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Guys,

My layout will have a short bridge (about 12 inches) going over a small pond.  But, I have no idea how to make a pond in scenary, or make the surface look like real water.  I thought about putting a mirror down, with the edges cut in curves, and with some brown paint here and there along  the edges of the mirror.   But, that would be alot of trouble to do, and I don't want to go there if it won't end up looking real.

How to you guys make the surface of ponds look like real water.

Thanks for all suggestions and pics.

Mannyrock

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Depends if you want smooth water or rippling water. For smooth water, I use the two part epoxy EnviroTex available from Michaels.

https://www.michaels.com/envir...inish/M10178984.html

Paint the bottom of your water area going from lighter colors along the edge to darker in the middle to simulate deeper water. Then pour the epoxy according to the instructions. If you want to add some ripples, you can run a heat source over the epoxy as it's curing or add gloss medium to the epoxy after it cures.

2014-02-27 19.24.12



2014-03-21 06.57.57P1150499

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  • 2014-02-27 19.24.12
  • 2014-03-21 06.57.57
  • P1150499
Last edited by NJCJOE
@NJCJOE posted:

Depends if you want smooth water or rippling water. For smooth water, I use the two part epoxy EnviroTex available from Michaels.

https://www.michaels.com/envir...inish/M10178984.html

Paint the bottom of your water area going from lighter colors along the edge to darker in the middle to simulate deeper water. Then pour the epoxy according to the instructions. If you want to add some ripples, you can run a heat source over the epoxy as it's curing or add gloss medium to the epoxy after it cures.





P1150499

Joe, That came out really nice. What a great scene you created.

Here's some suggestions from a real novice with scenery:

  • As noted above, decide whether you want ripples or smooth surface.
  • Either the 2 part EnviroTex or water effects bottles from Woodland Scenics work fine. I've used both.
  • Create a prototype.  I attached photos of a prototype pond kit from Woodland Scenics that I did with my grandson. Was fun and exceeded my expectations.  Also created several test pours using the EnviroTex materials with various pigments to determine the color for a harbor scene.

I attached some photos.  Sorry for reflection from lighting on photo of final pond scene.  Could not seem to avoid that.

Have fun!

Michael

Test pours for harbor scene.

Test pours

Pond prototype from kit.

Prototype from kitF

Final scene.

Final scene

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  • Test pours
  • Prototype from kit
  • Final scene

I hear ya regarding the blue Bill...in our case we're modeling our water like Biscayne Bay...on a nice clear sunny day it's pretty blue/blue-gray with some blue-green spots...we went back and forth from our balcony looking at the color while painting...still needs to be a bit more gray I think...but that's what mock ups are for.  Nice to see someone else doing the toilet paper method...we kinda liking the results...and it's fun! 😁

For larger waves, I've used ordinary clear caulk. Make sure it's paintable.  Put down a 1/4 inch bead, smooth one side into the "water" surface then after a 15-20 minute wait time,  lightly push or roll the top over to make the crest. Paint the lower portion of the waves the color of your water, leaving the crest alone. Then topcoat everything with high gloss varnish or whatever you're using.

20210306_074617

You can make long lines of "rollers " coming up to shore.

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  • 20210306_074617
@coach joe posted:

For larger water bodies there is the untempered shower door glass.  Paint the underside and you've got built in ripples.  For smaller lakes and ponds you can use the same method.  Hobby Lobby has 12 x 12 textured glass sheets in the stained glass section.

Great suggestion coach Joe...I never thought of that method. I may have to make space for another pond now...!

Last edited by Capetrainman

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