I really enjoy watching the build videos on the Scale-a-ton channel on YouTube. This one in particular connected with me (I mean just look at that water. I’ve never seen water modelled like that! Wow!)
Please watch the video. It’s very well produced and completely worth the time invested in watching it. We deserve more content of this quality. By the end of the video I could contain my enthusiasm no longer. “I must try this!”, I declared to the cat.
It’s an elegant process based on tin foil like we use here in the kitchen. As explained in the video the first layer is just some random scraps white glued to the base (I’m using foam because that’s what I have here). Once that’s dry a second layer of foil, this time a sheet covering the whole area, is laid over top. Stuck on with a thick layer of glue this crumpled top layer can be pressed into the forms it covers and itself crinkled to add more “waves”.
With the foil’s glue dried the next step is to prime the foil ready for paint. As we know from trying to paint tin foil nothing sticks to it. Scale-a-ton recommends just painting a layer of white glue over the foil. So I did.
The glue does tend to slip off the foil but it’s easy to touch up in this spots.
Scale-a-ton used a proper white primer from Tamiya but I was lazy and just used flat white craft paint. I’m worried it won’t bond like that incredible Tamiya primer will. I know from experience the Tamiya will tolerate more wet paint over it than what I’ve done.
This is now. I’ve started painting the actual water colour using artist acrylics. This first coat is very blue and harshly defined. Just as in the original video the next layers of finish will be clear coat tinted with a little paint. They’re using those cool Tamiya clear paints (Tamiya X-23 Clear Blue) to build up layers of gloss muted with colour. I’m planning on using glossy Mod Podge instead and I’ll tint it with a drop or two of paint. This should mute the harsh lines in the paint and I’m looking forward to the depth of that built up finish.
The core of this technique based on crumpled foil just works. No other water technique I’ve ever tried creates this effect of layers of waves rolling over other waves like this does. It’s a brilliant technique I’m looking forward to continuing to study.
Categories: modelmaking
Prince Street 
Thanks for the awesome find, Chris!
It’s a fascinating channel. Watching these modellers at work is so fascinating and I enjoy it all quite a lot.
Yes, it’s quite well-produced too. This sub video has interesting implications for modelling running water. I’m tempted to try it too. Must. Stay. Focussed.
Certainly a case of wanting to try some just to get a sense of how the effect works. I’m keen to try their method for reproducing waves crashing over models – using cotton and gloss medium. It’s fun giving into tempting little exploratory projects like this “just to see”.