| One of the fascinating activities in building | | | | stream and solidify with unique qualities |
| a model railroad layout is the water scenes. | | | | like the real world. I repeated this action |
| Even with all the trees, fauna, grasses and | | | | several times which gave the stream character |
| other scenic materials it looks like a barren | | | | and caused a waterfall effect over the rocks. |
| waste land without water.The creation of | | | | At the base or stop fascia board, a small |
| water scenes is not necessarily ease but | | | | pond was created as I wanted.This particular |
| worth the effort. There are several | | | | plastic water is tricky to produce and use. |
| materials that can be made to look like | | | | Great care must be taken not to burn your |
| water. There are three types of resin | | | | self nor let the liquid plastic boil over. |
| plastic that I use to create water scenes. | | | | Also, you must use a container where you have |
| They are all non-toxic and readily available | | | | complete control. The container needs to |
| either by hobby shop or WEB site.With out | | | | have a handle that will not act as a heat |
| going into trade names, the three types are | | | | sink thus burning you. It would be wise to |
| different for specific reasons. One comes in | | | | have a container with a spout like the coffee |
| a squeeze bottle that is very thick and does | | | | pots used on camping trips. This way you |
| not run readily and I find hard to use. I | | | | will not have the liquid plastic going places |
| use it for specific areas where a fast moving | | | | you do not want it to go.A stove is not the |
| liquid would not stabilize fast enough to | | | | best way to heat the plastic. For one thing, |
| create the scene that I want. However, it is | | | | there usually are no stoves in the layout |
| wonderful in making waterfalls. It is so | | | | area and the heating would take to long |
| thick that you can comb it with a fine metal | | | | unless you had a gas stove. The best method |
| comb that produces the look of a water | | | | is to use a torch or some quick heating |
| fall.The next type is a thick but fast | | | | implement that would generate enough heat to |
| pouring liquid plastic that can be used to | | | | liquefy the plastic rapidly. We have used a |
| begin a small too large pond and streams. | | | | torch in a pinch but it is cumbersome and a |
| The key to this one is that it has | | | | bit dangerous. The safest method is a butane |
| restrictions as to how much can be poured. | | | | stove that can produce maximum heat. What |
| It dries very slowly thus the amount you can | | | | ever method you use where fire is concerned |
| pore at any on time is only about 1/8 thick. | | | | make sure you have a fire extinguisher |
| It dries very clear and is very useful when | | | | available and there is plenty of fresh air |
| you add small amounts in specific areas to | | | | circulating in the layout room. Also, use |
| increase the realism.The next type is hard | | | | fire retardant gloves when working with |
| and comes in beads with a slight yellow | | | | liquid plastic and fire. DO NOT MAKE TO MUCH |
| color. It is my favorite of the three | | | | LIQUID PLASTIC AT ONE TIME. You will |
| because of its nature once heated to a | | | | accomplish each project in plenty of time by |
| liquid. It is very hot once heated and it | | | | following the directions on the package.There |
| pours fast but solidifies quickly. This | | | | are other types of clear resins available but |
| allows you to pour your next layer almost | | | | this set is easily attainable from more than |
| immediately. It also has a unique | | | | one source and ease to use.Joy Ball has been |
| characteristic of creating a wave like | | | | involved in the restoration and maintenance |
| action.The best example I can give you is | | | | of a variety of Brass Model Locomotives. |
| when I poured the plastic down a pre-made | | | | Through her years of expertise, Mrs. Ball has |
| stream bed. The stream had already been | | | | perfected the art of train restoration often |
| landscape with rocks, wood, brush and the | | | | spending countless hours preserving vintage |
| like. There was a stop at the end of the | | | | Brass Locomotives to running condition of |
| stream. I poured the hot plastic gradually | | | | even the newest Brass Model Replicas. |
| and watched the flow pattern just like a | | | | |