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Damming up Realistic Water

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  • Member since
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  • From: Boise, Idaho
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Damming up Realistic Water
Posted by E-L man tom on Monday, April 29, 2024 7:02 PM

Hi Everyone!

it's been a long ctime since I've been on this forum. I've been busy with work, travel and building my small HO scale layout. And, in building this layout, I have a stream, and intend to use Woodland Scenics' Realistic Water. The stream runs to the edge of the layout. The stream is carved into pink foam insulation board. I have a "test piece" in which I sculpted a stream, using the same material. My problem is, I need to know how I can dam the Realistic Water up at the edge so that it doesn't run off. I tried using painters tape but it leaked. What can I use to dam this "water" up until it dries hard so I can finish the project? 

 

 

Tom Modeling the free-lanced Toledo Erie Central switching layout.
  • Member since
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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, April 29, 2024 7:54 PM

I use Envirotex Lite for my water.  At the edge of the layout, I cut a piece of thin styrene a bit bigger than the opening and fasten it with latex glue.  I let that set thoroughly and then I can pour the epoxy, using several thin layers.

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

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Posted by kasskaboose on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 3:52 PM

This can get messy fast (don't ask how I know, lol).  I would consider a piece of wood secured to the edge of the waterbody and sealed up with tape.  Realistic Water (and similar) have a way of finding the smallest holes to seep through (again, don't ask how I know!).

  • Member since
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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 4:25 PM

MisterBeasley

I use Envirotex Lite for my water.  At the edge of the layout, I cut a piece of thin styrene a bit bigger than the opening and fasten it with latex glue.  I let that set thoroughly and then I can pour the epoxy, using several thin layers.

On my prior layouts, I used Realistic Water on several occasions, but I grew increasingly annoyed with it clouding up and taking too long to clear. So, on my current layout, I switched to Envirotex Lite.
 
I really like this product because it remains clear, and it dries in a reasonable amount of time. I do have one area about 18" wide where the water ends at the edge of the layout. I didn't do anything to dam it, although I poured it slowly and caruefully, sort of like pouring waffle batter into the waffle iron so that the batter does not leak out.
 
Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 5:06 PM

I generally tint each layer of Envirotex individually, going from dark at the bottom to clear at the top.  The finished product gets darker as it gets deeper, like real water.  This takes only a couple of drops of cheap acrylic craft paint per pour.

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

  • Member since
    January 2008
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Posted by saronaterry on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 5:32 PM

I have numerous streams/ rivers that end at the facia. I used Envirotex Lite. Dam with a piece of tape and clamp a 1x piece of wood to that. I've never had a leak. Knock on wood!!

Terry

Terry in NW Wisconsin

Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 6:01 PM

kasskaboose

This can get messy fast (don't ask how I know, lol).  I would consider a piece of wood secured to the edge of the waterbody and sealed up with tape.  Realistic Water (and similar) have a way of finding the smallest holes to seep through (again, don't ask how I know!).

 

I use the pizza box method.  I put a pizza box beneath the edge of the layout to catch any spills.

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

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 7:33 PM

MisterBeasley

 

 
kasskaboose

This can get messy fast (don't ask how I know, lol).  I would consider a piece of wood secured to the edge of the waterbody and sealed up with tape.  Realistic Water (and similar) have a way of finding the smallest holes to seep through (again, don't ask how I know!).

 

 

 

I use the pizza box method.  I put a pizza box beneath the edge of the layout to catch any spills.

 

Same here.

Alton Junction

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Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 11:26 AM

I'll stress upfront that I haven't tried it, but I know some folks have put a layer of caulk along the edge of the water area. The caulk dries clear, and is pliable enough you can cut it down with a sharp hobby knife if the pour ends ends up being lower than the caulk layer.

Stix
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Posted by kasskaboose on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 3:54 PM

I need to try either the pizza box or use a layer of chalk. 

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, May 30, 2024 10:52 AM

wjstix

I'll stress upfront that I haven't tried it, but I know some folks have put a layer of caulk along the edge of the water area. The caulk dries clear, and is pliable enough you can cut it down with a sharp hobby knife if the pour ends ends up being lower than the caulk layer. 

Agree.  I use the Magic Water product (and like it) but it is very liquidity and needs to be dammed up or it will all run out -- so just catching the drips in a box or bucket would not do.  I used an adhesive caulk product that comes out white but dries clear.  The dam itself was a piece of styrene so when the Magic Water finally set, I had a very flat and clear end to the water and as noted you can scrape away the caulk itself if you want to.  I might add that I also "scenicked" the river bed with seaweek, rocks, sunken logs and a few tiny bits of aluminum foil to look like a small school of fish.

Dave Nelson

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Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, May 30, 2024 7:36 PM

Daming up makes sense for Envirotex also.  It's a two-part product with a hardener and resin you mix.  I found puring it from the back to front also prevents it from getting on the floors.  The stuff spreads out shockingly far.

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