> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://minormakerslab.gitbook.io/students-1920/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://minormakerslab.gitbook.io/students-1920/andrei/dusanka/15-or-making-fake-water.md).

# 15 | Making fake water

Making water from bioplastics

## Intro

This week I decided to leave my idea of the board game behind and focus on miniature modeling. **How could the modeling industry be more biofriendly?** Because literally every single thing that is made with miniature modeling (f.e. showing architecture or hobby) is made not bio-friendly materials like styrofoam, plastic, epoxy, paint are used while these can easily be replaced with bio plastics.\
\
This week I'll be focussing on how to make a more 'bio-friendly fake water' instead of how it is happening nowadays, which is with *epoxy and hardener*.

## Making fake bioplastic-water instead of with epoxy

![Epoxy is damaging for yourself and the environment, amazon, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7dou2irPukGKwxx3WF%2F-M7dsqakB6At6-UguWMj%2FSchermafbeelding%202020-05-19%20om%2000.23.32.png?alt=media\&token=92ab6bb5-d945-4415-94ce-ba11f6633cd8)

**How can miniature modeling be more bio friendly?** Epoxy is used a lot for different kind of things like, art, woodwork or home decor. With miniature modeling epoxy is mixed with hardener and is used for making fake water because it has a nice shiny gloss (called art resin).\
Epoxy can be very dangerous for your health and can even cause asthma and is extremely toxic for the ocean and all living organisms.

\
Landscape base
--------------

I started off with making a lot of mountains, made from sawdust and dexterin to get a good landscape base. Eventually I want to fill everything, what is brown now, with the fake water, about 1cm high. That is why I filled the sides up with mountains, so that there is space in the middle for the water and it won't go out.

![Landscape base from sawdust & dextrin, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bFB8H6eSfhuKL_0kI%2F-M7bGZYHYtcQbNokS1rA%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-18%20at%2012.11.56.jpeg?alt=media\&token=e689c7ca-b940-41ee-8b66-f4a1f4686c38)

## Water characteristics

* [x] Glossy
* [x] Transparent
* [x] Blue
* [x] Firm
* [x] Doesn't shrink
* [x] Has to harden fast (other wise clay and mountains will soften up)
* [x] Cheap to make *( I have to fill a 50 x 50 x 1 cm +- board )*

## Experiment 1

![Water experiment 1, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bFB8H6eSfhuKL_0kI%2F-M7bIM34wuPCBnAq-FgD%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-18%20at%2012.16.36.jpeg?alt=media\&token=943cc9f5-f514-4ac5-9abd-6f6dbf5cf1e7)

I used the cornstarch recipe from [Anastasia's cookbook](https://issuu.com/nat_arc/docs/bioplastic_cook_book_3) (page 5) and added 5 grams of glycerin so that it wouldn't shrink. To make it blue I put a tiny tiny teaspoon of [spirulina powder](https://www.hollandandbarrett.nl/shop/product/biotona-spirulina-raw-poeder-bio-60014851?skuid=014851), that I bought at Holland & Barret. The color turned out beautiful and bright, probably because of the vinegar. 

![Didn't get hard after 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bKLzhtJUSadH9Y_vz%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif-6.gif?alt=media\&token=0243f4a9-a1c4-4ca0-9c5a-e21ebf25f0ae)

### Nope

But unfortunately after about 15 hours it was still liquid. If i would put this is into the landscape between the mountains, it would probably mess up the clay and the sawdust mountains, I am affraid that it would soften.

* [x] Glossy
* [x] Transparent
* [x] Blue
* [ ] Firm
* [ ] Doesn't shrink
* [ ] Has to harden fast (other wise clay and mountains will soften up)
* [ ] Cheap to make

## Experiment 2

![Agar recipe from Anastasia, 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bLTaO1s4VCHkA1Wxr%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-18%20at%2012.31.47.jpeg?alt=media\&token=f567dd81-7ac8-4d67-9317-b4f853fd605d)

This recipe I also got from  [Anastasia's cookbook](https://issuu.com/nat_arc/docs/bioplastic_cook_book_3) (page 4), I used the Agar recipe. I didn't use any Sprilina powder, just to see it's true colors and maybe it would turn out nice without it being blue.

