Wednesday 14 August 2013

A Monster face-palm...

... for an epic fail!


It was all going so well!  Everything was going to plan, the support from the comments was truly uplifting, but then came the lake!  I had thought that this was going to be the 'La pièce de résistance', a real 'wow-factor' element, but what is it that they say about a pride and a fall?


The plan was simple, paint the lake bed in acrylic colours using a tried a tested formula - dark for depth, light for shallows.  Once done a whole myriad of extras was to be added including a ramshackle boating jetty or fishing platform, weeds, reeds and the occasional aquatic plant.


This was all going to be encapsulated in some 'Woodland Scenics E-Z Water', to represent the lake; what could possibly go wrong?  The 'E-Z Water', recently purchased during our 'Modelzone's' closing down sale, is a non-toxic modelling product that you heat and pour, it really is that simple.  Having primed the area with acrylic paint and prepared shuttering, all that remained was to pour on this magical product and then sit back and enjoy what was going to be a deluge of congratulation from the loyal following that '28mm Victorian Warfare' has amassed.*

*Please note that I have deliberately over egged the congratulatory bit for artistic licence; one would never take such things for granted, that would be positively ungentlemanly! 


My advice to you all, 'Always read the instructions'!  Yes this product is safe and yes it is non-toxic, but oh my goodness it is incredibly hot a sticky when melted and what was the line, in the clearly printed instructions, that I had overlooked due to a bout of manly brashness ? -

"take care not to melt foam or plastic structures."


I might as well have been pouring napalm onto my prized and exalted gaming board, "what had I done?"  As the surface of the lake bed melted, the foul and viscous liquid seeped out from the resulting fissures - a total disaster!



I was of course mortified, but with a dented pride and a very sore finger*, I resolved to think on this ecological catastrophe in the cold light of day and sulked off to bed.  These final images show the devastation that remains of the lake bed now that the 'E-Z Water' has returned to a very solid state; back to the drawing board then!

*Yes I knew it was hot, but did that stop me trying to turn the tide of inevitability with a carefully aimed finger prod? - oh no it didn't, yes it would appear that yours truly really is that stupid!


81 comments:

  1. That is a shame, but when one door melts another opens, full of opportunities.

    I would go with some clear resin as a solution and this development allows you to have things submerged, yet still visible in the (now much deeper) water – fish, bodies, treasure, toxic waste, the possibilities are endless.

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    1. I quite like the idea of buried treasure and toxic goo, thanks Mike.

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  2. Ouch. well, not such a total disaster really. It kind of looks swampy actually. Build up a bit with some acrylic texture putty,repaint the ground and use some vallejo still water. it'll be fine.

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  3. Oh crap! Polyfiller here you come!

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  4. Aww man that sucks. I would of probably fell into the same trap tbh. Hope you can recover it :D

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    1. Thank you Simon, I'm sure something can be, I've already had some great advice.

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  5. Lovely example of English self-deprecation! Very funny, too.

    I can sympathise, Michael. I'm definitely a 'when all else fails, read the instructions' kinda guy! Pity about the terrain board, though. Any plans on resurrecting it?

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    1. If you can't laugh at yourself then what is the world coming too? I'm feeling a bit brighter about it now, perhaps have a look at it over the weekend.

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  6. I'm sure it will be salvageable with filler. I know this is 'closing the stable door after the horse has bolted' but I think the stuff you wanted was Woodland Scenics Realistic Water, just pour straight from the bottle.

    Hope you can repair the damage it was looking superb.

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    1. Thank you Mark, I've managed to pick up some cold pour water effect so will give that a go.

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  7. Damn, that's a pain for you after all that work. I've sure I saw someone using a deep fill PU varnish for water the other day - that might be worth trying out.

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    1. I was absolutely gutted Tamsin, but I'm sure we'll find a way round the problem.

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    2. Another suggestion for something to go in the deep water - the skeleton/body of Miss Xxxxx, the Latin Mistress who disappeared in mysterious circumstances a few months/years ago....

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    3. Now that has legs as a splendid scenario!

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  8. I can understand your pain, but I'm actually with Laughing Ferret here in that it looks like a great scummy swamp. If you stuck some additional bits in the lake bottom, like rotten wood or the skeleton of an old boat, added a transparent green wash to the pools of e-z water and added some reeds growing up around those pools, it would finish it off nicely

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    1. If you're using it purely for modern day zombie attacks you could also embed some barrels of toxic goo into the swampy area and provide a reason for all those dead things walking.

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    2. Thank you Paul, I think I can work with swampy and I love the idea of toxic goo!

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    3. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the repair job

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  9. My advice is take a few days and forget it for a little. No point in tackling it when upset and angry. There is lots of good advice already given.

