Snow and ice

[Einion]

Originally posted by mud duck
Question. It seems to me that the trick to applying snow, is to do it in layers.

No, you can do it in a single thick application if you make up a paste of PVA / acrylic medium and [insert powdery stuff of choice].

This way you can actually \'sculpt\' the snow to give it the exact shape and texture you want, including going to the stage of forming those small balls that roll out from each step in a thick layer (probably a bit impractical for mini scales though). The real look is almost impossible to capture in photos but in the flesh it\'s excellent.

Previous threads you might like to check up:
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=17214
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=19020
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=11856

Einion

 

[laurence]

C00l stuff

Hi,
After just reading this thread it seems that there\'s many many different ways to create a snow effect on your mini base. I just had to mention that I recall the AMAZING Victoria Lamb using ground-up (as in crushed to gain the desired snow flake look) rock salt on her mini bases to create a very realistic snow effect.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Teflon Billy]

I’ve been using an extremely simple technique for adding snow to a model’s base that may interest some of you. I think that it looks more like drifted snow than some of the other techniques that sometimes resemble white sand.

It requires no mixing, glue, or painting.
All you need to buy is a small tub of “lightweight spackling”. It costs under $5 and will last you forever.
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(5ldh2yaz4bqqkf45yx11cv55)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=18950

Simply place a small dollop of the spackle on the base (the consistency reminds me of whipped butter) and place a drop of water on it. It will instantly form a thick white fluid that you can move and shape with your sculpting tool of choice. If you didn’t add too much water, it will dry in the exact shape you left it, it will be stuck to the material you placed it on, and will have the color and light dispersion properties you’d expect from [dry] snow (the kind that makes really bad snow balls because it won’t stick together).

Below are links to two models that I’ve used this material on.
http://www.coolminiornot.com/170678
http://www.coolminiornot.com/170681

Hope you found this useful.

 

[Beelzebrush]

I\'m a fan of bicarbonate of soda. It\'s fine, so you don\'t have scale issues, it\'s cheap and it\'s very easy to use. I find the effect quite realistic too. Here\'s a mini I\'ve just finished for the Iron Painter comp, which uses it....

http://www.coolminiornot.com/171941

I make it into a paste with PVA and add white paint into the mix too. Whilst the mix is still wet (on the base) just sprinkle bicarb straight from the pot... job done!