PlaymoFriends
Creative => How-To => Topic started by: Feather on January 28, 2010, 23:59:51
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Hi everyone! :)
I'm not sure if I'm asking in the right place or not, because my question isn't really about playmobil. Rather, it is about landscape and such for klicky stories, scenes and pictures.
I was wondering if anyone out there has ideas on how to make "water". Besides what is found in playmo sets, what would you use to make water surfaces such as creeks, rivers, lake, waterfalls, ocean view...
Currently, I am using "grass carpet" sold in hobby store for train collectors as my "ground" for playmo scenes. As time goes (and photo ideas multiply), I realize I absolutely need to find a way to display water surfaces.
Hope you guys can help and give some ideas. :)
Feather
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I'm experimenting with clear Plexiglas cut into large patterns overlaying different colors of blue bulk fabric material underneath. The Plexiglas can be scored with sandpaper to cause an opaque view. Just some ideas being currently developed.
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I got a blue cloth to act as water, but left it in London. I'll be getting more modelling stuff when I have more room.
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Hi Feather
I have been looking into model building water. It looks easy but is quite permanent. I have bought water sheets from a company called Lemax and I was not happy with the look. They have great pebble and brick mats but the water was not good
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/tnt1/001-100/TNT067_making-water_Geraths/tnt067.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cazBiXnUYjQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVZVQdETes&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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We have a chain called TAP Plastics where you can buy different types of plastic sheets in varying thickness, smooth or rippled which can be painted on the reverse side or used as an overlay. The store sells buckets, fiberglas cloth, makes acrylic boxes, signs, etc. so they are not a hobby shop but have a lot of useful material, look up stores under 'Plastic'.
Gepetto
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Hi Feather! :wave:
For play (like with children, if you actually permit them to have access to your Playmobil :hmm: :lol:) we always used a piece of fabric which is some unknown synthetic blend of a slightly stretchy type in a nice blue color. You can lay it flat on the floor and any wrinkles or bumps add to the "effect" of a watery surface.
Another nice effect is to use multiple layers of plastic cling wrap - the kind you would put leftovers in. Some brands come in colors, including blue. The pieces can be laid out on a flat surface and stacked on top of each other with as little or as much wrinkling or smoothness as you wish and as many layers as you wish. Then you can cut out the shapes you need, such as for a meandering stream or a pond or lake. It can look surprisingly good. There was a wonderful example of this method posted somewhere - I haven't been able to find it yet - maybe someone else remembers it? Someone had used the cling wrap method to create the ocean surface with a fantastic underwater scene below. ???
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I found it! It was from about a year ago and posted by townklicky: Photos of ocean scene (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2870.msg33194#msg33194)
In this display, Adrian also painted and glued the sheets - gluing was probably necessary since he was supporting a ship and other elements on the ocean surface. :)
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You can buy blue plastic sheets for HO/OO rail layouts which are quite effective. I'm afraid I've forgotten the name, but I think they were made by Faller. They are in store now so I can't check. They were about 24 inches by 10 inches (I think).
Here's an example:
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You can buy blue plastic sheets for HO/OO rail layouts which are quite effective. I'm afraid I've forgotten the name, but I think they were made by Faller. They are in store now so I can't check. They were about 24 inches by 10 inches (I think).
Here's an example:
They are very good for small areas, but if you need a larger scale it can get very expensive :o! I've seen them in model railroad stores for $9.96 per piece 12" x 12".
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Wow!! Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas! This is going to be really fun to test. :D I'm gonna start with the cheapest and readily available method: plastic wrap!
Perfect project for my 4-day weekend coming up next week. Yay! :)
Thanks again!!! Keep the ideas coming if you have more...
Feather
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They are very good for small areas, but if you need a larger scale it can get very expensive :o! I've seen them in model railroad stores for $9.96 per piece 12" x 12".
They were bigger than that, Bill, and I think cheaper. I'll try and find more details over the weekend.
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They were bigger than that, Bill, and I think cheaper. I'll try and find more details over the weekend.
Please do Gordon! In this country the model train supply shop prices are outrageous because they're becoming rarer, & rarer :o! I purchase bulk styrene plastic supplies including plastic tubes, rods, beams, etc., that cost between $5.00 - $10.00 per package which I consider a little high >:(! I was recently looking at the plastic water as I mentioned before, & they had it in the HO scale for $9.96 per sheet :omg:! I'm wanting to do a cargo harbor rescue with a HUGE water display, & I'm looking to this thread to reveal an economical way to achieve this project for my future photo story :yup:!
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I'm wanting to do a cargo harbor rescue with a HUGE water display, & I'm looking to this thread to reveal an economical way to achieve this project for my future photo story :yup:!
Glad it can benefit other people too! :D
Feather
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I'm wanting to do a cargo harbor rescue with a HUGE water display, & I'm looking to this thread to reveal an economical way to achieve this project for my future photo story
Hi Bill
You know the cheapest way to make your huge diorama is to just use water. Its only 10ยข a gallon - spread out a piece of plastic, raise the edges and fill it up ;D cover the edge of plastic that is exposed with dirt/sand and plants ;) I think it is the best thing to simulate the effect water has :lol:
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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Another water possibility:
I was looking for the type of sheets that Gordon and Bill had been talking about, because I know I have seen them around, but, as Bill mentioned, such items are becoming rarer. :'(
Anyhoo, I came across this site: Unreal Details/Magic Water ordering page (http://www.unrealdetails.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=10) which offers a product called Magic Water which looks like a relatively easy way to make a permanent water feature. Click through the website for examples and testimonials. It is not cheap, but if it works as well as they claim, it may well be worth the price. :)
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Another water possibility:
I was looking for the type of sheets that Gordon and Bill had been talking about, because I know I have seen them around, but, as Bill mentioned, such items are becoming rarer. :'(
Anyhoo, I came across this site: Unreal Details/Magic Water ordering page (http://www.unrealdetails.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=10) which offers a product called Magic Water which looks like a relatively easy way to make a permanent water feature. Click through the website for examples and testimonials. It is not cheap, but if it works as well as they claim, it may well be worth the price. :)
I've used stuff like this but only in small quantities and it looked OK.
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Hi
Is this the type of stuff that Marc used in his movie For Love & Glory (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=3976.0) ?
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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I believe so Rasputin, it can look very nice but I have only seen used in fairly small places where the sensation of depth was wanted and it is fixed. I believe it is basically a clear resin that can be tinted or painted and layered.
Gepetto
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??? Just a sudden thought could you use rippled glass painted underneath? I dont know how expensive it is but i do know it's a lot easier to find a glass shop than a railway/model shop now.
Emma
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??? Just a sudden thought could you use rippled glass painted underneath? I dont know how expensive it is but i do know it's a lot easier to find a glass shop than a railway/model shop now.
Emma
You could but I think it would be easier to use rippled plastic from a plastics shop or hardware store. :wave:
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These are all very usefull information and ideas people!!! I am sure that combinations of these ideas can be done as well...
I was thinking of a frozen sea scapeland... i plan on freezing actual water in my freezer and then setting a background in my bathtab and begin my project....
Experimentation is needed though.....
I also thought of gathering all the parts i need for the project and setting up everything by my parents country house near the seaside.... I'll also be needing undewater scenes, thus getting a plexiglass box, sunking it into the seawater and shooting any photos with the camera inside the plexiglass....
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I just thought of a very simple-not-so-much-impressive, but rather economic method...
What if we print a sea pattern on a a4 or bigger sticker paper and then stick it on a wooden plank....
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I take a piece of cardboard and wrap it in crinkled aluminum foil, and the in blue cellophane. It looks pretty convincing.