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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Melnibonean on June 10, 2021, 12:10:04 AM

Title: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: Melnibonean on June 10, 2021, 12:10:04 AM
I made some streams using vinyl floor tiles and brown coloured caulk. They came out looking pretty nice and I now have about 12' or streams that can be added to my existing vinyl tile rivers. These are really quick and easy to make and they look pretty nice.

There's more detailed info on my blog at: http://this28mmlife.blogspot.com/2021/06/row-row-row-your-boat.html

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIaJjJm4rZc/YL8KpzLt2vI/AAAAAAAAfHg/rrF5mpFnhlAFtphypPRzpHtpKzmoUmEUwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1021/Streams_1.jpg)

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQDNT5J5t_k/YL8KqPHkb2I/AAAAAAAAfHo/tsXvDIQHRwMoac-mR7q8fM6Km8xDvJVzQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1152/Streams_2.jpg)
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: Daeothar on June 10, 2021, 03:05:02 PM
They do look good!

Most people make the mistake of tinting their rivers and streams the brightest azure blue, which I always find very unconvincing. In fact, aside from some ocean scenic views when on vacation, I've never seen surface water coloured (brightly) blue. And that one time the water was white, at a Turkish thermal bath site does not count :D

Your brown streams however, look spot on! Yes, I know how that sounds in a single scentence, but still; great work lol
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: CookAndrewB on June 10, 2021, 07:59:50 PM
Those look very nice! Now I know what to do with those leftover tiles I have in the basement! Hello, weekend project!!!
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: snitcythedog on June 10, 2021, 08:02:38 PM
Effective. 
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: Bloggard on June 11, 2021, 12:34:25 PM
they've come out a treat.
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: Melnibonean on June 12, 2021, 05:07:27 AM
Thanks for the positive comments folks.

Quote from: Daeothar on June 10, 2021, 03:05:02 PM

Most people make the mistake of tinting their rivers and streams the brightest azure blue, which I always find very unconvincing. In fact, aside from some ocean scenic views when on vacation, I've never seen surface water coloured (brightly) blue. And that one time the water was white, at a Turkish thermal bath site does not count :D

Your brown streams however, look spot on! Yes, I know how that sounds in a single scentence, but still; great work lol

Also, the more glossy the surface the better it reflects other colours and light in the room.
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: Smokeyrone on June 15, 2021, 06:20:30 PM
Great work!

Vinyl flooring is the best basing material.

I get it for 80 cents for a 12x12, 2 bucks for 8x36
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: syrinx0 on June 15, 2021, 10:06:53 PM
They look good.
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: BZ on June 16, 2021, 08:17:31 AM
Great idea, the built-in surface effect is an enormous time saver! From now on, I will look out for such vinyl tiles.
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: SteveBurt on June 17, 2021, 09:34:14 AM
I made streams years ago using a suggestion in the original Fire & Fury rulebook. Thin sheets of acrylic (thin enough to cut with scissors), cut with rounded ends, then painted on the underside with greens & browns. You overlap these to make streams; very simple and easy to do and looks good on the table.
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: SotF on June 17, 2021, 05:22:46 PM
Quote from: SteveBurt on June 17, 2021, 09:34:14 AM
I made streams years ago using a suggestion in the original Fire & Fury rulebook. Thin sheets of acrylic (thin enough to cut with scissors), cut with rounded ends, then painted on the underside with greens & browns. You overlap these to make streams; very simple and easy to do and looks good on the table.

A better option for that kind of thing is to look for the overhead projector transparency sheets/film/paper. Get the clear ones, because they work quite well and you can run them through a color printer rather than using paint. Just grab a heavy duty folder to store the pieces in and keep them from getting messed up between uses...and they work rather well up slopes and conforming to terrain.

Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: pistolpete on June 18, 2021, 12:46:38 PM
Quote from: SotF on June 17, 2021, 05:22:46 PM
A better option for that kind of thing is to look for the overhead projector transparency sheets/film/paper. Get the clear ones, because they work quite well and you can run them through a color printer rather than using paint. Just grab a heavy duty folder to store the pieces in and keep them from getting messed up between uses...and they work rather well up slopes and conforming to terrain.

Is overhead transparency even a thing these days?
Title: Re: Cheap and Easy Streams and Ponds
Post by: SotF on June 19, 2021, 05:57:07 AM
Quote from: pistolpete on June 18, 2021, 12:46:38 PM
Is overhead transparency even a thing these days?

Yeah, overhead projectors are still a thing.

A lot of it depends upon the specifics of the situation...schools tend to be the largest users now, mainly for classes that don't want to deal with the higher tech side of things. Or older buildings where there still isn't much internet/connection options. A couple buildings where I work tend to use them for meetings because they don't want to deal with the mess of getting wifi put in for several sections where you can't get signals through the walls