I just added the slightest bit of glycerin so that it wouldn't shrink, it also gave it a nice glossy effect.

![Agar recipe form Anastasia, 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bLwlIaX1wB9jkp6DK%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif-8.gif?alt=media\&token=74e4b70e-3c7c-4681-9942-d75e5a33a950)

### Nope

It looks very nice but the thing is that I would need a lot of Agar which makes it too expensive i think. 

* [x] Glossy
* [x] Transparent
* [ ] Blue
* [ ] Firm
* [x] Doesn't shrink
* [x] Has to harden fast (other wise clay and mountains will soften up)
* [ ] Cheap to make

## Experiment 3

![Agar recipe without glycerin, 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bNgJ9Y98ZAuj8zdpl%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-18%20at%2012.41.08.jpeg?alt=media\&token=5e9d30c5-5f9e-460f-be11-b55ef1ab7695)

I used the same recipe as with experiment 2, just without any glycerin. For this experiment I didn't use any glycerin because I wanted to see what the difference would be with experiment 2. Also so that it would be a bit cheaper to make. Unfortunately i think this would shrink after a while and it doesn't fit inside the mountains anymore

![Agar recipe without glycerin, 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bO01ptDkAu8UkIL38%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif-9.gif?alt=media\&token=dc94f8eb-8ddb-4352-bbf5-4a22ea3d8d41)

### Nope

It didn't remind me of water at all, it wasn't transparent and it looked too gelly. This is not a good recipe to make fake water with!

* [ ] Glossy
* [ ] Transparent
* [ ] Blue
* [x] Firm
* [ ] Doesn't shrink
* [ ] Has to harden fast (other wise clay and mountains will soften up)
* [x] Cheap to make

## Experiment 4

![Agar, glycerin recipe, Materiom, 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bQ-cKdRUCIYeN6pdS%2FIMG_7506.jpg?alt=media\&token=5f570f2b-1de9-45b3-a1d4-86a06cbe295e)

For this recipe I used a tiny teaspoon of spirulina again just to make it a bit blue. I used the [agar bioplastic (heated) ](https://materiom.org/recipe/41)recipe from Materiom. This one is way bigger than the rest of the experiments and I didn't even use so much more amount of ingredients just a lot more water, which is a good thing!

![Agar glycerin water, recipe, 15 hours, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bQu54EtsscYnT01Jr%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif-10.gif?alt=media\&token=05769500-817c-41e3-ad38-80651d8737bd)

### Yes!

This recipe is super cheap to make for **bigger surfaces** and it reminds me of water a lot. I could even make some bubbles inside by blowing air into a straw so that it would look like water even more.\
It's not super firm but if i would make it thicker I'm sure it will be. This experiment sample is only like 0.2 mm and I want to make it about 0.5-0.6mm thick.

* [x] Glossy
* [x] Transparent
* [x] Blue
* [ ] Firm
* [x] Doesn't shrink
* [x] Has to harden fast (other wise clay and mountains will soften up)
* [x] Cheap to make

## Letting it dry a bit more

I am going to let it dry for about half a day more so that it dried exactly 24 hours, just to be sure how it turns out. I'll put them outside of the mold close to an open window.

![Letting the dry for a bit more next to an open window, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7bKHnGyNZM5r9RdfiF%2F-M7bSbDwuBWxNv2q59N-%2FSchermafbeelding%202020-05-18%20om%2013.05.58.png?alt=media\&token=2e484d7b-8944-4f0a-8a7f-42fb12d54e52)

## Pouring 'water' in between the mountains

### Amount of product that I need

The clay board is 50x50cm and I want to make it at least 1 cm high. So i would need\
**2500 cm3  = 2500 ml.** \
\
**The recipe is:**\
\
4g agar (about 1 ml)\
3,9 ml glycerin\
420 ml water\
**------------------ total ml**\
**425 ml +-** \
\
2500 ml / 425 = **6x more +-**\
\
**New recipe for 50x50x1 cm board:**

24 g agar\
23,4 ml glycerin\
2520 ml water

## **End result**

I used the amount of ingredients, listed above. It didn't get viscous at all so I was afraid it would stay watery.

