Model Railroading > Magic Water by Unreal Details - is it any good?

I'm trying to decide what to use for a water scene. I won't use Woodland Scenics products again. It never got hard, stays somewhat rubbery, and collect dust like a magnet, which makes it hard to clean. Envirotex might be an option, but I like the claim that Magic Water can be poured to full depth in one application.

Can anyone describe their experience with Magic Water?

Thanks!!

We've used Magic Water successfully on several projects. Easy to mix and pour, very slow drying (about 24 hrs to set up, several days for full cure). Maybe you can do just one pour, but what's the rush? We make several, about three, for example. The first is usually tinted somewhat green or brownish to be the murky deep water. The second is just slightly tinted. The top layer is left clear.

For tint we use solvent-based paint like old-style Floquil. Experiment on a small amount of mixed Magic Water before you blend too much at once.

Submerged logs, plants and other details glued to the bottom of the water feature add interest to the feature, and can still be seen through the poured water layers.

The material dries very smooth, far to smooth for most model applications, since water is very seldom that completely flat.

We top the water with Woodland Scenics "Water Effects" #C1212. It goes on white and thick, like thick carpenter's glue, dries clear. We add a small amount to the cured water surface, swirl it around with a brush to create waves and ripples, then let it dry. You can see down through the ripples, which naturally obscure the details below, and the progressively more-tinted layers add a sense of depth.

Experiment, practice, and enjoy the results!

Jeff Johnston
www.trainvideosandparts.com

How about some photos Jeff?

I've used it and I have NO complaints! I did mine in one pour, and my depth was around 1/2 inch. I didn't glue down my bottom debris, and had no issues. I simply painted my bottom several shades of brown (to help give the illusion of depth), poured, and left it alone for a few days. Additionally, I added a couple of drops of Polyscale paint to help tint the water - no issues with that. A drop or two is all it took, and gave a nice "stained" water tinge to my pond.

Just like with Envirotex, if you get bubbles on the surface, you can gently blow on them and they will pop. The ONLY word of warning I will give is that if you have any cracks in your pond area, Magic Water WILL find them, and work down towards the floor - someone had given me that piece of advice, and it was very true.

-Eric

swsf Wrote:
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> I'm trying to decide what to use for a water
> scene. I won't use Woodland Scenics products
> again. It never got hard, stays somewhat rubbery,
>

You may need to purchase the optional Woodland Scenics Viagra...sorry couldn't resist!

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,1660994,1662502#msg-1662502

Here is a sample for making a pond with Magic Water. It worked fine for me. Just a little slow.

I can't post a finishd photo just now I have computer issues that won't be fixed until Monday.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/10 19:36 by santafedan.

Man, Dan, you still haven't go away from that broken ceiling tile for rocks have you? <G>

Hey! That is what they were made for!

In Dan's last photos am I seeing a lot of what looks like creep along the pond's banks? is it the Magic Water that wicks up the sides, or is that something else I'm seeing?

One thing I liked about the Magic Water was that there was virtually no creep... Good point, though, and one I failed to think about when comparing to EnviroTex (I haven't used that, though).

-Eric

That is Magic Water. There has never been a real pond, stream, or river where there is no moisture up the sides. I have looked and looked. Someone show me a photo without a moisture line away from the exact edge of the running or still water. I have both a river and a lake very near my house.

santafedan Wrote:
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> That is Magic Water. There has never been a real
> pond, stream, or river where there is no moisture
> up the sides. I have looked and looked. Someone
> show me a photo without a moisture line away from
> the exact edge of the running or still water. I
> have both a river and a lake very near my house.

No creep on these photos. The first is the McCloud River, and the second is Shasta Lake, both in the Mt. Shasta area in Northern California. I sometimes see a slight dampness on shorelines, usually resulting in a darker band of dirt, but not shiny, reflective areas. The closest I have ever seen such reflectiveness is on a shore with breaking waves, and even that is fleeting.

Dan, if you would please advise as to whether the wetness on the banks are creep from Magic Water, or a scenic detail you added for affect, I'd be appreciative. Thanks!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/10 09:15 by swsf.

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I think we are talking two different things. There is moist dirt and stuff up several inches and in damp weather even higher up the shore/bank. Magic Water and EnviroTex both have creep. Here is the finished pond on the Christmes train display. I did not try and hide the creep/dampness in the scene. Even though I did not make waves I wanted it to look as if the kids had disturbed the pond. Photo 1 shows this best I think by reflections of the lighting.
It is the shiny look of the creep that bothers most folks. Brushed on mat medium should take care of that problem. I have now done 7 rivers for other MRs and creep is not a problem in any of them.

The colors are off due to the three kinds of lighting in the bank lobby (daylight, mercury vapor and fluorescent).

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