Best "water"

I use magic water, a 2-part clear resin. Still learning how to do effects with it though.

My modeler named "Art Instructor" has always used clear resin to simulate water and wake. These are some of his water works:

 

 

 

  

  

Some REALLY awsome information in here! Thanks all!

AJ,Great article and great work..thank you for sharing. I like the look of the envirotex, will probally be my choice. It will be awhile before the pour, will keep you all up to date.

Here's an article I did for Armorama on one of the bases you see above. You'll note the differently colored stream bed. I have to correct myself, it's Envirotex, not Liquitex, I use.

Stern0 wrote:

Roger that, getting ready to head to the hobby store soon...will take a gander. Wish i had a hobby lobby close..its either Hobby Town, michales(if your familar) or the mom and pop model shop (lightship), I get my vaseline ready when I go there. Thanks for the tip on heavy rounds too...was wondering about grenades!

Michael's should carry it...

very nice...very real! I'll be real lucky to get it that good. Fantastic job!

I used polyester resin and pigments in several layers for this water. I blew air over it with a fan as it dried to create the ripples.

 

 

Roger that, getting ready to head to the hobby store soon...will take a gander. Wish i had a hobby lobby close..its either Hobby Town, michales(if your familar) or the mom and pop model shop (lightship), I get my vaseline ready when I go there. Thanks for the tip on heavy rounds too...was wondering about grenades!

Is the Envirotex avalible at the hardware store?

Doubtful... I get it at Hobby Lobby.. It's not in the model rr or model kit sections, but the crafts area of the store... Dunno if you have one or not... But it should be at any well-stocked arts & Crafts store...

We had discussed the bullet splashes once before and it was taken to heart (it's what got me interested in your "paddy dio) Thank you for reiterating it.

Be advised that that technique is for small-arms only, rifles/pistols... Heavies like a .50 cal or 12.7 mm would call for a different technique since they'll "foam" the water a bit..

Good stuff Col. Yes, i had planned to have the bed painted with my rocks and possible tree limbs and weeds. I figure the bottom should be a brownish color with darker patches to simulate depth. We had discussed the bullet splashes once before and it was taken to heart (it's what got me interested in your "paddy dio) Thank you for reiterating it. I will not rely on my memory to create the effects, its not what it used to be, in fact acording to my wife its nonexistant! Is the Envirotex avalible at the hardware store?

For shallow streams and such where the bottom is visible, Envirotex is my choice... 

Whatever product you chose, you're going to have to have the stream bed ready for the pour... 

Bullet splashes are fairly easy to do... My technique is to wait until I pour the last 1/8th inch of water, then start working the resin with the tip of a pen cap (the rounded points of those cheap Bic pens are pretty good tools), until you have a three or four concentric ripples.  Then grab some clear sprue and start stretching it.  Cut and insert it into a hole drilled in the center of the rings and then cut it again about a half-inch off the surface.  Using a lighter, match, or soldering iron, slowly move the heat towards the tip of the sprue and let it "ball" up the end of the piece...

Do the same thing with the pen cap around the rocks, but instead of circles, make the ripples elongated and close together on the upstream side with a little more space and pull down stream...  Add "white-water" with titanium white judiciously around the rock... (Don't try it from memory.  Have some photos to look at while you do it... ) Gotta work fast though, the resin sets up fairly quickly...

Thank you for your reply. What a Awsome diorama, the water effects are nice. I've done my homework on the different products and they have similar results. Have heard bad things about the ez water...having to melt it down, burning ect ect. I do like the already a liquid aspect, such as the product you recomended. Been leaning toward the fake flower water stuff, but scared of to quick a drying time. I feel i'll need plenty of time to play with it. will check out the woodland scenics products though. thanks again! lots of help.

There are several products for water. I like Liqutex two part epoxy for depth. For splashes and small waves, I've used Woodland Scenics "Water Effects," which is basically a very thick white glue. by infusing this with bits of cotton from a cotton ball, I've produced waterfall and rapid water effects.