Model Railroad Planning 2001 and the Aug 2004 Model Railroader.
Good luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
My ocean scene still looks more like a dry lake but one day I will have some waves along the beach in San Clemente and my sharks will no longer be land sharks. I have seen a few beach scenes with waves. I think you need to build up the swell with plaster first, or carve it out of foam board, make water using Envirotex lite, and then finish it with acrylic gloss medium and then paint it. It is probably best to work with pictures of the actual beach and try to get the proper scale height. Also pay attention to which direction the waves are breaking, left or right. If you search Google images for ho scale waves you will find a couple of examples. Also there are good videos on youtube to make water. I like Luke Towan's videos. This one he makes water with some ripples in it. Study his techniques for modeling and painting water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dug-ffEhqZU
Not from a model railroad but other modelers have done it very nicely:
Good luck and please post pictures when you are finished.
Thanks so much for the info. The middle picture is exactly what I am looking for. Will do with so photos from start to finish...Dennis
Well is been two years, but finally finished the San Clemente, San Onfore surf layout. See photos below and thank you all for your help...Dennis
Sorry, trying to add photos, but no luck
IMG_1146(2).jpg
IMG_1154(2).jpg
DENNIS CARESIOSorry, trying to add photos, but no luck
Luck isn't going to work in this forum, you have to follow the rules
Those are fantastic photos, we wouldn't ordinarily have seen if you hadn't ressurected this thread.
3 posts in 6 years, you are still being moderated, I guess. You get more out of the forum when you post and find out things you know aren't necessarily so.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
DENNIS CARESIO Has anyone ever modeled ocean waves with maybe surfers riding them. I am doing a Southern California costal layout which goes from San juan Capristrano to San Diego. The line runs along the coast and would love to have some ocean scenes on the layout. Thanks for anyones help.
You are in luck. Luke Towan just posted a youtube video on EXACTLY what you want. Quite a coinicidence, actually.
EDIT: I see you are already finished. Oh well. Maybe you can use his video for future reference. Kevin has it imbedded below...
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182928161@N07/48376494987/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182928161@N07/48376362506/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182928161@N07/48376444617/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182928161@N07/48376363291/in/dateposted-public/
Wow! That looks really good! Thanks for posting.
I'd like to point out that surfers spend a lot of time waiting for the right wave to appear. It would be very realistic to have surfers sitting on their boards in groups. And small waves would be much easier to model… ;-)
Strength in diversity!
Thanks and thanks for your help. I will post some photos later on the San Onfore power plant overlooking the beach scene.
Thanks and I know that, as my son did that all morning long, talking to surfers and never catching a wave. Just didn't have the room. Will post the full layout later.