How to Add Awesome Fog to your Models + Build Your Own Fog Machine

[@simonreynolds1518]

I will now forever think of Dagobah as smelling of Cherry, thank you Kathy, it's been a great series of videos watching you create this swamp scene, take care.

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks Simon.

[@georgecunningham9175]

Your ingenuity and creativity are only surpassed by your execution of your projects. Thanks for the inspiration and entertainment!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Really nice, it helps separate the model from the background!

[@PaulinhoThompson]

Happy to hear you don't smoke :D and a great idea for a fog machine, thanks.

[@johnodonoghue7381]

Another great job Kathy

[@TATICMOOR]

After saying to you during the last live stream to do with this diorama. Though I was only jesting to keep you going about vaping. Here we are with you making a vaping fog machine to get your effect for the swamp. Well done Kathy and it is amazing what one can do with assorted items to use them in another way.

[@alfahotel1889]

Very intersting video. thanks a lot. Greetings from Chile.

[@monham5041]

Great use of a vape Kathy. Photos look great. Monique from Brisbane

[@normanrowe2831]

Hi Kathy. Many decades ago, too many to mention, when I was in college. I was in the middle of working on a minor in theatre arts and a major in cinema arts. I found myself being responsible for special effects for both a play and a student film. Both requiring low laying fog. I did research and what the experts used was an insect fogger. Which was simply a rectangular basket that held water and a powerful pump to push the water vapor out. THE TRICK was to place chunks of dry ice in the basket of water. That kept the fog on the ground. Cold air sinks to the ground. That’s my story and my 2 cents worth. DRY ICE. See ya.

[@KathyMillatt]

I did look at dry ice but it seemed quite expensive for a one off use. It’s certainly one of the best effects.

[@DiggerEvans]

Wow i had no idea they had dry ice in the olden days Norm ha ha ha

[@normanrowe2831]

@@DiggerEvans, yes Digger. The ice company would bring if over on their horse drawn wagon. And then they would grasp it with huge tongs and sling it over their shoulder. And then drop it in your ice hole. Bah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

[@billforrest4205]

The nightclub/Mobile Dj fog fluid is just Glycerine and water. you can get different kinds. some are designed to rise some are designed to settle and lie low (they all stink! add a few drops of scent to the fluid). Good how to there Cathy, I've made a cople of these for chimney's on model buildings.

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks! I wasn’t sure what this smoke liquid was as I’ve had it for years.

[@Maeyanie]

Some types of incense can make great ground-hugging fog too. And they're cheap.

[@darkness1943]

if your soldering is such a big piece you should use a bigger tip. so more heat goes to solder point.

[@scaleddown5367]

I’ve made one 👍 You don’t even need a diorama. Just use lighting 😃

[@ronm6585]

Very cool, thanks.

[@ricter591]

Thanks Kathy, Very cool. 🐾🚂 BearCreek, Cov. Ky.

[@TaterRaider]

Dry ice is an option, depending on the room's ventilation. Place in open-topped container and allow to sublimate. If you desire thicker fog, add water. The carbon dioxide vapor sinks causing the fog effect to linger on the scene. Keep in mind that the ice is EXTREMELY cold and that it's CO2 and the vapor will head for the floor where small children and animals tend to roam so take safety precautions accordingly. In any method involving cold keep an eye on condensation. If you start to experience it and you have electronics nearby it's probably a good time to shut the electronics down until things dry out, thoroughly in the case of chip sets like DCC accessories and what-not.

[@seabiscuits]

To make your fog settle faster, if you run it through a box of ice, it should give you that effect. To pipe the fog to places you want, use piping of the right size, but leave a tiny gap of air at the nozzle. The vape and fog machines need air to make the fog from the superheated fluid. You can split the pipes and run them into hidden spots, put slots or holes in the pipe to make a ‘curtain’ effect and so on. I work with fog systems on life size stuff...

[@KathyMillatt]

Great tips! I will have to get a freezer block in the system next time. Thank you.

[@WhitneyLaBrie]

OMG what a great way to add the next level to the scene! I love it! Thank you

[@vezhopkins714]

cool I might try this in some of my horsey pics :)

[@da6444]

Génial !

