Scenic water that is safe near a furnace

For a stream, mod-podge over paint can produce excellent results and is certainly safe. Use several coats.  For larger expanses of water, it can also be used to paint wave patterns on top of plate glass that has been spray-painted on the bottom. This is similar to the "wavy shower door glass" method, but has the advantage of allowing custom wave patterns.

Arnold, I may have mentioned water when you showed me the possible area opposite the ball stadium. There is this very cool positive guy who I like very much. His Marklin of Sweden videos are all very useful and fun. One of them is about modeling water.  One can use the method for pond or lakes as well as ocean water. In the area in question on your layout you could make a removable thin platform plot of sorts so that you could work on it in the comfort of your desk or work space little at a time, afterwhich you could just place it in the space alotted.  I am going to do this in my O scale waterfront if ever I have the free time to re engage the former layout.  Bucket listing this. It's not for everyone, but it sure is creative.  Link to follow. Need to use my More modern I Pad to send it.

Leroof

Arnold, here's the modeling water  link.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2TwpB7sVMn8

Pic 1... 10 layers of Modge Podge.  Can get at Michaels.

Pic 2... Rust-Oleum Parks 2 part epoxy.  Just mix and pour.  Can get from Home Depot.

Today I went to a local A C Moore Art Supply Store, bought Mod Podge and several acrylic paint colors, and took a stab at creating a couple of streams on my layout. Had a good time doing it.

Mod Podge was safe and pleasant to work with.

When I'm done, I will post photos.

Thanks for all your good advice.

Arnold

This is my latest of several attempts during the last 3 days to make scenic water using acrylic paints and Mod Podge.

Photos immediately below are of a shallow stream in the middle of my layout in basement playroom. After paint dried, I applied 2 coats of Mod Podge, first a thin coat brushed on, and then a thick coat dappled on:

I like the fisherman, but need better fish than the paper whoppers shown above. LOL

Next photos are of the deeper stream in the basement laundery room with boats:

The photos of the above deeper stream with boats was made by using acrylic paints on blue paper, and after paint dried, similarly applying a thin coat, and then a thick coat, of Mod Podge

I am very interested in your honest feedback. I welcome constructive criticism because I believe it helps us improve.

I know that the more realistic approach is to paint the stream basin different shades of brown, showing the muddy bottom. Although blue is not as realistic, I like it because I think its prettier, and there are blue streams in the real world that reflect the blue sky.

Getting the blue color to look good is tricky IMO.

I like the shallow stream in the playroom more than the deeper stream in the laundery room.

I had a lot of fun doing this project. 

What do you think of the above streams?

Arnold

Nice Work!!!

I think your use of the Mod Podge is first rate.

If you REALLY wanted a super-realistic deep stream, you should do your painting on the bottom surface of a piece of plate glass, with the Mod Podge painted on the top.  HOWEVER, your layout is one of those that successfully blends "Lionel accessory fantasy" with realistic scenery. This is my favorite 3-rail motif, and I think that your current approach to modeling water works very well with it.

Your are right, though: Those fish have go to go.   

Arnold,

Looks good.

MELGAR

Avanti posted:

I think your use of the Mod Podge is first rate.

If you REALLY wanted a super-realistic deep stream, you should do your painting on the bottom surface of a piece of plate glass, with the Mod Podge painted on the top.  HOWEVER, your layout is one of those that successfully blends "Lionel accessory fantasy" with realistic scenery. This is my favorite 3-rail motif, and I think that your current approach to modeling water works very well with it.

Your are right, though: Those fish have go to go.   

Thanks Pete. I will be looking for first rate O Scale fish at the Big E in 2 weeks.  Arnold

Thanks for the feedback so far. I regard scenery as a form of art. We can all do it even without natural art talent.

Like most model train scenery, one can do it over and over again until one is happy with it. After the first couple of stabs at applying paint and Mod Podge, I decided I didn't like the color (initially turquoise which is very pretty but utterly unrealistic unless one is modeling water in the Carribean or Hawaii), so I painted over the dried Mod Podge. I've redone it like that 3 times already.

