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Making a Water Base, Step-by-Step

When it’s dry, take a piece of cardboard and trace the outline of the hull and cut out the shape. (Photo 13) Use the cardboard as a template to cut the caulk where you want to place your ship. I use an X-acto knife for this. After you cut the caulk, remove it from the base (photo 14). This can get messy, so be prepared. Also, don’t worry if the caulk hasn’t cured underneath the top layer. This will help you close up any gaps when you install the ship. (Photo 15)
Now, let’s paint. I find going online and doing a Google image search as the best way to find out just what color to paint the water. I use acrylic craft paint to paint my water. (Photo 16) It will take two coats of the base color to make the water opaque. While the second coat is still damp, I will mix in a darker shade to give the water color some variation and depth. (Photo 17) Once you have your colors on, set the base aside to dry.