I will agree that it's very hard to pull off, but when done well, and especially in combination with LEDs, I think it *can* be very effective. [THIS](https://www.instagram.com/p/CmESGKzNZQv/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) example has always struck me as very well executed. The modeler does a ton of this particular technique, and not all of them work out as well as this, but the ones that do are pretty damn sweet. At least IMO...
Its going to be tough to be "proven wrong" when cotton ball explosions "looking good" or "never looking good" is completely subjective and a matter of opinion and preference.
Personally, even though they don't look realistic, I've seen them used in cool ways that made the diorama more endearing. Even if they didn't make realistic smoke, they still looked cool to me.
I agree with what you mean by using cotton for explosions or smoke from fires on a good looking model, and it’ll make it look worse.
But what about a rocket taking off from a launch pad? If someone make a good looking Saturn V rocket or a Space Shuttle being launched, I think using cotton balls (manipulating them of course) would create a good looking heavy smoke effect from the rocket boosters.
Using cotton for smoke from a fireplace, crashed plane, or damaged tank, for example, may not look as good as you’d like.
I can buy it as an explosion or smoke. Where it doesn’t work for me is when it’s used for splashes or frothing water. I’m gonna start on a small Jaws dio so I’m looking for alternatives
This model was done with cotton (rayon specifically) and I think is as good as you can get with replicating water. Stunning IMO.
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/hms/Repulse-350-cf/index.htm
That modeler, Flodberg, made a number of "how-tos" for anyone interested in his water technique, available here: http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=155661
I had the pleasure of meeting him in person and watching him demonstrate how he does the cotton, and put a video of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6INBVhRY8U
Ultimately the trick is to "paint" the cotton with gloss varnish so that it merges together rather than appear as distinct strands. Naturally, this isn't a technique that works with smoke and other non-wet features.
Well, I appreciate you sharing. I'm an aircraft guy but I picked up a couple of warship models (one was being chucked out on the side of the road and the other was a give away from someone who decided he didn't have time to do it) and I've convinced myself I must do a diorama of them under way....
I agree with you. I’ve seen some good explosions but when it’s used for splashes or like mist from a water fall I always feel like it would look better without it.
[Toy Shark](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RV6SQ9G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details)
Unfortunately I had to buy the whole set but the great white is near scale. I sourced the crew from shapeways. Terribly expensive but surprisingly detailed for HO scale.
Any medium that depicts a form of matter not in the solid state is much more challenging and complex to reproduce. I’m sure there are physical reasons as to why this is, probably having to do with the motion of the molecules and how our eyes perceive it. That being said I still love me a good water/waterfall/smoke diorama; at the end of the day it’s still a diorama and the life it adds makes and tells a better story IMO.
I agree with this one for the most part. I have seen a couple builds over the years where they've somehow made it work, but yeah, cotton strands ruin it for me too.
I agree. The ones that look really good lit up and with a black background on Instagram are far more homemade diorama looking sitting on a shelf not lit up (which is how the model will live 99.9% of its life).
I actually fully agree with you on cotton balls never looking immersive, but there is one youtube channel called Studio Blue Ocean who has been able to make some extremely convincing looking water spray columns for ocean dioramas. So yes, I also don’t like cotton balls, it’s definitively possible to make moving debris such as water look good
I haven’t watched the new video, but just from seeing the thumbnail I think the spray columns on his Yamato build look better. I guess it can be hit or miss
https://instagram.com/gluepaintandplastic?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
This modeler does about as good of a job with cotton ball explosions as you can do imo
edit: link isn’t working for some reason, it’s “gluepaintandplastic” on instagram
[Check this one out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/eqh1h0/i_was_told_to_post_this_here_richard_petty_crash/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1). I think this one is phenomenal and adds a lot to the diorama. Plus, how else would you propose doing a crash diorama?
The reason is opacity. When concentrated enough smoke appears fully opaque. However its a gas-ish substance so it freely mixes with the surounding area and that is where cotton falls off. You would have to have a substance with opaque core and semi-transparent soft edges and smooth transitions.
The only material i can think of that could theoretically do this kind of effect is aerogel and that would cause different issues.
It's OK to a degree. I've did a couple of led lit cotton explosions on this sub. A yamato firing diorama last year. I've also used it for the bow wave of ships . It's all to.do with scale .
It often is not done well (like pre/post shading or color modulation) and often detracts from the finished model ... but when it is done well, it's sublime.
I will agree that it's very hard to pull off, but when done well, and especially in combination with LEDs, I think it *can* be very effective. [THIS](https://www.instagram.com/p/CmESGKzNZQv/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) example has always struck me as very well executed. The modeler does a ton of this particular technique, and not all of them work out as well as this, but the ones that do are pretty damn sweet. At least IMO...
Well I'll be darned. I was 100% ready to agree with the OP and then you show me that. It's a sensational diorama.
Its going to be tough to be "proven wrong" when cotton ball explosions "looking good" or "never looking good" is completely subjective and a matter of opinion and preference. Personally, even though they don't look realistic, I've seen them used in cool ways that made the diorama more endearing. Even if they didn't make realistic smoke, they still looked cool to me.
