How to make an INCREDIBLE model river with amazing white water effects: Making a Scene Vol #5

(The ebook tutorials are now Patreon rewards, along with early access to YouTube videos. Any information given in the video about previous Patreon rewards may be out of date.)

Do you want to know how to make the most incredible model river with amazing white water effects? Follow my step-by-step tutorial and you'll be making a hyper-realistic river in the time it takes to say 'I get cool rewards because I support High Eye Workshop on Patreon!'

For this diorama I employed my standard materials of 2-part epoxy resin for the river and Mod Podge for the ripples, but I added crystal clear polymer caulking thinned with isopropyl alcohol to sculpt larger rapids and then highlighted these with Vallejo Ground Texture 'Snow' paste and Vallejo Ice/Snow, which is a very thick and fast-drying acrylic.

These combine to make amazing water effects, but as usual I wanted even more realism, so just as in Making a Scene Vol 3 'How to make and AMAZING model river' I also modelled the river bed with stones, boulders, moss and other materials.

This diorama tutorial also covers making a weeping willow tree, using a wire armature tree as seen in my video 'The ULTIMATE wire tree'. I also demonstrate my use of the Hot Wire Foam Factory Hot Knife, and how I apply Sculptamold, static grass and layered ground cover, including Woodland Scenics Fine Turf and Coarse Turf.

Primarily, though, it's about modelling ultra-real water effects.

This diorama took about 11 hours to build. The white water probably took 4 of those.

Thanks for watching. I hope you enjoy the video!

Many of the materials and tools I use come with safety instructions. Please always read and follow these rather than simply copy what you see me or other people doing.

[sammy-gdhw]

This guy is insane. Some of your shots look like actual photos of running water. Incredible.

[jasonplatco]

Dude. That's insane. This has to be the most real looking model white water river I've seen yet.

[Eggmanontheair]

I'm not even a modeler and still I was transfixed. Great job and exceptional talent. Hat's off to you.

[OrsunVZ]

best water effects I've seen in modeling. Really first class.

[tiffsaver]

BRAVO. I have never seen anything so realistic or beautiful in my entire life, and I'm 72-years old. This surpasses CGI, photo realistic painting, anything. This is true art... amazing!!!

[drreason]

I am stunned at the beauty and realism in your water. I have seen a bit of modeled water and non matches your work here. Amazing!

[Camelats]

Impresionante trabajo!! He aprendido muchísimo con tu video. Millones de gracias!!❤❤❤

[bassinbob]

One of the finest dioramas Ive ever seen. This video is really really good. You can learn a lot of techniques and learn about a lot of products and what you can do with them. I guess the 48 thumbs down were a result of jealousy. Peace

[josephdodd]

I can’t believe how wonderful and Realistic this work is 10 thumbs up 👍 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[martivanravenswaay-waddell]

It is obvious you loved this project -- the resulting rolling river is AHHHH-MAAAZING!!

[Jamesssssssssssssss]

You really make me want to start making dioramas, such a wonderful medium.

[jazpher]

I love it how he starts from a simple foam and turns into a very realistic miniature sceneries...

[tomatoes]

Hi, the resulting water was stunning, certainly looks real. A lot of time and skill. Thanks for posting .

[pmc]

Watched this entire video with my mouth open, drooling a bit onto my notepad. This is the best choreographed and edited lesson on YouTube, bar none. If anyone has difficulties with painting oceans (esp Atlantic Ocean that changes on a blink) and seas and beaches, this video has incredible instructions on color and form and even lighting (with the glossy resin mix). So impressed, will watch again and again as a master class. Thank you so very much ... lovely background music (not intrusive), terrific audio balance, the closed captioned details, and straight-forward product info ... wow. Checking out Patreon right now!

[ricklovie]

I found this very helpful. The finished results are amazing

[ModelNerd]

Fantastic - great fun to watch. The water looks excellent but I also like the way you made weeping willow. Thanks for sharing.

[hunter]

This is the kind of art that I love. The randomness of nature means that the details make it.

[Alnsbery]

When I saw the video I didn’t really know about dioramas so I thought this was REAL so probably a good sign

[sharonolsen]

The realism is stunning .. jaw dropping incredible !!

[madisonheath]

It is absolutely crazy how talented and patient you are! Your models make great inspiration and give off such a wonderful vibe. The model itself is so detailed and amazing. Keep up the excellent work!