How l Am Doing My Ponds

[Peter]

l am making two pond`s.Hopefully all will go well. The object of it is to produce two cheap muddy pond`s from Paper card, Clay ,Sand ,Emulsion Paint , PVA Glue and cheap Wire for the Tree.l need the larger one for my Hougoumont model,because there was one just beyond the track way leading to the back gate of that place.This pond was formed by the natural run off of water from the high ground & was during the Battle of Waterloo heavily flooded with muddy water.So l need to avoid a pretty pond`s. So to start l am sticking 6 sheets of paper card together,and why not add a tree.................

[Beano Boy]

Hi guys I am doing this project as you see,although l did not have intention to post it yet,because l wanted to make futher progress on it before doing so.However l pressed the wrong button & here it is for everyone to see. What you see above is the start of the making of the smaller of the pond`s. So another update real soon. (See even a FiddleWood Gnome can press the wrong button!)

[SamSagace]

good start !
you've pressed the wrong button? really?
now I'm waiting the next steps !!

[Beano Boy]

Here are the two marked out boards showing the layout from above. Now it might be the case l use different tree`s to fulfil my plan.The figures are placed so as to give you an idea of the scale.However l have it in mind to use Horses in the completed work,because many were wondering about on the Battle Field at Waterloo.( l have hundreds of riderless horses due to the countless mistakes of Italeri.Beautiful they all are ,but very wrong and they are a complete waste of my money & of such a fine Sculptors talent. Above is the larger pond.Below is the smaller of the two. Confused? So am l....... So the smaller one first. l began cutting at a slight angle all around,because l needed a tiny sloop to the pond. Next l needed to pull the middle section out,like so, and the first pond was in full view. Next l peeled off the facing paper like so...... Now the base looked good.All was going well at that stage.Next ,was applying the paint. A dollop of dark brown Emulsion paint l blobed in the middle.This marked the deepest part. Next l applied some green. Then l began to blend it in like so.l began to work the green into the brown to create differing depths to the pond. All was still going to plan.Next l began to stipple the paint on,because l wanted to avoid brush strokes...... When fully painted l continued to stipple with the drying brush..... Reaching this stage,l left it to dry knowing that it would dry out lighter then it appeared so then. Really this was the first stage of the painting completed.l had little doubt that more would be required until l would be satisfied.

Now it was time to start the process again in likewise fashion in order to create the larger pond. Just pictures this time.OK?.....................................................................All was blended & stippled in like so. As for these pieces l kept them to use later.If not on this project then perhaps on another.l throw very little away. Hopefully next update soon.

[Beano Boy]

Well as you can see Pascal l am right up to date,and the pictures are indeed on. I hope you and others too will follow along with my feeble efforts. l haven`t a clue what to do next. Perhaps add Water! Then a few Fish! No l think not.All is well in hand. Next update soon. BB

[Peter]

Following Paul!

[Beano Boy]

l have applied a thin coat of water proof PVA Glue all over these bases,the main reason is to seal it all over.Further colour has to be add later to the pond`s . Above is the larger pond.There is a tiny piece of paper which has no colour,however this will be put to rights later.Below is the small pond.

As always my analytic mind is working overtime mainly due to my focus on English Literature,but now also upon this great Hobby too.When l was a child.l played with the odd toy soldiers that either belonged to me or my older brother Ron.Needless to say really is the fact that at 65 l still play with soldiers make no bones about that. I just don`t make the noises of youth or stick pin`s in them for arrows.However a few model soldiers at first are now running into thousands now a days.When l start a project like this item of making small flooded natural pond`s always ideas race into my mind on how one could use them on a small Diorama & at Waterloo this scene is possible & would work in my minds eye .Imagination is the key,so try to picture this,troops are moving along and across a muddy field and past this natural pond with lots of mud around it & them too.As the soldiers advance riderless horses appear on the scene and splash their way through the pond & away from the sound of the nearest heavy Guns. There were thousands of riderless horses upon the Battle Field of Waterloo. Although probably l won`t do this upon these bases,l thought the idea might appeal to some on the Forum.However on my Diorama of Hougoumont l will be doing similar because of the large overflowing pond there.l have far to many ideas concerning how to use such pond`s,but cannot of course make lots & lots of pond`s,but l can however give out ideas.Here are some photo`s & the pond & mud is far from being finished.