    Having not used the product I can't be specific BUT!> It seems a barrier needs to be created between the finished board and the water effect. How robust it needs to be is of course open to debate. I am a belt and Braces man and do tend to over-engineer. So if it was me I would mix building sand and powder form Filler. Wilkinsons sells a pack for £1. GIVE IT PLENTY of TIME TO DRY thoughouly. Neither sand nor polyfilla conduct heat well and assuming you have coated the pond bed sufficiently there should be no problem.

    Alternatively something like PVA (often used to tank buildings to make basements waterproof) can be painted on.

    Basically there are still lots of options and no project goes perfectly right first time.

    So get the memsahib some tiffin and come back to the project when calm and rested and with fresh eyes and perspective.

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    1. You're a good man man Clint, thank you for the advice - tiffin could well be the way forward!

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  10. Oh dear that wasn't pleasant! However, like many have said it looks like you can salvage it and turn it into something nice by just taking a few of the already mentioned suggestions.

    Christopher

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    1. Thank you Christopher, certainly feeling a liitle brighter about it now.

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  11. So sorry to hear of your catastrophe! Hopefully it can be fixed with a little time and patience.

    I have used woodlands scenics water products before, but not the ones you heat!

    I did not have any problems over polystyrene foam...

    Keep calm, and carry on!

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    1. Thank you Scott, it really was my blunder and I do feel rather silly - still I'm sure something can be done.

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  12. Bugger.... "Experience is what you get when you you don't get what you want..." sure it is recoverable as Andrew says..

    but i must say i would have kicked the cat!!

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    1. If only we had one! The air was most certainly blue for a while, but a salvage plan is forming!

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  13. Sorry to hear Michael :(

    I realy hope you can save your terrain board in some way.

    Best regards Michael

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    1. Thank you Michael, I've had some fabulous advice so I'm sure something can be done.

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  14. You, sir, have just saved me some heartache. I had planned on doing the same thing to my dry riverbed board. So, while I'm sorry this happened, I'm very glad you shared!

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    1. I'm pleased to have helped although this was of course my fault; Clint has made some suggestions that might prove useful to you above.

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  15. Well that sucks the big one Michael!! Must admit I'm like young Johnny, "when all else fails, read the instructions". Good luck with your recovery project!

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  16. Such deep sympathy for you Mr A. It seems that the end result looks like a toxic pool. After all that hard work, my heart goes out to you.

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    1. Thank you Mark, but I am touched by the amount of quality advice I've received and feel buoyed to make amends.

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  17. Another vote for turning it into the 'Swamp of Doom'. At least you'll learn from you mistakes (..well actually, thinking about it, I never do) and hopefully others will benefit.

    I could produce a full time blog on all the cock-ups I make so thanks for sharing the pain and showing that no one's perfect.

    Regards,
    Matt

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    1. I have to confess that I really like the swamp of doom idea, but had hoped that it might prove a little more generic in its appearance, still beggars can't be choosers at this stage.

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  18. Drats! Murphy's Law rears its ugly head. You should be able to put it right though.

    Were it me, I'd first try to convince the T. rex that it was actually his fault.

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    1. Now that's a good idea! Where has the beastie gone anyway? "Here Rexy", "Come here boy."

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  19. I don't think anyone who has built a board with water on it hasn't had a total disaster with the water effects at some point. I know I had more than a few. I second Clint's advice to step away from it for a day or two and come back with a fresh perspective. You might see that it won't be as hard to fix up as you think.

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    1. Thank you Brian, I have to confess that I'm already feeling a bit brighter about the whole thing and as you can see have had some fabulous advice.

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  20. I reckon it makes an excellent swamp of doom. Did something similar, tried basing some figs on a polystyrene base...using contact glue to attach them...quite amusing to watch them slowly fall into the ever growing holes appearing underneath and around them. The best bit was, I knew that this glue melted polystyrene but still went ahead and used it.

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    1. Oh that has really cheered me up; I can almost see it happening! Thank you Paul. :D

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  21. sorry for your pains but I think in the cold light of day you will see a solution.
    Peace James

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    1. Thank you James I'm sure something will come of it all.

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  22. As Paul said a great swamp but really sorry to see the hard work.....melted!

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    1. Thank you Francis, watching it all disappear in front of my eyes held a mixture of horror and hilarity!

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  23. Ah it might look a mess now but I have no doubt that it is salvageable after all it is only a small corner!

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    1. That's true, I just had such high hopes for it. Still a valuable lesson learnt!

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  24. Michael, the board can be salvaged! It's when things have gone awry that others will hear the cry. Just look at all the support given above.

