After seeing what in2tech did with the JTT Still Water I ordered 5 packages from Hobby Lobby (thanks @in2tech). They are supposed to arrive on Tuesday, March 4. In anticipation of the water panels I cut a piece of black construction paper for the river bottom. I find it amazing that just the black paper makes the river look so much better. I can't wait to fit the Still Water panels and see how it looks but I'll have to be patient.
Nice, can't wait to see how it works out with the JTT Still Water, it already looks great with the Black paper Are you gonna try some different color paper when you get it? Just wondering, black is the best for me. You have canoe peeps or boats, etc... I thought everyone had the WS canoe peeps Did you get some more grass mat too from some where?
Thanks in2tech, after seeing your photos I’m going with black. I think very dark green or blue would look good but I have the black already. My local Michael’s is out of stock but I’m going to a train show tomorrow morning and will stop at another Michael’s on the way home that has the mats in stock. I used to have the canoe folks but I either sold or gave them to a friend before moving to Florida in 2016. I wish I’d kept all my N scale peeps but sadly didn’t. I would like canoes and/or boats on the river.
Me too. Think both you and @in2tech are on track with the sheets and black-dark color paper underneath. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see outcome too!
The Still Water panels arrived today, a day early. I hope to be able to work with them later this week.
I am also looking forward to how this turns out. I hadn't heard of the stillwater sheets until now so went to Hobby Lobby and picked some up to try on my Cortina layout.
I cut the water panels to fit in the river. The only way to keep them from moving is to glue them down. I used Elmer’s white glue on a couple of panels as a test. Glue should dry clear but we’ll see. When I started working on the river I planned on using Mod Podge for water. I didn’t know these water panels were made anymore. If I knew about these panels I would lay out the panels and then install the banks of the river so the panels wouldn’t need to be cut and shaped. It would make a much better water surface. Doing it the way I did is the hard way and requires cutting and fitting a few small pieces. We’ll see how my cutting, fitting and gluing works out. Photos in a day or two.
These are the 2 panels I glued down. I applied white glue along the edges of both panels. It was thicker in some areas and thinner in others. I think the darker spots are where the glue was thicker and needs time to dry. Time will tell. I’ll keep you updated.
Looking good, when the glue dries can you take a farther picture like normal viewing showing the entire river, lake, etc...? I really like that a few of us are using or will use the JTT Still Water for our layouts and can learn from each other. Curious if you are going to add boats, peeps fishing, etc... in the future?
I will eventually add a few boats. When I get a little further along I’ll start looking for N scale boats.
River update: After a couple days the plastic sheets that I glued down looked exactly the same as the picture above. I gently pried it up to see if the glue was still wet but it was completely dry. I said I used black construction paper but that’s wrong. It’s a thin cardboard sheet I got at the dollar store. The white glue on the cardboard caused the spots in the photo. When I pried up the plastic it took some of the black cardboard up. Apparently the white glue doesn’t play well with the cardboard. I could try using Aileen’s or Mod Podge but I decided to go a different route. I picked up the cardboard and saved it for future projects. I spackled a seam in the riverbed. I’ll sand it smooth tomorrow and then paint it dark blue. I think I have dark blue acrylic craft paint, if not I’ll buy a small bottle at Walmart or Michael’s. I know the white glue won’t affect the paint so I should be golden. There’s nothing to show right now, just the pink foam riverbed with some spackle smeared on. When I get it sanded and painted I’ll post a photo. I plan to let the paint cure a couple of days before I glue the panels to it.
I bought these Glue Dot at Michaels years ago. There are a bunch in a package and they sell different sizes. I am going to try a test with them on a piece of my JTT Still Water and see how it works. It should work as they are clear also, we will see It also what I use for my Peeps so I can move them around. You can see the glue dots really close on the peeps, but not from normal viewing. You can see these are 3/16, not sure if you can buy smaller? I also cut the excess plastic for my peeps Now, will it tear the paper if you pull them up? Time for a test, I only have copy paper white. Have no idea if this will work?
Thanks in2tech. I think the Glue Dots will solve the problem. That’s a big plus for me. I avoid buying things from China as if I have a choice.
I use these dots for all kinds of stuff. Sometimes if I am putting together a square building, I'll add a few for a mock up, think I used them when I first put down my grass mat ( which I took up over time ), and just bought some new grass mat to try again after looking at your grass mat. Be sure and test them on something, they are very strong, or can be. But work great on all kinds of projects. If you have extra JTT Still Water I would test it first. I would only use one or two for a test. Might have to remove the Still Water with a putty knife or something. The Still Water is very brittle. Good luck. After all this testing and stuff, we might have to write a book about Still Water Maybe a .10 cent E-Book Still have to test my tiny pond idea. Glue Dots will be used
Thanks for the info, @in2tech. My local Michael’s has them in stock. I’ll pick up a package in the next day or so.
Good, get the 3/16" sheets IF you can. Even they are very strong. Larger might be a problem, but maybe not? I really like the sheets. Hope they work for you.
