And they don't make me feel fine!
For a rippled water effect I made several attempts at appling Liquitex gloss medium onto the surface of cured Envirotex. Tried a few different brushes and stippling techniques, but can't keep the tiny bubbles out.
Any tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks and regards, Peter
That sounds pretty normal for Liquitex gloss medium. It's a major reason I stopped using that product and switched to Mod Podge gloss. Mod Podge seems far less susceptible to bubbles forming.
Rob Spangler
Just a couple of questions:
Raise the temperature to 68-70° at least 12 hours before your pour, or warm the gloss medium before pouring. I always use plaster of paris for the river/stream bed. Let it cure for a good 48 hours before adding your goldd medium. Make sure you seal the seams along the banks, as well. Clear silicon caulk works well for this and make sure it is completely cured. And, like Rob, I only use ModPodge for my water effects. And, make several thin pours, as this will aid in letting the air bubbles make their way to the surface.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I appreciate the replies.
I'm working with some 3"x3" hardboard (masonite) test pieces, smooth side up. Bottom is 1 coat white latex primer and 1 color coat latex paint. My breath was enough to release the bubbles from the Epoxy that was poured 1/8" deep at around 65 degrees.
Epoxy cured for 5 days into a hard surface before I attempted the ripple effects by brushing on the gloss medium. I did get less bubbling when slowing down the stippling action, so I'm guessing that the epoxy is not the source of the gloss medium bubbles.
Glad I'm doing test pieces as the popped and foamy bubbles when dry certainly ruins the water effect.
Sounds like ModPodge is worth a try.
What works for getting the bubbles out of epoxy, which I use as the first two pours, at least, is to run the outflow from a hair dryer over the surface. Lately, after viewing a tip, I have resorted to blowing through a soda straw, one of the wider ones intended for shakes and smoothies. It's worth a try on your product.
selector bubbles out of epoxy
I apologize if my posts are not clear, no pun intended. I got all the bubbles out of the epoxy by blowing on it a few minutes after the pour.
The bubbles I'm having trouble with are the ones that appear during the application of the gloss medium over the cured epoxy. I tried blowing on them too, but that doesn't work. The larger ones can be pricked with a pin, but over a big area there would be hundreds of bubbles and I think the medium would set too fast to get them all pricked, nor would I fancy trying to pop that many. The smaller bubbles gather into a foam that ends being translucent instead of clear when dry.
Are you trying to use gloss medium for ripples? I use it for water and it works very well. Let it stand for about 5 minutes between shaking and pouring, let it cure for about 30 minutes, then blow. Bubbles will be gone, except for a couple of stubborn ones that can be popped with a toothpick.
However, for ripples, the product you want to be using is gloss GEL, not medium. It's like a paste, and does not create bubbles. It stays where you put it, in ripples, waves, or whatever.
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CTValleyRRAre you trying to use gloss medium for ripples?
Yes, for gentle ripples. I did try blowing on the surface of the medium, but just a few minutes after application.
I was under the impression that the gloss medium works well for the gentle ripples and the gel is for rough water, waves and boat wakes.
HO-VeloI was under the impression that the gloss medium works well for the gentle ripples and the gel is for rough water, waves and boat wakes.
That's the general idea. Acrylic gel medium is a paste that can create thick stuff like ocean waves and rapids. It's a lot like acrylic caulk to work with. It doesn't work as well for ripples that should have smoother contours.
I first used gloss medium some 30 years ago, and I swear it was different then, before the current range of acrylic products was available. Today Liquitex seems to be the most readily available brand in stores near me. It's thinner than the stuff I tried out way back when, and not only does the act of stippling it in place for wave contours induce bubbles no matter what I try to do, the waves tend to level out as they dry. Gloss Mod Podge produces few bubbles, while also going on thicker so it can create somewhat bigger waves that retain their shape.
I've used the above photo several times on different threads. This water surface is Mod Podge. It went on almost free of bubbles.
Rob,
That is one nice piece of water. That's the ripple effect I'm after. BTW, what colors did you use to paint the bottom? And is that more than one application of Modpodge?
I still have one of Dave Frary's how-to scenery books from the early 90s and in there he advocates the use of gloss medium for rippled water effects.
I happened upon one of Dave's more recent how-to videos on the web and there he's using several coats of Modpodge for a harbor. His water looks a little rougher than I want, so I'm guessing that the more coats the rougher the water?
At the end of the video Dave suggests applying a couple sealer coats of water based gloss polyurathane to the finished Modpodge to give the "water" a hard easy to clean surface.
Again, that's a nice piece of water. Your timber retaining walls, gravel and talus look really good, the modeling and the way the scene is presented is fantastic.
HO-Velo...what colors did you use to paint the bottom?
It's a mixture of acrylic black, cadmium yellow deep hue, and some generic tan craft paint. More black toward the middle, more tan toward the edge.
And is that more than one application of Modpodge? I still have one of Dave Frary's how-to scenery books from the early 90s and in there he advocates the use of gloss medium for rippled water effects. I happened upon one of Dave's more recent how-to videos on the web and there he's using several coats of Modpodge for a harbor. His water looks a little rougher than I want, so I'm guessing that the more coats the rougher the water?
I normally use one coat. I've never seen a need for multiple coats. Sometimes I've seem extra coats add more texture, while others have appeared to fill in some.
Again, I've never done that. The Mod Podge seems to be very easy to clean.
Tried the Modpodge and much less bubbling than the gloss medium. Hopefully I can refine my brush application technique for even less bubbles. The Modpodge cured to a gently undulating surface and the same clarity and firmness as the gloss medium.
Both the cured gloss medium and the Modpodge are susceptible to scratching. Might be worth trying a coat or two of the water based polyurathane over the cured Modpodge as Dave Frary suggests to give the surface some scratch resistance.
I used envirotex light and Woodland scenic Water effects. >> No bubbles and great effects. Try it you'll like it.. Hard and no scratches either.
Johnboy out...........................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I get it now. I was confused on what you were looking to do. Mod Podge is definitely a better choice than gloss medium, although I can do gentle ripples with the gel medium, too. WS Water effects is gloss gel, at a price premium.
And all I can say is you guys are hard on your layouts if you get scratches in your water. Plaster scratches too, but I don't have any problems with mine.
I have always taken Mod Podge and gloss medium to be one and the same.
selectorI have always taken Mod Podge and gloss medium to be one and the same.
Use the two products side by side and it will quickly become obvious they aren't the same. They're both water based and dry clear. Beyond that they have some significant differences.
The Modpodge has worked the best for me so far. Planning on giving the Woodland Scenics Water Effects a try.
Tried Liquitex gloss gel medium, thick and stiff, would surely work well for waves and wakes. Has a long working time. I played with it a bit and can see where with the right skill and technique it could be formed into more gentle undulations, but seems doing so would be tedious with a large expanse of water and in difficult to reach locations.
Also, there is a difference in viscosity, amount of bubbles and working time between the Modpodge and Liquitex gloss medium.
I like the idea of having some scratch resistance and considering the harbor will be located at the front of my layout and on a corner. As a garage layout it also sees a fair bit of traffic, and I'm thinking a hard surface may attract less dust.
Again, thanks to all for your time and valuable input, regards, Peter