[@Ratty_Rex]

That home made smoke machine reminds me of the old Hornby/ TriAng smoke makers for the trains. Same principle I guess. Great explanation..... cleared up a foggy subject. Hahaaaaaa. 🤣

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks Rex! I have a smoking chimney for a model railway and the only difference is the lack of fan. And size.

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Kathy, that was a good idea, would be great for my engine shed , Thanks, All the Best Brian 🤗😎😍

[@nutwiss]

Kathy: have you see or used an ultrasonic fogger? They're often used for cheesy water features. They produce a decent amount of ground-lying mist when you submerge them in a shallow dish of water, but can get things damp if left on for extended periods. If you haven't used one, get the cheapest one you can and make sure it doesn't come with LED's, unless you want them!

[@KathyMillatt]

That’s what the water one was here. I do have a fogger but couldn’t find it and I’m trying not to buy stuff I already own! I think that will be the next experiment.

[@nutwiss]

@@KathyMillatt jeez. How did I miss that? I watched all of it too! I need a cup of tea.

[@KathyMillatt]

@@nutwiss it didn’t get a lot of air time! It pushed water up and out rather than fogging along the ground.

[@eBiCrafter]

This is great idea.... thank you

[@drunkengamemonkeys]

some advice from a film person. when using fog machines if you use a tube or pipe and ice to cool it as it comes out it will stay low around the ground.

[@KathyMillatt]

Thank you. That is so useful.

[@HumancityJunction]

Smoke Pellets are another option you did not mention. They are mostly used to test the air flow for HVAC systems, but they are an easy way to create some smoke for a diroama as well.

[@KathyMillatt]

I hadn’t even thought of those. Thanks!

[@JackSassyPants]

To make the fog settle faster you could use a fog chiller for the large machine and a mini chiller for the vape rig. There are plenty of chiller tutorials online but for the mini version you could use a tupperware full of ice with a hole on each end, one for input and output. Even filling a container with smoke and letting it settle before tipping it out like water can get the same effect low rolling fog effect. I think all the methods have merit but I like the big stinky fog machines the most :)

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks! I will have to experiment with the cooling effect. The big machine is my favourite too.

[@colossalbigfoot256]

You really put the work in on this dio and it shows it looks great and then add in the final touches with the smoke , perfect. I wish I could figure out or someone could figure out how to make black smoke. does anybody have any ideas how to do that based on the same type technology yours looks perfect for what you need it for but we need some type of black smoke for us RC semi Diesel engines.

[@KathyMillatt]

That’s a really good question and sadly I don’t have an answer.

[@johngrubb1590]

Great video but you forgot to mention dry ice.👍

[@stephencameron4032]

Hi Kathy, another ingenious project, I was wondering how you were going to do this, I'd probably have just painted mist onto a piece of perspex to put in front of the diorama, and just display it at eye-level, ( the trouble is everyones eye-level is different, Mary is 9inches shorter than me), but this is a brilliant idea, I could imagine it being used in an engine-shed, on a timer, a short burst every 30 seconds would probably be enough, thereby reducing the risk of burning the device out to zero, you're definitely on to something big with this one, anyway, stay safe, all the best from Scotland, Stephen.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid on your channel keep up the good vids thanks lee

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks Lee.

[@The45thClown]

Interesting video. Really liked the effect as well. Probably wise under cranking the e-cig, although it looked quite chunky. My understanding is that the lower power rate may be reducing amount of fog but didn't seem like an issue though. Fog is generated because the oil has a higher boiling temperature than water (glycerol 290c vs water 100c), as the water evaporates it causes small bubbles that burst causing the oil to atomise and it's blown out as fog. It's why you get the oily residue but probably good for moisturising the skin. Purer glycerol (glycerin) could probably be used for a thicker fog, (a touch of distilled water to help it flow if needed). Once your vape liquid runs out you could try and do another video ... from the amount you're using, I'll look forward to that in 2037. I also suspect you'd see very little difference and it wouldn't have as pleasant a fragrance. Thank you again for the interesting video.

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks. I did buy some glycerine to try so experiments will continue.

[@jimcarr4007]

Also any ideas on adding lights to get effect. In swamp area. Need help. Jim

[@KathyMillatt]

I would use LEDs.

