JEFF WARE shows us how to use this easy-to-use product from Deluxe Materials.
Aqua Magic is a one-step product for creating water features on your layout. It is available in two sizes; 125ml (DLBD-65) and 250ml (DLBD-64).
The first stage is to model your river or lakebed. In this case, I chose to model a fast-flowing seasonal river with extensive gravel patches and rocks carried by the stream. You may, if you wish, colour the Aqua Magic with water-based paint or paint the lake or riverbed to give the effect you want. The darker the colours used will give the impression of greater depth. In this case I used Gaugemaster GM118 Grey Granite Ballast mixed with Noch N09365 Basaltic Rock Dark Grey Ballast for the darker areas. The lighter areas were modelled using Fleischmann FM9479 Track Ballast. To add to the effect, larger stones were added from the Noch range in the form of N09214 Medium Boulders.
You can of course choose whatever materials you wish to obtain your desired effect.
The application of the Aqua Magic straight from the bottle onto the prepared riverbed. The manufacturer recommends that a thickness of no more than 2mm be applied in each layer.
The newly applied Aqua Magic. As the Aqua Magic is fairly thick, a noticeable meniscus develops and it is necessary to use a small piece of card or plastic to flatten the edges to obtain a natural effect. This is shown below.
The Aqua Magic will find any gaps or holes and it is necessary to close off the end of the feature with a dam, or you will lose your river!
If you do accidentally put more than the recommended thickness you will get cloudiness as shown above. This will clear over a long period of time as the Aqua Magic dries.
A dried completed section of the river.
Aqua Magic is odour free, does not require mixing of solutions of other chemicals or heating, so is very safe to use and produces a hard, dry shiny surface.
I found Aqua Magic easy to use and it produces, in my personal view, a very pleasing and natural effect.