Thanks lady and gents for the excellent comments. Also, I'm well chuffed my fellow modellers are picking up tips as this diorama progresses...and yes, the build goes back a step now and then!!!
We are nearly up to date now...
I've fixed the bridge - more next installment - but first.....
The water.
I always use ordinary cheap household varnish.
Here are some pictures of the first coat, which is diluted with a bit of turps substitute and liberally painted on, then allowed to level out and run into various corners and cracks.
This looks a bit like tar, that's because the varnish has just been applied. It will tone down as it dries....
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Here is the before and after. See how with just one coat the water is showing depth - shallow at the edges, deeper in the middle. I'm particularily pleased with the salmon steps and how the concrete lips are just showing through on the edge of the steps. I've also added a bit of greenery and a diddy fence (Photo next post)
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After only one coat, the reflections and shadows are starting to showing through, particularily where the mill race has scoured a deep channel. Also see how the salmon steps have dulled down as the varnish dries. The subsequent coats will lessen the 'ripples' and produce a smoother surface to the stream.
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That's all for the water until I can give it another coat. Next I'll show progress on the bridge and then we will be more or less up to present day for the build.
I hope you are enjoying this journey into the unknown....I am.
Thanks for looking,
Cheers,
Ron