    Lets hope that you didn't damage the dining table beneath, as the wrath of a wife you will have to resolve by yourself 8D

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    1. Thank you Terry, the support has certainly been overwhelming and I'm now looking forward to attacking it again at the weekend.

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  25. Thank you Andrew and yes it does make me a bit better that I'm not the first. Thanks for the advice too.

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  26. Ohh sounds not good at all, hope both the pride and finger feel better soon.

    I also expect you will bounce back and repair the board to make it better than ever

    Ian

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    1. Thank you Ian, finger now on the mend - pride may take a little longer.

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  27. Damn! I've wanted to do the water/resin thing and this is a good share to a guy who hates reading instructions as well.

    It'll be a great story to tell your mates over a beer...upward and onward, sir!

    And might I add, I'm a big fan of Godzilla and I do believe that picture is from the movie where Godzilla is trying to teach baby Godzilla to breathe fire. :-)

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    1. Thank you Sir, I feel a little calmer about it all now. Spot on with the Godzilla call, I think the title was 'Son of Godzilla'.

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  28. Your creativity will rise up and turn this disaster into a victory, Michael. "Rolling with the punches is the sign of a great modeler," a quote from an anonymous modeler as he superglued his fingers to his model, and spilled his jar of acetone onto the floor!

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    1. Thank you Jay, I really appreciate the vote of confidence.

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  29. Bugger... Don't you just hate that kind of thing? I'd offer some sage advice but being a proper Johnny-come-lately I see you've already been supplied with a range of excellent suggestions. Still, you have my commiserations at least!

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  30. Creating is also going wrong from time to time...I'm sure we'll see a new and beautiful lake bed very soon here!
    All the best,
    Phil.

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    1. That is a very positive twist on the situation and one to be embraced, thank you Phil.

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  31. Ouch. And it was all looking so good up to the melty bit!

    No doubt you'll snatch victory from the jaws of this temporary setback.

    Excelsior!

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    1. Thank you Ev, I hope to have things back on track soon.

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  32. Wow that is a horrible thing to have happen. I will second trying the Woodland Scenics Water effects that you use straight from the jar. I've never used it but there is a good video here. I would also take a look at Terranscapes, his video on how he tried various products for a playable water surface was long but interesting. You can watch it here. I could be wrong with the specific video, he has several on this topic.

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    1. Thank you Sean, particularly for the great links - much appreciated.

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  33. Michael...Try a product, if its available where you are called Triple Thick, works on anything, no heat no mixing, just pour it from the jar...within a few hours its crystal clear. Best stuff I've ever used.

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    1. Hi Captain, I think I've found what you are talking about - is is a gloss varnish?

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  34. Ouch !
    Just walk away for it for a while, do other things and think of puppies.
    When you had time to reflect and had your mind on other things a solution will undoubtedly spring to mind.

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    1. Sound advice Sir, I think a jar at the local hostelry might be in order!

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  35. Oh that is a painful story. My condolences.

    Kudos for the monster face palm photo though. Great find.

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    1. Thank you Sir, as for Godzilla he just had that 'I don't believe it' look was searching for.

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  36. Hi Michael,

    I'm deeply sorry to see that disaster although I like the humorous way you told it!

    Anyway I don't think that everything is lost. Maybe you can try to shape the water ab bit and than build kind of swampy pond on top of it.

    Good Luck!
    Stefan

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    1. Thank you so much Stefan, I often find humour invaluable to diffuse a difficult situation! A swamy pond is certainly a great idea.

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  37. Geez mate I am sorry to hear and see this but it can be fixed and I am saw that you will be able to do this soon

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    1. Thank you Pete, plans are in the offing hope to have an update soon.

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  38. Crack shot American hunter Elton Mowbray pulled up with a start as he gazed down at the pools of repulsively scummy water in what had been Sir Jonty Smarm's ornamental lake. The blackened, bloated forms of crucian carp littered the lake bed.

    "Where is all ze waterre?" gasped Veronique Croissant, tossing an errant lock of auburn hair out of her eye.

    "I don't know mam'selle. But what on earth is that emerging from the slime out there?" asked Mowbray.

    Wretched, misshapen figures were clawing their way out of the black ooze and starting to trudge towards them through the festering, turquoise-tinged pools.

    Veronique rammed a couple of elephant-stopping 6-bore cartridges into her double-barrelled Joseph Lang percussion gun. Several of the shambling creatures turned towards her, squelching into the the poisonous mud as their feet broke through the blackened crust on the surface.

    She raised the gun to her shoulder, closed her left eye and pulled the first trigger...







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    1. Absolutely superb! A fabulous scenario Sir, I may have to use that at some stage.

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