![Still watery..](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7ccWWD7vF6AmAgXc7D%2F-M7ceCuKkfL4jMaYN8Hi%2Fezgif.com-video-to-gif-11.gif?alt=media\&token=7c97b9cc-cfb4-4f21-8a86-2fc16b1db20f)

My idea was to pour it into the mountains by closing off the sides with carton. 

![Turning the landscape into a mould, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7ccWWD7vF6AmAgXc7D%2F-M7cdWKmqgBC2O7XbISz%2FIMG_7532.JPG?alt=media\&token=1a72b89e-c373-4370-a129-e9a38a9e5c0f)

I took a shot and just poured the watery product it in between the mountains and it all *went wrong!*\
\
I didn't close the sides from carton well enough so it went everywhere. Instead of it being one whole it came out into all little pieces but I really like the effect actually. Instead of water it looks like ice or super wild water now. 

![Bioplastic landscape, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7cfuQ52WETt6ewrAuc%2F-M7chijoPsoXaPx6-EHa%2Fezgif.com-optimize.gif?alt=media\&token=27865c79-b005-431b-bf81-5b252f1b6234)

![Buddhist on the North Pole, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7dEsA2mIHwQIZQgut6%2F-M7dJ9o3ZmPmzuAN1soT%2FIMG_7592.jpg?alt=media\&token=42006ba2-a40c-4f5d-84e7-29cc8f41aba5)

![](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7dEsA2mIHwQIZQgut6%2F-M7dJbmfJ3Bser9zpsbE%2FIMG_7554.jpg?alt=media\&token=f4b1f90b-2396-4a08-81f1-f0f8a86029f7)

![bioplastic landscape, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7ccWWD7vF6AmAgXc7D%2F-M7cfTTlkYO_r4MlKaLX%2FWhatsApp%20Image%202020-05-18%20at%2018.28.28.jpeg?alt=media\&token=3b9b4e0f-238e-484d-8e7a-04fda747c719)

![Buddhist on the north pole, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7dEsA2mIHwQIZQgut6%2F-M7dIELCIuNCenFVoyNA%2FIMG_7584.jpg?alt=media\&token=52023023-6ddf-4112-9df1-1977ddd8a97a)

![Buddhist on the northpole, Dusanka, 2020](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7dEsA2mIHwQIZQgut6%2F-M7dGIZLOM9jCop3Fp_j%2FIMG_7564.jpg?alt=media\&token=c78e43c7-01c0-4064-838c-1bd4ab33f04a)

## Epoxy/chemical water

![Epoxy wave,  Linda Bartlett, 2019\]](https://2472482582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LzaCPWnWmmX17D0w0O3%2F-M7dou2irPukGKwxx3WF%2F-M7dvZSOrKvgTBIh_2Gq%2FSchermafbeelding%202020-05-19%20om%2000.35.55.png?alt=media\&token=bf813d9b-5a6d-47ed-afe8-ca72660c3323)

This example I got from Youtube. To show you that the result of making water with chemicals looks almost exactly the same as the bioplastic example. **You don't need all those chemicals to create something nice!**

## Reflection

I'm super happy with the end result. And I am happy that it didn't turn out into 1 whole like I was planning before, now it just looks like iceblocks which I like.\
\
It's just a pity that I took the photo's with my phone instead of a camera. It looks more realistic and nicer in real life than on the pictures.

### Next weeks' idea

For next week I'd like to focus on trying out new recipes for different kinds of scenery like trees. A big pink blossom tree would be nice. Marjolijn also gave me a good tip on how to make it 'remakable' for people. I could intergrate little signs on each bioplastic which tells people which ingredients etc, are used. Instead of making something digital I can intergrate it into the landscape itself which is a nice idea I think. 

\ <br>