The color of the deeper stream is a little too dark and blue so I will redo it again. I want to make it lighter (especially along the edges) and grayer while retaining some blue. Also, the waves on the left side are too big (they are wrinkles in the blue paper). After I buy scenery materials at the Big E in 2 weeks, I will smooth out the waves so they are ripples by using a putty like substance that Melgar showed me yesterday. And I will re repaint and re-Mod Podge that stream again.

Arnold

Did you see the latest issue of OGR magazine? Our own Melgar's layout with it's beautiful scenery and structures is on the front cover, and his great article and photos are in the magazine!

Arnold I like it. I like it because... your layout is unique to you & shows a lot of imagination & creativity & just good old fun. I appreciate this more than the "look what I've bought and placed on the layout" approach to the hobby. JEEZ , you did ask for opinions. 

                      Thumbs UP    JACKIEJR

Hi Arnold,

Thanks for letting me know where I could see this wonderful new Water Feature development on your layout.  I like that you show the planned area and then the realization of it.  I have a little bit of a falls and a swampy area, but you have inspired me to got to the next level and add a more robust and obvious water feature.  It really looks fantastic and adds a whole other level of interest and fun to the layout.  I hope I can realize it as well as you have.

Shiver me timbers and Land Ho!

Mike

Nice water addition Arnold. Great improvements. 

leroof

Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' ti--me:

Notice the gauge that measures the amount of oil in my oil tank for my home doubles as an O Scale gasoline pump of sorts for O Scale boats on the dock. LOL, Arnold

Here is the scenic water there:

My wife's passion is acting (she was a drama major in college and currently takes acting lessons), so the red playhouse is for her.

Arnold

The oil gauge is pure high octane  genius.

Nicely done!

Mike

Arnold, your modgepodge water really looks fantastic!

i am seriously thinking of adding a waterway to flow  then  elevate  some bridges  thanks to your well portrayed results. Thanks, Leroof.

I think it turned out great! Nick

Thanks, everyone for your feedback. Mod Podge was a pleasure to work with. The most challenging thing for me was deciding what color to make the bottom of the streams.

The most realistic color to make the body of water is brown, especially if you are modeling the Northeast. Take a ride on a real train nearby and notice the color of the water near the tracks. Medgar and I did that recently and noticed that the water along the New Haven line in CT was various shades of brown, usually dark brown.

Brown ponds and streams looks great on Melgar's beautiful realistic layout, but not mine. I prefer blue, which I could get away with because my layout, with Postwar tubular track and switches and numerous Postwar accessories, is more whimsical and toylike, while still having some degree of hi-rail realism. I took me several attempts at applying various shades of blue, and I ended up with a blue-gray combination by mixing blue, black and white acrylic paints. 

After I get some scenery materials at the upcoming Big E show in Springfield, Mass., I will take another stab st the color of the big stream in the laundery room. I want it to be blue-grey and lighter than it currently is.

Arnold

Hi Arnold,

Have fun at the show.  I think it is great that your are going.  I just looked up the show and I see that they have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various train and other worthy causes.

If you see a Ronald Reagan Lionel Presidential  boxcar, could you please buy it at any cost for me and I will reimburse you and some extra for your trouble.

Wish I could go!

Thanks,

Mike

Crocodile Train Store posted:

Hi Arnold,

Have fun at the show.  I think it is great that your are going.  I just looked up the show and I see that they have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various train and other worthy causes.

If you see a Ronald Reagan Lionel Presidential  boxcar, could you please buy it at any cost for me and I will reimburse you and some extra for your trouble.

Wish I could go!

Thanks,

Mike

 

 

 

Will do, Mike. I will let you know if I can find it at the Big E show. If you cover the cost plus shipping, that's fine. Arnold

Thanks very much - Happy hunting!

During this holiday weekend, I have redone some of the water scenes in my layout.

Here is the finished product:

First, I changed the color a little, then applied several thick coats of Mod Podge to create the water effect. I find Mod Podge to be a very good and pleasant product to  work with.

Would appreciate your feedback regarding the above.

Arnold

The scene and the water look terrific, Arnold.

MELGAR