Best "water" to use on pink foam underlay?

I'm building a small layout for my grandson.........and I want to pour him a small pond. It will be on pink foam, so I don't dare use anything that will "eat" the foam.
(someone recommended a "Rustoleum" product awhile back that looked great, but it is probably solvent based & would destroy the foam......putting the "pond" on the floor, sorely aggravating the builder - lol)
Any recommendations??? Thanks................JJ

 

I have heard of people using Woodland Scenics realistic water. I personally have NOT tried this method. The method I have tried is Envirotex. This is a 2 part epoxy that can be found at some LHS and most craft stores. One thing you want to do before you pour your resin in is make sure the foam is painted with colors like blue, gree, maybe even some mud to represent the colors of the water as it dries clear.

 

This month and last moth in MRH e zine they have a 2 part article on pouring water http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2011-11-nov/up_the_creek
You can download all MRH e zines for free ( Very good on line magazine). I keep forgetting you can read it on line too. The parent company Model train videos has a 2 part scenery DVD set you can order or download that is very well and covers water - I highly recommend these BTW - You can also just order the section on water if you want but these are that good you will want the whole thing
http://model-trains-video.com/MTV-0007.php


ratled

 

So.........I'm assuming you used the "Envirotex" on painted foam with no ill effects?? Thanks......... JJ

 

You will need to seal it with something as any of the water products will go right through the foam since it so porous.

ratled

 

I was more concerned with the product literally "eating" the foam, as any solvent based product will. Need to paint anyway, just curious if that will solve any problems?? ( DON"T want any foul-ups.........this project is "over budget" & behind as it is (LOL)

 

Enviortex WILL NOT eat the styrofoam!

Oh one more thing. Make sure you use acrylic paints too. Enamels will eat the foam as they are solvent based.

 

I spread Sculptamold over the foam to seal leaks and shape the bottom. Then pour two or three layers of WS Realistic Water. That has worked fine for two creeks and one pond.

 

I have been experimenting with many different types of water and how well they worked. Trust me when I say Use Golden Acrylic Gel, the self leveling type. give it time to dry and I put a lamp over it to aid in drying. it comes out awesome! you can find it at your local Michaels or Hobby lobby and it looks like this

 

Thanks guys..............the project continues :mcool:

 

For this project I would use acrylic paint to color the pond bottom and then after the paint dries begin filling the pond with Woodland Scenic's Realistic Water. This is the simplest way to go. Realistic Water will not eat any foam. Jim

 

Pink foam isn't porous. The white "beaded" foam is, but you wouldn't want to use that anyway.

I use Envirotex Lite for my water. (Actually, I'm not sure you can get the original non-Lite version. It had a nasty odor when curing, or so I'm told.) Go to the Michaels or A.C. Moore craft shop web site, and you can print a coupon good for 40% (sometimes 50%) off on one item. Use if for Envirotex Lite, as it's not cheap.

I started my mill pond by gouging out the foam with a knife and a spoon to get underneath it. This makes a mess, and leaves a lumpy surface. I covered the bed of the pond with plaster cloth, another item you can get at the craft shop.



I sealed the plaster cloth with full-strength white glue, rubbed into all the little holes. The foam itself is safe, but there are "caverns" beneath the plaster cloth, so I didn't want to waste that Envirotex filling them up. Then I gave it a skim coat of Gypsolite, a gritty plaster. Next, I painted the pond bed with cheap acrylic craft paints. (Guess where you can buy those.) I added some "talus" rocks and small plaster rock castings.



Envirotex should be poured in thin layers, letting it completely harden (24-48 hours) between pours. I tinted the Envirotex with a drop or two of craft paint. The deeper layers got blue, the shallower ones light green, and the top layer was untinted. This makes the water just a bit "optically thick" and adds to the illusion of depth. Envirotex likes to "creep" up the sides of the pond, so I added field grass and turf around the edges to hide this.



I added a few swans (from Preiser) and I was done. Now, I know you're saying "This guy is an experienced modeler. I could never do something like that." Don't sell yourself short. This is the first time I tried making a pond, or using Envirotex. Take your time, follow the directions and you'll be amazed at how nice it comes out.

 

MrB, that's a very nice job. Thanks for the step-by-step.

 

"Mr. B".............."Thank You"!, That's what I was looking for -- "hands on" experience, always the best. Thank you for taking the trouble to post the pictures, very helpful. JJ

 

Go to your local craft store and pick up a bottle of Mod Podge Gloss Lustre. Goes on white like glue, dries clear with a gloss finish. Won't eat the phone, and very easy to work with.

 

JJ
Don't you already have some if this? or was that the matte?


This stuff is very similar to the Mog Podge.
Water cleanup, no oder, and easy to brush on. Can put on multiple layers with tinting.
While you may not get the depth that Mr. B got with the "pourable" water or Envirotex, you can certainly paint the pond bottom with the cheaper acrylic like he did to give the illusion of depth.

Just my 2ȼ worth

 

I think what we had for the weathering that we split was "matte". I thought of that too. JJ