I have used two-part resin water fairly extensively in three dioramas. On all of those occasions, the process never went smoothly. Using two-part epoxy resin is always fraught with danger. Here's what I have found:
- The resin can react with anything underneath it. You need to make sure the base is covered with an impermeable gloss layer before you pour it to make sure it doesn't react with whatever is under it.
- Thorough mixing is essential.
- It can react with whatever you mix it with, always test first.
- It's best to build it up in layers, the deeper the pour, the higher the risk (because it takes so long to dry). I only colour the lower layers (decreasing the colour in the upper layers) and always do a clear pour for the final layer. This helps build an illusion of depth but also gives wiggle room if a pour goes wrong.
- Don't rely on colouring the resin to create the finished effect. Paint the base in the main colours you want for the finished effect, but slightly darker than you want. Then apply the resin in layers with the most tint at the bottom and finish with a thin clear layer. This way you will create an illusion of depth.
- It's very unpredictable stuff and sometimes despite your best efforts, it just goes wrong. I had this on my third diorama. I had used the AK two-part resin on my second diorama and it went well, but when I used the AK stuff on the third diorama after about two weeks swirls and small cracks started appearing in the surface for no reason I could understand. But I was able to cover these with a ripple effect.
Bottom line - it's high risk stuff!
