Woodland Scenics Realistic Water turned milky...

[Dave Vollmer]

I poured a river about 2 weeks ago using Woodland Scenics' Realistic Water.  I used it on my last layout with good results.  Anyway, this time around I followed the directions, pouring three 1/8" layers, 24-36 hours' drying time between layers.  It was still a little cloudy yesterday in spots but mostly clear and great-looking.  Well, this morning I checked the layout and it looked like a river of milk.  I did no work in that area since I poured the river, so it's not like glues or solvents got to it.  The only thing I can think is that the layout is in the garage while I work on it (it'll come in to the house when finished) and it's been very hot and humid lately.  Could that be the trouble?  Does the milkiness eventually subside?  Or, could there have been some residual moisture in one of the lower layers that maybe got absorbed into the top layer and turned it cloudy (in which case I assume it will eventually clear up)?

Any thoughs, advice, or similar experience would be of help!  Thanks.

[Chuck Geiger]

Dave:

Email them through their website. Ask them the question, they are usually good at responses.

 

[twhite]

Dave--sounds to me as if you did everything right.  My layout is in the garage, and I've had no problem with 'milk' in my Realistic Water.  You said, though, that your garage is humid.  I wonder if that might have had something to do with it?  Humidity will delay drying quite a bit.  I wonder if putting a heat-lamp over it for a little while might clear it up? 

Tom

[mikesmowers]

I can answer this question by experence. A few months ago I did as you and poured a river and it turned very milky, I posted a thread about it and was told that over time in would clear up, and sure enough in about a month in cleared up and was very clear. This week I poured a inground swimming pool with no probloms and I put some more WS realistic water in the river to make it wider and deeper and it was dry on top in a couple of hours, but it is again very milky.  Simply sit back and waite, It will clear up.     Mike

[beegle55]

It will most likely clear up. It was probably caused by humidity or maybe some condensation during drying, but everything hopefully will turnout ok. Good luck

[Dave Vollmer]

Yeah, I'm an idiot!  Now I remember that thread from June about the same subject; I even replied to it!

I e-mailed WS; hopefully I'll get a reply.  Anyway, thanks to you who did reply.

My strategy:  If and when it DOES clear up, I plan to seal the surface with a coat of acrylic gloss medium varnish to prevent any further exchange of moisture between the WS stuff and the air.  If this is going to happen every time it gets humid, I'm in trouble; this is North Carolina!

[AntonioFP45]

In the paint industry we call this "blushing".   Basically a chemical reaction occuring after moisture has been absorbed in lacquer paint.   High humidity is definetly a factor.  With paint, if it wasn't too deep we could wetsand and buff it out but if it was still present after buffing..it was time to reshoot it. 

I'm only speculating but apparently the realistic water chemical you're using is acrylic and/or polyester based and allows the absorbed moisture to mix and cure within the mixture or the trapped moisture evaporates with the solvent as it cures and hardens over its set time.    

Good that you posted this as I have a friend who wants to put a river on his layout.  He'll appreciate this thread.

Thanks!

[howmus]

I have not had this problem with the WS Realistic Water, but have with the WS Water Effects product.  I had too put it on quite thick to get a waterfall to stay in place.  I never thought it was going to clear up and thought that I would have to rip it out and start over.  After about 3 months, it finally did become clear and has stayed that way.  I have used Water Effects to make ripples on ponds and other waterfalls with no problems.  It dried clear overnight.  Probably the base coats were not comepletely cured before the final layer ws added.  Give it time, and I think it will clear.  Being in a humid space probably didn't help either.

[Dave Vollmer]

Just an update...

I moved the layout indoors finally, and after a few days the river turned completely clear.  It was obviously the high humidity that was responsible for the milky appearance earlier.  I'm going to use either Water Effects (since I still have nearly a full bottle) or acrylic gloss medium to add texture and seal the surface.

Thanks to all who offered suggestions while the 2% Lowfat Branch of the Juniata River ran milky white.

[ShadowNix]

Hey Dave,

Great post... I poured 3 layers and the last turned milky...it is clearing up now, about 8 wks after pouring!  Just shows, never be in a rush in model railroading!  Hehehhe.  Good luck.

Brian

P.S. The water effects can take awhile to get clear too, based on how thick it is (e.g. waterfalls). 

[alfadawg01]

Ya know, if the cloudiness had not gone away you could've taken that tank car kit you screwed up, made a derailment scene with it and pretended it was leaking into the water.  Two accomplishments here: a.) explains the wierd water appearance, and b.) adds a slow order to your operations to lengthen the run on your railroad.  Now you have to model dead fish and ducks.  Just a thought.....