Burghead - Water Effect

**BobRo** · #1 02-17-2013, 09:17 AM

I have had a couple of requests on how I have done the water effect on my Burghead Harbour model. You will need a computer with Google Earth , a printer and a laminator. I used Google Earth to zoom in on the River Mersey, at about 300 ft I grabbed a screen shot, Google Earth has a save tool for this. I moved on and took another screen grab,moving left to right slightly overlapping the first one, after about six screen grabs I moved down, and took more grabs moving from right to left,slightly overlapping. Like a tile effect. I used a DTP programme for printing them out. I used MS Publisher for this . I used the crop tool to remove the toolbars, that is why I overlapped the grabs. I then printed them out on A4 . I number each one for reference so I can put them together in the right sequence.I printed them out full size but it still left a slight border. If you have photo stitching software you could it for seamless prints.I then put each one through my laminator. After they had cooled down I then trimmed them to remove the borders. I will use a spray glue to stick them on a plywood base. The plastic cover has a nice ripple effect which looks like small waves. I have used the River Mersey because it has the green silty colour found in northern climes. A nice blue colour can be found in Cadiz Harbour in Spain.
Here some samples and a photo of my latest build, the Fairway dredger

**Kevin WS** · #2 02-17-2013, 11:51 AM

Very clever idea - and very effective!

Thanks for sharing.

**Vermin_King** · #3 02-17-2013, 11:54 AM

Do they even make laminators now? LOL

I haven't used mine in over ten years. I'll have to give this a try. Hope it still works.

Hope I can remember where I stored it ...

**BobRo** · #4 02-17-2013, 02:09 PM

VK
They still make them. I recently bought a Texet A4 Personal Laminator for £15 (about $20). The laminator pouches are very cheap compared to a few years ago. Have you tried Walmart, a lot of supermarkets now sell them on this side of the pond.
Bob

**SCEtoAUX** · #5 02-17-2013, 02:18 PM

Very nice effect. The water in the diorama looks like it is in motion. Clever idea using Google Earth captures for the texture.

**BobRo** · #6 03-09-2013, 01:31 PM

In the first picture you can see an aerial view of a ship yard. For all Confederate Navy fans that is where they built the Alabama.

**Joe711** · #7 03-10-2013, 02:07 PM

Good idea, thanks for sharing!

Regards,Joe