Making Water look like it's moving

[Anonymous]

I read all the cooentaries on Modeling Water but find they all stop short in the final step! (Thanks Vincent,Ron,James & Rudy)My problem, after you color your water bed to give you that depth of field, and tint for epoxy solutions to give you a muddy or olive final look, how on earth do you get the water movement? I'm looking for a technique to show water rippling past a rock lodged in a river, or that white water as it drops below a small fall, with those medium waves as the water moves swiftly down the river. I'm looking for a real proven technique that when photographed will look like the real thing!

[thirdrail1]

This subject has been covered repeatedly in "Model Railroader". It is even in the current (March 2002) issue, describing how to put waves in the water on the Rock Ridge Central!

[Anonymous]

I saw the article on page 75 of March 2002. I see the picture of what looks like a tube of white toothpaste (Woodland Scenic-Water Effects) smeared over 1/8" layers of "Realistic Water", and then they say this gave "a little movement" to Lake Repose. I'm sorry but that Figure 5 Lake didn't do it for me. Those 5 sentances did not really answer my issue. I'd like to hear how the experts really make that water ripple, and roll over rocks, and give white water effects. Just saying that, "Realistic Water dries perfectly flat, so stippling Woodland Water Effects gave a little movement to the Lake" doesn't do it for me. I'd like to hear how a technique is applied, by someone who really thinks they have conquered this area. The picture in the magazine does not prove to me that this works. Like I say, all I see is a tube of white toothpaste over a flat epoxy surface. Thanks, but I was really looking for more than this.
Andy

[edo1039]

You may want to take a look at this product it looks pretty good. http://warship.simplenet.com/Whitewater.htm

[Anonymous]

Ed - Neat site! I always think it's interesting how many times a particular problem has already been solved in another field.
Bill K

[gerryleone]

Two ways that I've used on my Black River (and you can see pictures at http://home.earthlink.net/~gerryleone/trains.htm) are matte medium and clear silicon caulk.

The matte medium goes on looking like white Elmer's glue. You can dab at it with a toothpick and create ripples or "flowage waves" and when it dries it dries crystal clear and makes an absolutely convincing water disturbance.

To create even more of a water disturbance, put a dab of clear silicon caulk on your water and sculpt that with a toothpick. Works great!

-Gerry

[Sperandeo]

Okay, if you didn't like the water on the Rock Ridge Central, how about Geoff Nott's water in the December 2000 MODEL RAILROADER? I don't know of many who have ever done it better than that.

And if you really want the effect of movement, look up "Magic water" by Lee Vande Visse on page 42 of the Kalmbach book, "Realistic Animation, Lighting and Sound," or in the June 1994 MR, page 106.

Happy weekend,

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

[Anonymous]

Amen, Andy! Geoff Nott's water (and surrounding landscape) is the best I've ever seen. For me, that particular article raised the bar about 3 notches; it's become one of the standards by which I now judge my own scenery efforts.

Putting Nott's work aside for the moment, Malcolm Furlow's water techniques back in the '80's weren't too bad, either. In retrospect, the finished product doesn't begin to compare to Nott's, but I suspect there are a lot of modelers who would be happy if they could model moving water as well as Malcolm did.

[snowey]

Look at Dave Fray methods in the Kalmbach book "Realistic Model Railroad Scenery". He uses acrylic gloss medium for some truly great results! Also see his article in the July 1986 (I think) issue of Model Railroader.

[Anonymous]

Gerry,
Your website is fantastic! Black River does it for me! Looks real! It is a credit to the railroading hobby to have people like you share your techniques with all of us that share your passion for the hobby! Do you have a suggestion for where to get the "matte medium" that you talk abot?
Andy Reynolds
[e-mail]

[gerryleone]

Thanks, Andy. I really do appreciate it.

I think I slipped. If I said "matte medium," I meant "GLOSS medium." (You WANT it to be shiny!) You can buy it at any art supply store. Again, it comes in a plastic bottle and it's white before it dries.

You can pick up a small tube of clear silicon caulk at the hardware store.

To echo what was said above, the gloss medium technique is Dave Frary's, from the book I consider my scenery bible, "Building Realistic Scenery for Model Railroads."

-Gerry

[Anonymous]

Your local Wal-Mart has Gloss Medium and other supplies in the craft section. Check it out............Jamie

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. Sometimes it is so hard to find supplies.
As for the moving water issue. I am in the process of trying to figure out how to use fiber optics, christmas lights and some type of water medium to make a realistic waterfall. I remember an article that had waterfalls made from caulk and small pieces of plastic(or glass). I figured if I could get some moving lights behind it...

Then maybe I could sell the idea and live modeling forever ( Dreamer!)