I think it would be interesting to do the splashes,and it could be done..........
As you can see l stood the base on my tub of PVA Glue.Boy am l glad that l am not creating a river,because there would be a Waterfall at each end. Ah! Yes, a Waterfall,thats possible too. BB

[Beano Boy]

Hi guys l have been busy on other stuff,so have not been able to do much work on this project.However l have bee painting the Horse`s and have almost finished the Tree`s needed to create interest to this scene`s rather then just looking at a dirty puddle in a block of card.This the larger pond........The smaller one..... l being not a good painter will none the less try painting Greys. An exercise needed for me,because l have a few hundred to paint up in the near future for Napoleonic Scots Greys. It is my intention to place the Horse`s in the water.l realise the Title is written in past tense,How l did,but it was my full intention to complete this project then post it.However silly old me pressed the wrong Button and it got posted by mistake. So if one kind Moderater could change the Title to, How l Am Doing My Ponds.It would make more sense to those looking at it. Thank you in advance.BB

[SamSagace]

the wrong button again ??
I can't believe that !!



again a very useful and clear "how I do" !
many thanks Paul !

[Peter]

Topic tittle is fixed.

Now go on painting!

[Beano Boy]

Let me explain, this project was going to take a while longer to do so l was recording the early stages of it when somehow it got posted instead of saved.lt was my clear intention to post it in two parts to avoid members and others too from becoming bored with the waiting of it to finish.instead of Saving Draft l Posted it. That's why l needed to have the Title changed,and thank you Peter for your assistance in this matter.l must admit l am going to cheat concerning creating the Ponds this time,because it is now my intention to use Realistic Water from Woodland Scenics .
Normally my good waterproof PVA Glue would do the job,but the time factor is a long process to complete it being a few weeks to go clear. So by using this stuff expensive true,l`ll also review it so as to give it a thumbs up or down for Members. l will be using a clear glaze finish Varnish too,to seal it because l believe this Water Stuff remains rather sticky for quite some time after use.This will l believe avoid dust and hairs and things getting on the finished job and spoiling it.It being the case my two Camera`s pick up the tinest of detail,so a Dogs Hair would show up rather large on PC Screen. So creating these two tiny Ponds will be a Learning Curb for little old me,but will well be of worth because for many ,How to do Projects seem to daunt them into a self defeating attitude of," l Can`t Do That!" This is the first Hurdle of Attitude that l try to get them over so that they realise",I Can Do That!"However l must also make it quite clear,I never would sugest to anyone that they Must do It completely my way.I have no place for such Vanity in my life.I can draw streght lines on paper,but would never sugest to others that they should not use a Ruler. Thank you kindly for reading.BB

[Beano Boy]

I have found time to work on the larger Pond.however slight change of plan`sI am now using this stuff,because what I normally use was not in stock anywhere when I ordered it.So as always I use what I can get........There are no Nylon Fibres worked into this air drying clay,and it is softer clay to to use so I applied it using my fingers instead of spreading it on with my knife. I must mention this I used PVA Glue brushed on because this stuff won`t stick.It will dry out but won`t stick to my base unaided.One could use Doubled Sided Tape,then add the Clay,but I had some rather tacky sticky dehydrated glue in a container so that was perfect for this job in hand.....I have cored out the two corners for other work to be fixed into these area`s at a later stage.When satisfied with the shape and look of it I stippled it all over with the brush end of my old brush,then fetched out my dirty water jar which I use for standing all my brushes in. Gave it a good stir up and dobbed it on with my large cheap brush.Mrs B buys them for me in the Pound Shop.Normaly there are about 6 to 8 in a pack.So very cheap,but one must wash them because the hairs tend to come out in the first use of them.I mixed paint up using one and it was fulI of hairs so to my cost I know what I am telling you is just so...Then using some dry Kitchen Roll Paper I just dabbed it all over like so,taking up some of dirty wash and the end result I am well pleased with..... I must say that I don`t buy expensive wash for Landscaping work,however I don't advise anyone use similar on model figures. It is rather early yet in this stage of the work to give a thumbs up or down for the use of this clay,but soon I will get back to report on this matter. The small Pond I will finish at a later stage and concentrate more time and effort to working on this larger one. Painting model figures are still ongoing for this project as is making other stuff too.......................So hopefully another update soon.

[Beano Boy]

Hi guys its been 24hours and the clay is not hard. The Humbrol Air Clay which I bought before would have been rock solid by now following the same procedure as I did on the pond. My bases for the tree`s I made were about the same thickness. So I will keep you well informed upon just how long it takes for this stuff to go hard.BB

[Peter]

Paul, it might be the paint you added to the clay, that it isn't dry! You made it wet!

