Model Railroading > Pouring resin to make water look like fast moving river

We are working on a river that gradually drops in elevation from backdrop to fascia, following a length of mainline that is also dropping in elevation. The prototype, the Sacramento River between Cantara Loop and Dunsmuir on the UP in Northern California, is a fast flowing river with boulders in it causing eddies and currents, and small white water sections. We are thinking of using Magic Water or Envirotex. How can we attain the look seen in the photo when using these products?



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/09 11:20 by swsf.

---

Whatever product/tecnique you use, I recommend you experiment before actually doing it on the layout.

That first photo is actually at La Moine down canyon from Dunsmuir where the river is a little wider. Heres what the river looks like between Cantara Loop and Dunsmuir near MP 324.

Robert Morris Photography
http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/index1.html

---

You stipple the medium with a small brush as it is drying to form the rough water and you have to stay after it to keep it that way till it dries and will not try to flatten back out. Then you have to paint the white water. After it dries you have to spray gloss on the white. It is a lot of work. I would suggest you try it OFF the layout till you get the technique down as you like it.

> We are thinking of
> using Magic Water or Envirotex. How can we attain
> the look seen in the photo when using these
> products?

Use those products for the still water under everything. The rough and white water is built up from acrylic gloss gel. See above reply on stippling. Also see above replies on white paint and acrylic gloss medium.

There have been many step by step articles through the years - particularly this century - on creating rough and white water. You might check Model Railroader's web site for reprints.

Use the envirotex etc and wait til it is set. Get clear silicone shower/bathroom caulk, lay beads and runs of it where you want the rapids/rough water/foam and spread it and pull it up into ripples and peaks with a cocktail stick. let it dry, and drybrush the tops of the peaks with white to form waves and foam. That is exactly how the "propwas behind the towboat was done, except that it was added to clear styrene rathger than envirotex



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/09 08:22 by shortliner.

---

---