Making water, Magic Water write up

[alone_withmyaxe]

With the Build Something contest running and the theme being water it seems like a good time to give my opinions about the product I ended up using called Magic Water.


I have been asked about it when showing my WIP entry so I though this would be worth sharing with everyone, and as I couldn't see mention of it I think it is worth mentioning here! I tested a lot of other stuff till I settled on using this stuff and I have been suitable impressed. Most of my tests can be seen as part of this thread. http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=48421.0

Magic Water is a 2 part resin which once mixed flows like a liquid and takes about 24-36 hours to cure, dependant on ambient temperatures. It cures and pours completely clear and remains flexible once cured. the instructions are clear and easily followed. Even I managed it with little or no problem, and I am an idiot!

I choose it because of its ease of use, and its claims.

And I have to say it has lived up to all of them. It pours and mixes on a 2 to 1 part ratio of resin and hardener, you mix for around 5-10 minutes to ensure a good mix and then you can just pour it in to the scenery. It remains malleable for around 18 hours, and until fully cured can be moved shaped, prodded moved around etc. Most of the bits I have done are still water but I did find out this mainly by accident, although I am sure you could take advantage of this property if you were so inclined!

Here are some of the pieces I have done, most are 'tests' or where I have poured excess liquid in to whatever was around, I hope it gives you an idea of its use.




Flexible!


Clumping bushes absorbed the liquid making them look wet.


A waterfall using Magic water and clear silicone bathroom sealer, and white paint!




A reflection in the pond


CONCLUSION:
This is a great product, it can be poured deep, or shallow in a single operation. It can be coloured, it is flexible and resistant with no visible shrinking. I am sold on it and have been planing water based projects as soon as I poured my first test!
I would say that the liquid flows very similar to water, and will find any gaps or porous material and flow through or be soaked in to it. I used it in some white polystyrene, which I thought I had sealed with PVA, this stuff found its way through and found myself slicing it from my workbench! The instructions did warn of this, but I ignored that!

AVAILABILITY:
I am in the UK and bought from here;
http://www.hollylovestoys.com/product.php?id_product=358

The Magic Water site has other retailers where you can buy from, it also has an mail order service for those in the US. I warn you now the Site like the packaging is truly awful to look at! The product is impressive though;
http://www.unrealdetails.com

I hope that helps anyone looking to do a big or small water project, and any questions I will try my best to answer, though bear in mind I am a rank amateur!

[OSHIROmodels]

Very consise and useful review 

Does it have a big meniscus around the edges, I couldn't really tell from the photos.

cheers

James

[alone_withmyaxe]

If you mean the dishing effect you get from some products, not really.


here is one of the test pieces, it was filled to the brim and set to the brim!

As long as it is left to set flat it stays flat, all the dishing i got was from where i moved it around while it was setting and it left an edge, or where I added absorbent material to it which soaked it up leaving a bit of residue that looked like it had dished.

That answer the question?

[OSHIROmodels]

Certainly does, thank you very much 

cheers

James

[Mitch K]

Thanks for this - it sounds like good stuff.

[Chairface]

Excellent review!

[Eric the Shed]

Looks great..anybody have a source of this water..pardon the pun
Eric

[Thunderchicken]

Cheers Axe. Very helpful indeed.

[alone_withmyaxe]

Looks great..anybody have a source of this water..pardon the pun
Eric

I bought from here http://www.hollylovestoys.com and they did a good job and stock 2 sizes, I opted for the larger as it made better economical sense. There is another UK suplier as well as worldwide distributers on the Unreal Detail website which can be found here http://www.unrealdetails.com/find-a-dealer

It apparently keeps for an age as well as long as it is unmixed, but I cant vouch for that yet!

[YPU]

Great review, especially your in depth testing of the stuff. Honestly the packaging is so cheesy I wouldn't have ever bought it.