Ocean Water

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone

I have been reading the posts about creating water. When I visited my local hobby shop, they had mentioned using Expoxy to create my ocean water

How do I go about creating a realistic ocean with waves. Should I create an ocean bead of rocks then pour the expoxy. I haven't been able to find any specific details of what I should do

Any guidance or suggestions would be helpful

Thanks in advance
Kara

[Big_Boy_4005]

It may be kind of tricky to put BIG waves in resin. Nomally waves are made as the resin is setting and very tacky.

What are you actually modeling, and in what scale? How large of an area are you trying to cover?

[Anonymous]

HI,

I am making a model for an O scale lionel train. The area is pretty tiny.
What I have done is taken a corner of the train layout and set a lighthouse there so that the water goes toward the end of the layout rather than out to the middle of the train layout. I figured that would give a more realistic appearance of the water. The part that is facing outtowards the middle of the train layout is a small moutain and the end of the lighthouse sitting on a small beach.

I am not that expericence with modeling as I build these as gifts for my boyfriends father. I used the picture on the box of the lionel lighthouse as a guide[:)]. I have built mountains/tunnels before but this is my first expericence with water. The guy at the hobby shop mentioned using the epoxy and then pulling it ? to make the appearance of waves. I would like to make it as realistic as possible but I am not even sure where to start

Thanks for your help,
Kara

[Big_Boy_4005]

Cool Kara, I've seen the Lionel lighthouse in the catalog.

Maybe a better place to start making an ocean (even a small one) is with plaster. It is less expensive and more forgiving, as well as being easier to mold into a wave shape. Once you have a shape you like, paint the plaster, then apply a thin layer of resin, or even gloss medium, to give it a shine.

[nbrodar]

MR had an article several years back about useing clear latex caulk for make the waves.

First you painted the base an approprate ocean color. Then lay down beads of the caulk where you want the waves. Form the caulk into wave forms, flatten out the back side and curl over the front a little. You may have to wait for the caulk to set-up some first. After everthing dries, cover it with several coats of acrylic gloss medium to build up the shine.

Nick

[Anonymous]

These are great suggestions. I think that is a great idea about starting with the plaster for the bottom . It really is coming along. It is amazing how everything ends up coming together at the end. It goes from looking like basically nothing to a "piece of art" :-)

Do you think I can use the caulk on the plast so I can get that rippling wave effect?

Thanks again :-)
Kara

[nbrodar]

Kara,

I see no reason why not.

Nick

[Big_Boy_4005]

Actually Kara, I really like Nick's idea better than mine. First off it's not brittle, and second, you can use clear calk. The only thing you'll have to watch out for is bubbles. Make sure you use a latex caulk so it can take paint for highlights.

[talon104]

kara
dont know if this will help you any but trying reading this http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/dry_creek/ the use is for a stream or river but probably could incorporate some of the idea into yours, i think i reamember reabing something about using a dye to color as well , but remember having to sample a place other than your layout to get the right color you want etc.

hopefully thismight help ya [:)]
Chris