[Beano Boy]

You are right Peter,but the Humbrol Clay reacted well and went hard as concrete in about 12 hours and if you recall I used the old wash stuff on that too. I have no doubt that this stuff will dry out, but I am contemplating the overall time factor that I want to report on,and not just the doing of it. Thank you kindly Peter for your input on this matter. BB

[Beano Boy]

72 hours & the Clay is very hard. Which is interesting in the sense I will be using it again soon.However it,the pond I mean is being used by the local Playmobil Vulchers and it has become a drying up Waterhole.Work will resume soon to get this place flooded.

[Susofrick]

I follow this with great interest! And I like it! I've been practising and learned to like without a button. But it was hard work.

[Beano Boy]

Hi Gunnar,this business of having no option of the Like Button is now it seems a constant problem on certain topics or is it to do with the place where these topics are placed? Blucher1815red made mention recently that he could not press the like button and get a response either,as indeed I myself on other members topics too.Gunnar nice to find out that you are following along with these two mud holes in a far distant field. I have resorted to put life into this topic by using props of things that usually hang around for something to die.( Perhaps this Topic!) It was such a brilliant sunny morning and I just loved the shadows cast by the wings of these Bone Peckers! So there we have it. BB

[Beano Boy]

.... The smaller pond now takes shape. The corner is cored out for later use that will be explained later.

[Beano Boy]

Often is the case with me is the fact that as I start a certain something like these Pond`s it is a step into the unknown,because to be quite frank about it I never totally know what the outcome will be.Don`t get me wrong,I know how to scrape out a hole,and paint it & fill it with stuff to resemble a large puddle or pond.It is using the other stuff that I am unsure of.So I am at this point applying some clear Varnish because I don`t know how the PVA Glue and the Realistic Water will react when in contact with each other.So I decided to place the Varnish between the two to avoid cracking of the finished pond....Brushing it on is simple enough, and I`m using a flat brush to just seal it over the area of the final pour which will create the finished pond look.Now I must just add at this point,that pond`s have been modelled in this way for ages using layer`s of cheap,very cheap Clear Varnish,and I intend to make another pond using that old system,but for this Topic as you know I am going to use Realistic Water...... Perfect reflection quality if one wanted to use Clear Varnish! I decided to use one Horse near the smaller pond. One Horse simply stuck down using PVA Glue and covering the base with it it too,and a good amount of Kiln Dried Sand is poured on. I applied the same Glue all over this side of the base and poured and heaped the sand on it and left it to dry.Why not use the Clay? Good point ,so thank you for your indirect thought and question. This side of the pond is going to be not so thick and built up as the otherside,and I must admit using the clay would cause me to have real problems working around the Horse.Another thing is the colour in the clay is quite hard to wash off ones hand`s and I did not want to end up with this red dye on the Horse. One thing I must state at this time.Using this Clay has caused my base to bend up which is not a perfect condition for pouring stuff onto it that has to find its own leval. The Base should have been one of sturdy flat wood or a large cheap floor tile. Or in the use of Reinforced Air Drying Clay. The actual base modelled on a large flat area and when hard and painted and the pond poured,and finished then removed as hard as Rock having no need for a base under it at all. I did not have this option because I could not obtain this type of clay.However I have now obtained a great deal of this reinforcd clay now that is used in schools. It will be hard in 10 or 12 hours after use,and as hard as Kiln Baked Clay in 24 hours.However this project is a Steep Learning Curb and the lessions taught will stand me in good stead in and on future projects which will avoid all the pitfall`s encounted so far with this project.
...... The first glue has been applied and sand heaped up on it,and has dried,so another lot of glue is added so as to help create a good uneven ground,and the sand is heaped on again. Heaped sand will force sand into the glue and will help the glue dry out really fast.Soon before the glue has gone hard,the sand can be removed leaving a good sanding to all area`s ,and stippled all over to create hoof mark`s and also help create shadows. Shadow`s the eye of the Camera can pick up giving hopefully a much better Photo.The Clay for the same reason has been stippled with this in view too. ( Or perhaps there are lot`s of Bunnies! ) I prefure to use an old brush this way up and like so.( As you can see lot`s going on on the Table besides this topic.The making of tree`s,and conversions on figures)..... Using a larger brush the rather dark stuff in my Jar is dabed on and around each and every Horse,and paper kitchen roll is dabed all over it too similar to how I did the Clay! Then using a small brush to do it close up work around and under the horses can be done......I`m pleased with the look that is taking place...... I realise the work so far has been rather long in showing you just how these two pond`s are being formed and by what process. So thank`s once again for following along. Reaching the point of dry brushing now and with other stuff added and the Pour onto the Pond`s. So that update coming soon.