Here is a scene from my recent bridge project. (This is fictional scene, and I suppose a railroad civil engineer would count some rivits for me. LOL ) ... I will explain how I made the water under the bridges.
I used an acrylic light panal from a drop ceiling. The kind is called "crushed ice". I salvaged what I needed from a broken one. I will explain the simple steps.
First, I cut some 1/4" plywood to be the base surface. I painted with blue (center of water surface), green (closer to shore), and brown (at shore). When paint was dry, I applied a wash of raw siena acrylic paint (watered down) over the entire surface of the plywood. (This will be the section under the waterfalls.)
Next, I cut a piece from the acrylic light panel. I turned it so it was crinkle side up, and applied a very thin wash of acrylic black paint. I sprayed it with soapy water while paint was still wet. Then, I waited for it to dry about two days.
Next, I turned over the acrylic light panal piece so it was smooth side up. I placed it on the painted plywood.
Next, I installed the "water" on the layout. Basically, it is best to just lay it in place. Scenerey around the edges will keep it from moving.
I suggest you do not make a mistake I made when I tried doing this before. That time, I used clear adhesive in the bottom of the acrlyic panal to hold it to the plywood, and it looked awful. So, this time I just let it lay in place with scenery around the edges.
Various scenery techniques can be used for the surrounding scenery.
I included waterfalls which were made with Woodland Scenics Water Effects. Before applying that, I made some clear plastic pieces
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Garry, I have used diffuser panels from overhead lights for water a few times.
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These were mostly for diaramas, I only used it once on a model railroad. My experience was that the water looked very good in photographs, but was unconvincing in person. Is your experience similar, or did you get good results.
The pictures you posted look great.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hi Kevin .... I think this method looks very good in person. The wash of black paint helps in my opinion. If I tried again, I might use a wash of olive drab instead of black.
Really nice work Garry. I like it.
Heartland Division CB&QI think this method looks very good in person. The wash of black paint helps.
Thank Garry.
I once used this with a mirror underneath the "water" so it would reflect the blue posterboard above it in a photograph, like real water reflects ths sky.
I thought this was a good plan, but it did not work at all! The wash is probably a better idea.
A layer of that paste from woodland scenics used to make waves might help. Used it where bigger waves would occur. Give it some contrast. Just a thought
Wolfie
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
GARRY,
Looks great! The ripples scaled well to my eye and your coloring really blended it in believably.
I have this vision of a small hydropower plant sitting on the little patch of ground towards the front of where the tower footings are to take advantage of the water's drop over the dam/falls. But that's just me, always looking for another project to shoehorn in.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Another easy way to make water is.....drink more beer!
Mike C.