Mixable water
Peter Marriott dives deeper into the world of fluids for modelling water, with his choice of products that require mixing.
There are so many water making products available that, last issue, I could only focus on those that can be poured straight from the bottle. If you want to model deep or still water, I’d recommend using products that either require mixing or heating. They require a bit more work but I have found them to be some of the most reliable water products available.
Here are my top five. I’ve given them scores for the following: ease of use, drying time, quality of results and value for money.
1 Deluxe Materials Solid Water
PROS Gives good results with careful mixing.
CONS Not as easy to use as a pour-from-the-bottle product.
Product BD35 (90ml); BD36 (350ml). Price £14.25 (90ml); £26.95 (350ml) Availability: Gaugemaster
Tel 01903 884488 Web www.gaugemaster.com
Deluxe Materials Solid Water is a versatile two-part fluid pack for making water in varying depths that need carefully mixing together in a 2:1 ratio. Layers can be poured on to a previously dried layer and it dries with a pleasing glossy finish. Sold in 90ml and 350ml packs, it can be easily coloured with dry powder paints and can be used in conjunction with other Deluxe Materials products.
2 Noch
Easy Water Drops
PROS Comes in an oven-proof bowl. CONS Heating requires care and patience. Product 6085 Price £16.75 (150 ml) Availability Gaugemaster Tel 01903 884488 Web www.gaugemaster.com
This product from Noch needs to be melted in an oven before it can be poured so it’s a little more challenging than other products here. Once melted, you have three to four minutes before it cools and reverts to a solid state. Use a hair dryer to heat the surface to remove any small bubbles or to create waves. If scratches occur on the surface of the water just reheat the affected area to make the scratches disappear.
3 Noch 2K Water Gel
PROS Easy to mix and creates a nice smooth surface. CONS Price.
Product 60870 Price £37.00 (200ml) Availability Gaugemaster
Tel 01903 884488 Web www.gaugemaster.com
Noch’s comprehensive range of water making fluids also includes Water Gel. Two bottles of 100ml components need to be mixed in equal parts. You even get the plastic mixing beakers and wooden stirring sticks included. Noch also sell three 2K Water Gel Colors (blue, green and brown) to enable you to recreate almost any colour of water to tint the fluid. However, it’s expensive compared to other similar products.
4 Woodland Scenics E-Z Water
PROS Good for deep water.
CONS Needs to be heated in a saucepan. Product C1206 Price £15.75 (473 ml) Availability Bachmann/woodland Scenics stockists
This is good for deep water in a single pour and, while it does not require measuring or mixing, it does need to be heated. It is anon-toxic, low-odour product that hardens in minutes but can be reheated with a heat gun to shape the surface into ripples, waves or rapids and to remove any scratches. The surface dries firm and clear in approximately 24 hours, depending on humidity conditions.
Woodland Scenics 5 Deep Pour Water
PROS Best for deeper water features.
CONS Careful and patient mixing required. Product WCW4510 Price £29.00 (354ml) Availability Bachmann/woodland Scenics stockists
Sold either as ‘clear’ or ‘murky’, this two part product needs mixing carefully to make deeper water features. Water Tints can be added to greater enhance visual variety. In my experience Deep Pour Water dries hard, is non-shrinking, and does not become discoloured over time. A small book of instructions is supplied along with mixing pot to ensure the correct quantities are mixed.