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Realistic Water question

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  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Lancaster, NH
  • 131 posts
Realistic Water question
Posted by B Rutherford on Monday, February 20, 2023 7:40 PM

I just did my first ever Realistic Water pour. Everything went pretty well. No leaks which is definitely a win. I notice now, about an hour later that it looks like one of my trees shed two leaves into the resin. Thankfully at the back of the pour.  I wouldn't care but I want to pour another layer tomorrow night. If I pick the leaves out once the resin is dry will the second pour fill and hide any marks?

 

- Bill Rutherford Lancaster, NH

Central Vermont Railroad 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Monday, February 20, 2023 8:13 PM

The water should level out like self leveling concrete does once poured. At least that has been my experience with Realistic Water.

Rich

Alton Junction

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    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, February 20, 2023 8:16 PM

richhotrain
The water should level out like self leveling concrete does once poured.

Rich   That wasn't the question, at least as I understood it.  If the OP picks out the leaves, will any mark or hole left be covered up by another pour?

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Lancaster, NH
  • 131 posts
Posted by B Rutherford on Monday, February 20, 2023 8:32 PM

Exactly correct Henry.  I am sure picking out the leaf will wind up leaving at least a small mark.  I would think the next pour would hide it but want to be sure.

Thanks!

- Bill Rutherford Lancaster, NH

Central Vermont Railroad 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, February 20, 2023 8:42 PM

Oh, my bad!

The next pour will cover it and fill it in but I cannot say for sure that it will hide that small mark. Are you tinting each pour? That would help immensely.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Lancaster, NH
  • 131 posts
Posted by B Rutherford on Monday, February 20, 2023 8:49 PM

I wasn't in this case as I am pretty happy with my bottom color and to be honest just getting it poured without leaks seemed like enough of an initial challenge.. Big Smile I have tints...  At the same time the leaves are all the way at the back so you do have to be looking for them.  A tiny pock mark would likely be almost impossible to see ( at least I hope...)

Thanks for replying!

- Bill Rutherford Lancaster, NH

Central Vermont Railroad 

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:27 AM

I would just leave them.

In the real world there all kinds of things floating in the water.

( it's a " happy" accident. )

 

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:38 AM

I kind of go with Little Timmy, but if you got them out before the resin was set, they might fill in by themselves.

Will this clear up as it sets? or is it going to remain "cloudy" ?

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2013
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Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 10:08 AM

I also vote for leaving them in. Autumn leaves fall over the place, including rivers, lakes and ponds. And marks in the water? I would not worry about that. There is no such thing as absolutely clear freshwater.

Simon

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Lancaster, NH
  • 131 posts
Posted by B Rutherford on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 12:03 PM

Thank you to everyone.  

Mike, yes it will clear as it sets.  I will be adding another layer tonight (assuming the first is cured) and then will post a new picture once both layers are fully cured.

- Bill Rutherford Lancaster, NH

Central Vermont Railroad 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 3:29 PM

How did you prevent the water from spilling off the edge?  It looks like you used masonite?

Thanks!

  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 4:35 PM

Another vote for leaving the leaves, and perhaps adding more.  You have some fall colored trees, so adding bits of flocking to the water would be a natural scenic option.

I take a small amount of light green acrylic paint and apply it to the final coat of my Envirotex water with a simple thin pin.  That gives me fine lines of thin green that look like vegetation in the water.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    March 2021
  • From: Grants Pass, OR
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Posted by Pauley on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 5:06 PM

Yet another vote to leave them in. Smile

BTW, my Realistic Water never really levels level. The little dip may not look bad in a river or stream, but I wouldn't have the confidence to use it for a smooth lake.

Anyone else experiene that?

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 5:32 PM

Pauley

Yet another vote to leave them in. Smile

BTW, my Realistic Water never really levels level. The little dip may not look bad in a river or stream, but I wouldn't have the confidence to use it for a smooth lake.

Anyone else experiene that?

Yep, same here.

On my new layout, I am modeling the South Branch of the Chicago River, a controlled "channel" if you will which usually appears relatively flat. On my new layout, I used Envirotex Lite which remains flat and smooth.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Lancaster, NH
  • 131 posts
Posted by B Rutherford on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 7:16 PM

Ok so the leaves stay, lol.

I have been thinking of adding a few more to the top of the final layer. Thinking of using modge podge gloss to create ripples and dusting a few leaves over that while still wet.

The dam is made with a piece of 1/32" plastic with the front face covered in packing tape. 

Make sure the edge of your river is smooth. 

Apply clear packing tape to a piece of scrap plastic to make the dam. The tape helps the dam release from the resin. 

 Run a continuous bead of yellow glue around the area you are going to place the dam. Make sure it is continuous with no gaps and far enough away from the water feature that you dont get squeeze out into the water area.

Press the dam in place with the tape facing inward.

Seal the outside edges of the dam to your benchwork with hot glue. 

Give a couple hours for the yellow glue to completely cure.

Pour water and hold your breath lol.

Luke Towan covers this technique on almost all of his videos with water features.  I definitely recommend watching a couple.

- Bill Rutherford Lancaster, NH

Central Vermont Railroad 

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