the Future of water

Ive been a freelance modelmaker for 22 years and a modelmaker for around 50. If you would like help or advice in diorama construction drop me a line via this site and I will see what I can suggest to help. I live in England so some of the products available here may well be known under a different product name in the US but most problems are solvable, as I always say miracles are acheivable ,the impossible might take 24 hours or so

Hi Mahoney, Thanks for the input Mod podge is obviously some form of clear adhesive or varnish as `decupage ` is the method of overlaying several images, all exactly the same, to give a three dimensional effect to pictures etc . The use of decupage is quite a useful technique when building up the back of a diorama to give a low relief 3D effect.

thanks to all for the input. I've held off on this project for now so I can finish some of the other million things on my bench.
To garyallum, I've heard of this stuff for a while now and there was an article in the last FSM where it was used for water. From what I know it's some junk they use in decupage (whatever that is) and it can be found in craft supply stores.

hi mahoney, for` water` i have used various various things in the past, but my current method is :-
a, clear epoxy resins (2part glue) for deep water
b, Humbrol Clearfix for shallow water
c, clear varnish (either on its own or on top of the other two) for puddles etc.
With epoxy resin wave forms can be built. Clearfix tends to dry with a `crackle` finish ideal for small scale ships . As to the varnish I use accrylic for a high gloss wet look or enamel like humbrol for a browner stagnant look.
PLEASE put me out of my misery what on earth is Mod-Podge? Never heard of it on this side of the Atlantic.

you dont really have to tint the future for coloring, though I suppose that would work. If you use the foil to shape the waves, then paint it the color you want. Apply future over top of that for that glossy wet look and you have water.

I think the idea of the tin foil on the base, covered with coloured Future would work. Use food colouring to tint the Future? I don't know for sure, but I think I read that somewhere! Never tried a water diorama...........yet!!!
Good luck!

Hi- We have Mod Podge at the local Wal-Mart here in Ohio (don't know if they have one around where you're at) so you could probably find it at any store like that. I'm trying to locate some Envirotex myself. Seems to make great looking water. That's all.

Chad

I've started with the Future experiment and so far so good. As stated above it's still water so that makes it a little easier. I started with an aluminum foil over wood base and lightly coated that with 3 shades of blue light to dark from one corner to the next. I covered lightly to allow some reflection come through. Next I started pouring thin layers of future letting each layer set for a day. on my first layer I dumped in some sand and rocks and stuff for the beach and some plants made from painted scotch tape. I'm on the third layer now and about 1/4" deep. I plan on painting some streaks of paint on this cured layer to add depth then I'll keep adding layers till I get about 1/2" deep overall. I also made a cutout of the Goose I've been pouring around so she'll sit partially submerged and blah blah blah blah. Sorry I started rambling. I'll snap step by steps and post them later to make it more clear.... anyhow slowly but surely so far so good.....

thanks folks,

mahoney

You could also try Woodland scenics realistic water.

Mahoney,
Future works just fine for water in small areas like smallish puddles, buckets or barrels - but it seems to be too thin to work for larger bodies of water - there's just no real way I've been able figure out to "sculpt" the stuff to create ripples or waves - unless you try to apply countless carefully placed ripples over each other to build them up.
Another difficulty I've faced is getting any real depth without applying multiple coats.....The Mod podge sounds like a better idea - I know, it's hard to find - but try one of the many mail order places that have links (on the left side of this page). I've often found that there are far better ranges of scratchbuilding supplies in model shops dedicated to railroad layouts.

I have read that Future can be used for shallow water and puddles. I havent tried it myself though.

Hmmm... good question Mahoney!

"Calling Mr. "Future" himself; SWANNY!!!! Oh Swanny???"


Take care,
Frank