Sewer water effects?

[agoodall]

Hi everyone. What is a good way to model sewer water, assuming you already have a sewer model? I saw someone recommend Woodland Scenics' Water Effects, but from what I can see their Realistic Water looks more useful, with the other product for texture. Yet another person suggested clear nail polish.

Has anyone modeled a sewer? If so, how did you do it?

[SotF]

Depending upon what you want with the sewer water, there are a lot of options.

I'd made a few sewer tiles for D&D a few years ago, and I'd used high gloss polyurethane for the main water effect. I'd painted beneath it and mixed a little bit of a few green inks into the polyurethane, and also used some brown and darker green fine flock sprinkled in between layers there. Adding other bits and pieces of detritus as I went. Then I added a layer of gloss mod podge over the top.

[snitcythedog]

agoodall  Try looking around before you pull the trigger and purchase something.  Personally I would stay away from the woodland scenics products for war gaming.  I have found that the surface that they create ends up a bit too soft and will show marks from minis bases when used on the table.  My go to has always been resin.  Here is a good toot:  https://hirstarts.com/tips17/tips17.html#plan  For pouring resin in your sewers do not pour too deep.  Resin can generate heat when curing and if you pour past 1/4 inch you could damage foam or plastics that are going to be embedded in the surface. 

[agoodall]

Thanks, folks, that's a lot of help. I'll look into various options. I hadn't thought about the WS stuff being too soft.

[DS615]

I've used several versions of the WS water, and never had an issue with it being too soft.

Note, for the Realistic Water product you want to store it flat.  I used it on some 2'x4' boards, and stored them vertically.  After a fully year, the water had flowed 1/4", making a bulge where the river left the board.  So I flipped it over.  Another Year later, and it was back to being flush.
The boards are used only in a game we play after Christmas, so honestly only view it yearly.

Other times I used it (ponds, wells, oasis, etc.) there's no issue.  It was just being vertical for a year that did it.

[FifteensAway]

My go to for water is acrylic gloss medium - and readily tinted with acrylic paints.  Can do many layers for depth effects and more.

Now, don't forget a few unsavory 'floaties' in your sewer model!   

[Cacique Caribe]

My go to for water is acrylic gloss medium - and readily tinted with acrylic paints.  Can do many layers for depth effects and more.

Now, don't forget a few unsavory 'floaties' in your sewer model!   

Yes, and the occasional string of bubbles coming from unseen sewer dwellers.

Dan

[agoodall]

The acrylic gloss medium sounds like my best bet. Thank you! The fact that the WS water effect doesn't actually harden makes me want to nope away from it.