One (last?) Water/Lake Question

[Anonymous]

Ok, so we've modified our lakebed so it wo't be so deep (we'll get creative with "burying" the sunken UFO). Still haven't decided between WS Realistic Water or Envirotex.

But here's the the real question....

Lake bed is foam (which I believe either of the above products will "eat")

What's the best way to seal the foam before I paint it with some "lake colors"?

1) Is Plaster cloth, a layer of latex pain and then the actual colors we want sufficient?

2) Would a couple of layers of WS "Flex Paste" followed by either latex paint or the acrylic paints be sufficient?

3) All of the above?

4) Something else?

As always, help is greatly appreciated.

[selector]

Use a pollyfilla, wood putty, spackle, or even a slightly thinned plaster of paris. You could use gyproc mud, too. Basically, you want something water soluble, water tight (or very nearly so), something that can be sanded and painted. Once painted, use whatever cheap two-part epoxy, gloss medium, or clear gloss urethane you can get that will not yellow, shrink, craze, or otherwise wick itself all over the layout. Someone just mentioned a thin layer of liquid floor wax, but I don't know how it will do over time with discoloration.

Don't forget to level the layout and to dam any open ends of the channel(s) into which you will pour the medium. I used painter's tape, folded over so that the daming surface was non-sticky, but masking tape would be just as good.

[Seamonster]

Like he said.[#ditto] Gotta be watertight. Whatever you pour will find the tinest hole to leak through. Probably a good idea to put newspapers under the layout just in case. I used plaster because I had lots of it for scenery making. Paint it to get the illusion of depth then pour in whatever you want. Personally, I prefer Realistic Water. No muss, no fuss, no mixing, no smell. Just open the bottle and pour. Just keep the layers to 1/8", but you shouldn't need it deep--the paint makes it look deep. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

Would something like WS "Smooth-It" work? I have some of that left. (vs plaster).

thanks

[selector]

I don't know what it is, but if it can be spread and hold its shape and not shrink when dried, sanded (if necessary), and then painted, then sure, why not? Really, all you need is to create a uniquely shaped shallow "bowl" that is impermeable with regard to the liquid you will use to create the water, but it needs to be painted first to look like a water channel of varying depths.

This was one of the more interesting efforts in constructing my layout. I hope you have a good time of it. Be methodical; go slow, think ahead, and don't do that first 'water' pour until you have a really good 'river bed' look that you know is right. If you spend a fair bit of time, only to not get that truly positive feeling about it, just start painting over what you have until you know it is right. Even then, if you pour and it doesn't look so great after a few days, paint over the water and repour.