"How to" base for a seaplane

[NP]

I saw this tip on you-tube some while ago.  Silicon sealant makes very nice sparkly water and by building up in successive layers can be moulded into waves, ripples, wakes etc.  I found I had these pictures from a base I made a while ago (some of you will have seen them before on another site)

First, I sprayed up a piece of hardboard (aka "masonite") with 3 different colours, green and blue.



Then just spread the sealant over - it naturally forms wavelets as you squeeze and draw it out, with a minimum of spreading about you can get this effect:



The spoon can be used for "patting" or drawing up the material to form peaks (splashes), etc.

Then I cut a hole for the models' hull, and added some more sealant to form a wake.  I sprinkled a few grains of salt into that too, to approximate foam.



And this is how it looks:

[Nigel Jackson]

Oh that's really useful NP, thanks for the tutorial.

Best wishes
Nigel

[lcarroll]

   So simple but very effective, NP. Thanks for sharing this, I'm going to add it to my "Tickle trunk"!
Cheers,
Lance

[Jamo]

How sticky is the silicon after drying? Would you be able to brush off any dust?

[Bluesfan]

Thanks for this, really good to know, and to see it applied so effectively

Mark

[Des]

Thanks very much Nigel for showing us your water technique, it is very effective.

Des.

[NP]

Hi Jamo, the silicon is not sticky at all when it sets.   You could simply put it under a tap and wash off any dust etc. Also, it cuts cleanly eg with an exacto knife. 

I have searched for the you tube video I saw and found it.  The stuff the guy here uses must have been slightly different to what I found at the local DIY store and used - I suspect mine was a more expensive type - as I see his went on "white" and turned transparent when it set, I think my stuff was more "rubbery" and less creamy than his appears to be, the end result is the same though.  As he says, a tube of (silicon) sealant should be much cheaper than buying a "water effect" modelling product.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFOpc8Q6a7M&spfreload=10

[compressor man]

If it went on white and then became clear as it dried then it was likely clear caulk. And yes caulk is much, much more creamy and less sticky than silicone. On a side note, you can spray wd-40 on already applied (but undried) silicone and it can be shaped easily. The wd-40 partially dissolves it and stops it from sticking to the shaping tool.

Chris

[lone modeller]

What a simple but effective idea. Thanks for showing us - one to add to the ideas section of my notes.

[stefanbuss]

And it comes very handy for this year's WNW christmas release, of course.

Stefan

[kornbeef]

And it comes very handy for this year's WNW christmas release, of course.

Stefan

Oh yes indeed