Model a flooded field
I want to include small areas of flooding in one of my fields. How do I do it?
Peter says: Imagine a field in late autumn after a period of heavy rain. In dips and hollows, water gathers and forms a shallow pond. We can represent this by first laying sheets of foam, shaped to form an uneven landscape and painted with Woodland Scenics’ Water Undercoat. This latter product seals and colours the base of the water feature, with six different shades available, each of which can be intermixed to create darker depths in deeper, mid-river sections or lighter shades around shallower shorelines. Having established the foundations, the entire scene can be covered with various layers of static grass fibres, with some colour variation. Separate, darker green tufts can also be added here and there to add even greater visual variety. To create the scene featured here, it took five separate layers of Noch’s ready-mixed water fluid, applied once a day to ensure the previous layer was completely dry. This patient approach removes any risks of the ‘water’ drying cloudy. I was also careful to check that my baseboard was level before pouring on the water, ensuring a consistent coverage and preventing the liquid from dribbling onto the floor. It’s important to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and adhere to the recommended drying times. I usually prefer to build my water features in the summer months, with drying times being shorter and water products behaving more predictably. Working in a cold, damp environment makes life more difficult, yet it’s impossible to rush the drying process – if you pour on another layer of water fluid prematurely, the previous layer may never dry out or, as already stated, there’s a risk of the fluid turning cloudy. After building up several layers, I found that the ‘water’ spread further than I’d intended it to with each subsequent pour. Accordingly, I decided to model the pond with a central area of still water, surrounded by damp and soggy ground. This was achieved with a sprinkling of Woodland Scenics fine turf, having applied PVA glue in a few key areas. One alternative to pouring out the water is to use a plastic pipette or syringe to dispense the fluid. This gives you a lot of control over where the water is going, although care is needed to avoid introducing air bubbles into the fluid. Carefully drag the fluid to the sides of the pond with a wooden coffee stirrer.