Who doesn’t like to get down and dirty - weathering an obsession - maybe


This is other people’s work, I do not actually have permission but I am not ‘owning’ it so hopefull people won’t mind
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to the right he has layered cork tile broken into pieces
added stone or ‘stone’ sone embedded sone sat on top,
he has the classic cut away where water ebbs and flows
some small twigs as branches
texture in the water is likely ballast
and a nice dull dirty mud colour, enhanced by excellent white,probably applicator with a toothpick, all the effort really pays off and shows a masters hand

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I think I photographed this at a show, in the early days before I would ask incessant questions on how this was done.
I believe there is a technique (and if there is not there did be) where cotton wool is teased and glue dropped on it, it would certainly be a quick easy way to try to duplicate this t need not even be done in situ but in strips then added. this person has likely also bought the ‘snow’ as a model item and may have incorporated that, or just large amounts of paint. regardless this is also a masterful piece of work.
 
I went with the takes days to dry each layer,months to build up.
starting from the top the bottom, wheee ever it had dried, the waterfall also goes forward and backward into other water features
plus I added a fountain I made, not my favourite piece of work but you get the idea,
plus sone materials I have bought and used.
Deluxe waves holds its shape well
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realistic water tends to puddle
water effects is mid way, I prefer the making waves
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Also I have windows and can use real light, morning light, evening light and strong daylight can all offer extra value, although in my own opinion reflections are the major upgrade when modelling water,

to this end before photographing I either do it before it dries, so have the area ready to photograph add the water then get snap happy
or afterwards, dust any debris of the water with a soft brush, then clean with a damp sponge, this adds really water into the equation, and enhances any reflections.
do be careful to not over do the water or damage any nearby layout!
Again less is more.
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Sally if you have water there in navigable some way to cross it so bridges are popular

-lease do not laugh, this was an early attempt before we hit the magazines or the forums, but even so a little extra attention and it would work, those autumn leaf trees are hard to look good though
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at this point the bridge has not been weathered and the photograph shows it just sitting there unconnected although the legs do stand in the ‘water’
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although I have still not actually joined the bridge, it is now weathered and I have taken a snap at an angle that does not scream out, real dried grass has been added to the waters edge
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when photographing form the other angle the natural light from the window nearby adds some nice shadows
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close up you can see I have added some debris and some texture to the water
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the water washing against the stone is one of my favourite features and a little white helps highlight it, and as usual I have captured the sweets[ot and got a hint of reflections.


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another water feature on my layout, notice how I have painted the ground near the water level dark, because dirt inevitable is washed against the edges, and cut back slightly leaving a shadow
You can see I went with blacks blues greens and browns plus some ‘grass’ dropped into the water for texture
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another feature not yet finished, as I had used foam I was able to cut a seat for the resin bridge to push into the foreground drops I textured the foam and painted it so it is a little like water running over pebbles
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slowly adding different textures, I think a single texture is hard to look right unless a flat field or a mowed lawn, otherwise various textures look more natural imo.
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here the green Hornby branches are less in your face than the autumnal options
once you play with water you find different colours work, different textures help, and I have seen people add little cut out tin foil fish then bury them in the layers, and I kid you not they look really good I keep meaning to have a go myself.

My most important hint is NEVER work from memory always work from at least one reference picture, the usual mistake at that point is people have a tendency to paint the water one colour. Now this can work, but it is easier to do the water travel is it would downstream, using colours that mix, in fact do that mix the colours, so if a blue and a brown mix a little and paint them also.
 
Jaz….great puddles..water…
I love your village scene with the VW…
Almost expect to see Stan and Jack from On The Buses….!
Oooh what a great idea…I’ll have a look…this would be classic

i can give you only fools and horses
 

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I needed to join to part of the layout and to the left was water so this worked for me
a flat finish, painted then varnished.
it was warm weather and I laid a couple of thin layers to seal then to speed up I did a thicker layer, and before it had fully dried I added a second, and the varnish drying had this amazing effect…..it spontaneously rippled!!!
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I kid thee not it just did it…
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I used the deluxe waves to add the waves then painted white,
the ‘sand’ is in fact fine sand, and the varnish also added a credible wet look to the sand]
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some silver birch seeds and modelling ‘grass’ added the sea weed effect
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I chose to not embed the boat as I move it about but one set of waves was modelled to curve around the hull
i photograph low and like when the sun lightlights the ‘water’
 
Then drill into to parts I can play with
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notice the wet look, if dry sand, and varnished sand
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adding context features like the fish boxes and fishermen, and fire
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cottonwood smoke or mist
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painted water white,but adding an extra varnish coat on top of the water gives it a wetter look
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texture to help hid the floating well hovering boat
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extra detail preferably photographed at a soft focus distance but in focus for clarification
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water on the boat itself and wet varnish on the boat sides.
the various waves look fine but also allow me to move the boat around as the mood takes me
sone where is a giant keep planning to incorporate…lol possible dragging at the boat…!
 



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