There will be a 90 foot railroad girder bridge in the foreground and a street level bridge near the back. Should I build the gates of a lock against the wall?
I'll wait until my book comes so I can find the right picture of a canal lock. Shouldn't be too difficult.
Candy, canal locks come in all shapes and sizes, sorta like spaghetti sauces. (I'd say Gumbo. But being a cradle Yankee, I didn't learn what that was until 20 years after.) Take a run up to the NY State Barge Canal, ex-Erie Canal. There's a lock in Newark, NY that I saw years ago. But there are many more, all operational. I'm sure the Canal website shows their locations, along with locations. Be a nice Sunday drive in early spring.
There are even the remains of some locks on the Brazos River not far from the "Armadillo Ranch" where I hang out a lot. Back in the early 1900s someone (US Army Corps of Engineers) thought they could make a navigable waterway out of the Brazos for river boats. Failed miserably. Not enough water most of the time. And when there was enough, it was way more than enough, making for a very exciting ride down stream even if you were trying to go upstream. Here is a link to the locks at Port Sullivan, Texas. https://www.google.com/maps/place/P...8m2!3d30.8660236!4d-96.69553!5m1!1e4?hl=en-US
It all gets kind of cool, with "guard locks" to regulate water flow in a segment of a canal, as seen here at Glendon, PA. and locks used to lift and lower the boats. Note that locks on the Lehigh were engineered to a width to handle one boat. Basins were built at the ends where boats could moor and await their turn.
England is full of canals with locks. You can rent canal boats for two or more week's vacations and navigate those canals, operating the locks yourself.
Yes, but like all fake waters, you should use it sparingly and rely on a painted nether surface. Light, yellowish green, maybe brown as in the photo at first, and darkening toward the deepest parts. Then literally pour on a thin coat of gloss medium (NOT 'MATTE' medium as one poster said earlier), just enough that you can spread it and cover the painted surface and maybe another 1/16". Do use a popsicle stick or something clean and disposable to spread the stuff around for full coverage and depth, and then let it cure completely. Could take up to three days, so be patient. Later, go back and paint on another pour, this time only enough that you can take the applicator foam brush, the disposable kind, and stipple the surface here and there. The stippling gives the rippled effect. Note that you can stain and render turbid finish epoxies and the media. I add a single drop of "Hauder Green" from the Plaid craft paints found at Walmart, and a half drop of plain yellow, same brand. Mix this into as much as a full cup of epoxy or gloss medium, and if you want it turbid, add a pinch of Plaster of Paris powder. You'll be amazed at how realistic is can be: For this second, much wavier, surface, I didn't use the pourable gloss medium such as Mod Podge. Instead, at craft stores and artist supplies stores, you can get jars of 'gel gloss medium'. It looks just like cold cream. Slathered it on, stippled it coarsely, and what you see is what I got. Took five days for the heaviest 'waves' to go clear.
I don't have room for a complete lock build. I just want to model the doors and surroundings against the wall so it will look better than the water ending abruptly. Look at all those locks!!!!! It would take you all day to get up that hill
Will you be thinking of a lock at the back wall and another at the front face? To make a short but complete unit.
Do you mean a working model? If so I'm sure there is one in some museum. Google, working model of a canal lock
In front I will have a railroad girder bridge. Just no room for another lock. But that is a good idea
I like the look of it. I was thinking that I want the color to be a part of the water and not under it or on top of it. It will look more realistic.
Color under the water adds visual depth, even if the water is only 1/4" deep. Color within the water is seen only on the surface.
Well that is the real thing! "The Lehigh Coal and Navigation company!" I will soon have pictures to study and figure out how to do it. And any help will get you free tickets to my new act. Yes, the theater is open again.