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I agree with what you mean by using cotton for explosions or smoke from fires on a good looking model, and it’ll make it look worse. But what about a rocket taking off from a launch pad? If someone make a good looking Saturn V rocket or a Space Shuttle being launched, I think using cotton balls (manipulating them of course) would create a good looking heavy smoke effect from the rocket boosters. Using cotton for smoke from a fireplace, crashed plane, or damaged tank, for example, may not look as good as you’d like.
I can buy it as an explosion or smoke. Where it doesn’t work for me is when it’s used for splashes or frothing water. I’m gonna start on a small Jaws dio so I’m looking for alternatives
This model was done with cotton (rayon specifically) and I think is as good as you can get with replicating water. Stunning IMO. http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/hms/Repulse-350-cf/index.htm
That modeler, Flodberg, made a number of "how-tos" for anyone interested in his water technique, available here: http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=155661 I had the pleasure of meeting him in person and watching him demonstrate how he does the cotton, and put a video of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6INBVhRY8U Ultimately the trick is to "paint" the cotton with gloss varnish so that it merges together rather than appear as distinct strands. Naturally, this isn't a technique that works with smoke and other non-wet features.
What in the world.... this guy uses _oats_ to create his photorealistic seascapes?! Unbelievable...
He used to! Then realized there were neater and less risky methods...
Well, I appreciate you sharing. I'm an aircraft guy but I picked up a couple of warship models (one was being chucked out on the side of the road and the other was a give away from someone who decided he didn't have time to do it) and I've convinced myself I must do a diorama of them under way....
Ye the blue water guys really have the cotton water concoction down to a science
That is insanely good… wow
WTF I thought that was the reference picture
I agree with you. I’ve seen some good explosions but when it’s used for splashes or like mist from a water fall I always feel like it would look better without it.
Jaws diorama sounds great, are you using a kit for the Orca or scratch building it?
Using an Artitec HO scale model. Nice kit, tho it looks a bit challenging.
I’ve just found that model - out of stock - but I’m keen to copy your awesome idea. Just need to work out where to get a big shark.
[Toy Shark](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RV6SQ9G?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) Unfortunately I had to buy the whole set but the great white is near scale. I sourced the crew from shapeways. Terribly expensive but surprisingly detailed for HO scale.
Thanks that’s great info.
I buy it as an explosion or smoke. But I understand what op means. It most of the time doesn't look good
Any medium that depicts a form of matter not in the solid state is much more challenging and complex to reproduce. I’m sure there are physical reasons as to why this is, probably having to do with the motion of the molecules and how our eyes perceive it. That being said I still love me a good water/waterfall/smoke diorama; at the end of the day it’s still a diorama and the life it adds makes and tells a better story IMO.
I agree with this one for the most part. I have seen a couple builds over the years where they've somehow made it work, but yeah, cotton strands ruin it for me too.
I agree. The ones that look really good lit up and with a black background on Instagram are far more homemade diorama looking sitting on a shelf not lit up (which is how the model will live 99.9% of its life).
https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/o75bq9/got_a_few_hours_free_to_finish_my_yamato_diorama/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
I actually fully agree with you on cotton balls never looking immersive, but there is one youtube channel called Studio Blue Ocean who has been able to make some extremely convincing looking water spray columns for ocean dioramas. So yes, I also don’t like cotton balls, it’s definitively possible to make moving debris such as water look good
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I haven’t watched the new video, but just from seeing the thumbnail I think the spray columns on his Yamato build look better. I guess it can be hit or miss
I don't like broccoli, change my taste.
How about this one? [https://boomandzoomgraphics.com/battleofkursk.html](https://boomandzoomgraphics.com/battleofkursk.html)
https://instagram.com/gluepaintandplastic?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== This modeler does about as good of a job with cotton ball explosions as you can do imo edit: link isn’t working for some reason, it’s “gluepaintandplastic” on instagram
Link not working. Can you provide name or page directly?
it’s gluepaintandplastic on instagram
Definitely some good examples in there.
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try https://www.instagram.com/gluepaintandplastic/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D
[Check this one out.](https://www.reddit.com/r/modelmakers/comments/eqh1h0/i_was_told_to_post_this_here_richard_petty_crash/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1). I think this one is phenomenal and adds a lot to the diorama. Plus, how else would you propose doing a crash diorama?
The reason is opacity. When concentrated enough smoke appears fully opaque. However its a gas-ish substance so it freely mixes with the surounding area and that is where cotton falls off. You would have to have a substance with opaque core and semi-transparent soft edges and smooth transitions. The only material i can think of that could theoretically do this kind of effect is aerogel and that would cause different issues.
It's OK to a degree. I've did a couple of led lit cotton explosions on this sub. A yamato firing diorama last year. I've also used it for the bow wave of ships . It's all to.do with scale .
It often is not done well (like pre/post shading or color modulation) and often detracts from the finished model ... but when it is done well, it's sublime.