This is the technique I use to create waterfall effects for a diorama: First, I shape and paint the flat areas of water, such as the pool at the top and the “splash pool” at the bottom of the falls. I prefer doing this with an airbrush, but you may use whatever method you like. While the paint is still wet, I loosely drape clear plastic wrap between the two pools. Once dry, the paint holds both ends of the plastic drape in place. If I plan to have rocks protrude through the falls, I poke them through the plastic now. I airbrush the clear drape using various stripes of blue and white. Then I pour several thin layers of clear resin (I prefer Envirotex Pour-On Finish) over the draped plastic, allowing each coat to fall naturally and dry before placing the next coat. I add thin wisps of white cotton stretched from top to bottom to replicate foam spray, then coat with more resin. To finish, I airbrush and hand-paint details. You can make both small and great waterfalls this way, and they all look wonderfully realistic!

Tip submitted by:
Keith MageePlano, Texas