How to build a miniature Norwegian whitewater river

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The foundation of the Nybrufossen Whitewater Park model – note the water return pipes at left (Photo: NHC)

The joins in the model's wooden frame are waterproofed using silicone and foam (Photo: NHC)

Gravel is poured between the templates of the model (Photo: NHC)

The river's bedrock is simulated using a cap of concrete (Photo: NHC)

The finished Nybrufossen Whitewater Park model, with its interchangeable ledge sections (Photo: Gizmag)

The upper falls, located upstream from the ledge (Photo: Gizmag)

The view downstream, from the top of the model (Photo: Gizmag)

The view upstream, from the bottom of the model (Photo: Gizmag)

The intake at the end of the model, where the water is taken up for recirculation back to the top (Photo: Gizmag)

A view of the upper falls and the riverbank (Photo: Gizmag)

The upper falls (Photo: Gizmag)

The foam kayak and kayaker, made to test adjustments to the ledge (Photo: Gizmag)

The foam kayaker, riding the wave created by the ledge (Photo: Gizmag)

In building the model, Shepherd and his team had to allow for the fact that the air bubbles in the white water could not be scaled down (Photo: Gizmag)

Shepherd, using the kayaker to test the playability of the ledge (Photo: Gizmag)

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants principal Darren Shepherd, using a tiny kayak to assess the features of a model whitewater park (Photo: Gizmag)

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants principal Darren Shepherd (Photo: Gizmag)

The upper falls and ledge on the actual River Numedalslaagen (left), and the miniature versions of them within the model (Photos: NHC)

The ledge on the actual River Numedalslaagen (left), and the miniature version of it within the model (Photos: NHC)

Article Summary

When an architect is designing a building, they build a scale model to check how their design will work as an actual physical structure. What happens, however, when engineers are designing things that will have to be compatible with the currents in rivers ... things like dams, bridges, or pump stations? Well, that’s where water resources engineering firms like Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (NHC) come into the picture. Their work often includes building exact miniature recreations of waterways, complete with flowing water. We recently caught up with NHC principal Darren Shepherd, who guided us through the production process of one of his more exciting models – a one-twelfth scale Norwegian whitewater kayaking park.

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