Modelling water part 2

wet look model water
Originally uploaded by Phil_Parker.

Wet enough for you ? This is the current state of the “water” on my model railway.

The secret is simple. Ronseal yacht varnish. Currently 4 coats of it but I’ll probably add a couple more to get the best results.

For those who aren’t familiar with yacht varnish, it’s a high gloss clear substance that just happens to have a very appropriate name for this purpose. While a couple of coats will do the job, the more you do the greater the apparent depth of the water is. Don’t make the mistake of pouring it on like you might with resin though, it won’t dry properly and you’ll get unrealistic wrinkles.

The surface isn’t perfect but those imperfections that do exist I think add to the effect so I’m leaving them. Perhaps a better modeller than I would carefully sand each coat with flour paper to get perfect coats but that seems a lot more work than it’s worth.

Oh, and don't forget to dust and polish the surface at every model railway exhibition. Nothing looks dafter than dusty water !