Scratch-Built Waterway

By David Zecchini

 Waterways > Guides & Tips > Resources > Fanaticus

Here's a rundown of how I created the waterways. It's actually much easier than it looks.  Start by cutting the bottom of the 8" pieces out of styrene plastic sheet (You could make 12" or even 24" if you wanted, but 8" fit into my bags nicely). You could also use wood or some other material, but styrene is good because it won't warp when wet.  Then, I cut two more layers out of 2mm craft foam to go on top of the styrene. When the higher layers are painted with a progressively darker blue, it somewhat "tricks" the eye with a forced perspective effect. I glued the craft foam layers down to the styrene one at a time using regular white glue and pressing them under books.

Finally, I mold the waves along the edges of the craft foam using Liquitex Ceramic Stucco Texture Gel. I cannot say enough good things about the Liquitex putty lines. They have a Modeling Paste which would work as well,  but the Stucco has a grainy texture that really comes out with drybrushing.  Just slap some on, sortof "swoosh" it into waves, lather, rinse, repeat.  The Liquitex gels go on and can be easily molded with a wet hobby knife.

From there it was just painting the beach, then the steps a progressively darker shade of blue, then a bit of drybrushing with lighter blues around the foam caps. Heavy white drybrush on the foamcaps themselves and you're done.

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Last Updated: 1 April 2006

Questions, comments, suggestions welcome.
Send them to Chris Brantley at brant@erols.com.