Making Rough Water

So now you have your base covered in waves, you have an idea of where your ship is going to go. Now it's time to squash your ship into the waves where you'd like it to be. Take the hull and press it into the wet base where you want it to be. Now you can work on the waves as they meet the side of the ship and as the ship goes through them. Then remove the hull carefully by wiggling it a bit until it comes free-rinse it off removing any celluclay residue. Set your base aside to dry.

Now you can build your ship.

It may take a few days for the base to dry. Once it's dry you can paint it the color of your choice-for rough water I prefer a gray/blue/green color. Cover the entire base in this color. Once dry give it a drybrush of white overall.

Now you want to start adding depth. Cover the base with the gloss medium or varnish and let it dry then give it another drybrush of white overall. Repeat this step one more time concentrating the final drybrush on the very top or the waves and drybrush again making the wave tips very white. Add a final covering of gloss.

I like to add my ship before the railing around the main deck is installed and before it's rigged. Due to shrinkage the water will not butt up against the side of your ship as it did when you first set it into the base. Use your acrylic gel medium and fill the recessed area for your ship and set it in place. You can fill any spaces with this material and paint and gloss it to match later.

Look at photos of ships in rough water, videos, study photos of the class ship you're modeling in water. Practice.

For more of Mike's rough water photos please continue below...