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What is the best and cheapest way to make a water effect on a base?


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I've heard Elmer's glue/ wood glue but I was wondering if dakka had any suggestions.


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Nothing?

Patience is a virtue.

In my somewhat limited experience (haven't tried using it to simulate water, as much as I've stuck things together with it), dried PVA has a slight white/cream cloudiness to it, like watery milk. If you want murky water, PVA tinted with ink should work in a pinch, although it tends to shrink while drying and cling to edges (picture the meniscus visible when viewing water in a straight-sided glass), resulting in a less than realistic effect. For small puddles and the like, however, PVA should provide the translucent bulk nicely enough, while a healthy dose of gloss varnish finishes the job.

[edit: typos - time to refresh my drink and get off the computer ]

Depends on what you're going for.

If you're going for splashes of water, droplets, or icicles:
http://www.aspiregiftsandmodels.co.uk/ekmps/shops/aspiregifts/images/woodland-scenics-water-effects-8oz-vol--1473-p%5Bekm%5D507x300%5Bekm%5D.jpg
It's $15.

If you're going for larger lakes to even puddles:
http://www.hobbymasters.com/ProductImages/buildingsupplies/casting/woou1211.jpg
It's $20.

'Cheap' is arguable, but that stuff is plentiful and works amazingly.

I've heard good things about Vallejo Water effects:

http://www.thewarstore.com/StoneTextureWaterEffects.html

Cheers,


IK-Painter

IK-Painter wrote:I've heard good things about Vallejo Water effects:

http://www.thewarstore.com/StoneTextureWaterEffects.html

Cheers,


IK-Painter

I don't recommend vallejo's water effect (still water) as it shrinks (leaving a really nasty "edge") and acts like really thick gloss varnish (doesn't settle and warps with the model)

Used water effect for my wraithlord's base (last pics) and it looked really nice. 24 hours later a different story.
before pic I don't have after.
http://coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/img4978a81fe9a3f.jpg

illuknisaa wrote:

IK-Painter wrote:I've heard good things about Vallejo Water effects:

http://www.thewarstore.com/StoneTextureWaterEffects.html

Cheers,


IK-Painter

I don't recommend vallejo's water effect (still water) as it shrinks (leaving a really nasty "edge") and acts like really thick gloss varnish (doesn't settle and warps with the model)

Used water effect for my wraithlord's base (last pics) and it looked really nice. 24 hours later a different story.
before pic I don't have after.
http://coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/img4978a81fe9a3f.jpg

Good to know. Awesome freehand on the Wraithlord head by the way.

Cheers,


IK-Painter

The cheapest way would be to paint where the water is going in a way to give depth and then use a couple of coats of gloss varnish over the top. Not easy to do that perfectly tho.

woodland scenics realistic water would give better, and easier results and the bottle would last you ages if your only doing bases.

I think the best products are 2 part epoxy based tho, they dry quickly and have very minimal shrinkage. Not sure of brand names or prices in the US tho sorry

Thanks guys for all the help.