[@keithkarbel2000]

Thank you, Kathy. I was hoping someone would experiment with vape and micro pump. I wanted to see a better option for model steam locomotives, and this could be it if it can be powered from the rail. Too big for HO that I model, but maybe O gauge?

[@KathyMillatt]

I am sure you can find the fan in miniature and then pipe the smoke to the chimney. Would be an interesting project.

[@Belzediel]

One option I can't help but notice was skipped, was, fire up a lovely cigar, take a toke, relish the sumptuous flavours of perfectly aged tobacco, then gust that thick, opaque, oozing lovliness right over the whole doodad. Take a few shots, and marvel at the eerie spookiness of it all whilst you pour yourself a fifty year old single malt over two or three mineral water ice cubes (at most and optional) before sitting back, and taking some time out of yet another day full of people making your life needlessly complicated, to consume two of the greatest pleasures humanity has ever carved out of a world almost totally bereft of sanity and dignity, whilst pondering whether or not building dioramas is, in effect, a subtle representation of the yearning for simpler worlds, the purest form of escapism; to build a place where you can be yourself without rhyme or remit of a population drunk on assumed relevancy and presumed importance, or if it's simply something to do instead of sloping off down the pub to be regaled with other random boor's egocentric whimsy about how they'd soon set the world to rights if only they could just be given supreme executive authority, or possibly football. Admittedly I may have over-sold the notion.

[@jimcarr4007]

Cathy do they sell any small misters that may work battery operated. Not many plugs at shows thought there may be something small@ simple Jim😊

[@KathyMillatt]

I’m sure they do but the ones I’ve seen for cosplay aren’t cheap.

[@micah06v8]

Wouldn't dry ice amt a little bit of water work just as well?

[@KathyMillatt]

I looked but it was quite expensive to get hold of.

[@micah06v8]

@@KathyMillatt 😕 must be because of the pandemic. I just checked the local news and evidently there's a shortage of it right now. 😕 Usually I can get it at my local grocery store fairly cheap.

[@KathyMillatt]

@@micah06v8 I’ve never seen that in the U.K.

[@jimcarr4007]

Cathy what did you use for back ground on swamp diorama of dYgoba scene built it but needs back ground added thanksjim

[@KathyMillatt]

I painted on PVC board with oils using the movie as reference.

[@redheadsg1]

You can buy pure VG base liquid (without aroma) in vape shops.

[@KathyMillatt]

The cherry is growing on me! I did buy some plain glycerine to try too.

[@AzraelThanatos]

One major thing to worry about with most of the fog options is making sure that your diorama is even more heavily sealed before using the machine with it, also let things dry out from time to time and pay attention when you do. And be careful where you put it. Extended use of many means moisture, and moisture can create mold and other issues with things growing on your work...

[@8BitLife69]

This is not a moisture generated fog. This is a chemical fog created by combusting glycerin. This will NEVER leave moisture behind or create mold.

[@f.catfracassofracasso404]

Great ideas but you forgot about one other option used for decades in film and for foggy photos dry ice.

[@KathyMillatt]

It’s quite expensive to get hold of so maybe if I do a fog part 2.

[@robertjensen1438]

Just a comment for the algorithm.

[@alextopfer1068]

The vape will coat everything with goop. Might take a while to build up. I used to know people who vaped inside and it got quite disgusting.

[@KathyMillatt]

I definitely wouldn’t leave this running a lot! I think all the methods leave a residue except the water diffuser.

[@SianaGearz]

Mhm you're running 1.6A through an AMS1117 regulator? That's a little dicey. At least there's nothing important on the far end that wouldn't survive 5V and they're cheap, i once bought like 20 of those for a dollar (just the ICs on a tape, not breakout boards; were good to have because they don't need much of an excuse to die even when they're not abused). I think it won't be really outputting anywhere near the nominal 3.3V long term, trying to keep itself from reaching Tj=150°C, but then that might as well be the desired behaviour in this case.

[@KathyMillatt]

I’ve not noticed it getting too hot and I use these converters a lot as 3.3V is such a useful amount.

[@polygonalmasonary]

Or smoke a ‘real’ cigarette and exhale the smoke onto your Diorama? Leaves a residue of 🤮🤮🤮