snow bases

[Monkeysplitters]

So I tried, from the article I found on here, my first snow base. I did it as a test for a mini im currently working on and the results turned out quite nice but... It just seems flat. The color and texture are there but it doesnt have that glint fresh snow gets when its in sunlight.

My question is does anyone have any ideas/knowledge on making the snow sparkly, save putting glitter on it (which I dont think would work very well, plus I dont wanna go and get laughed at by some snarky cashier when Im buying glitter). Any ideas?

 

[alextheartist]

A thin layer of glue then sprinkle bicard of soda over it. I also heard that crushed glass (eg from a lightbulb) works well too..

Alex

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Monkeysplitters
The color and texture are there but it doesnt have that glint fresh snow gets when its in sunlight.

Which method did you use? There\'s more than one article on CMON.

The glint is the hardest part of reproducing snow. Baking soda has enough for some people, others swear by powdered glass or microballoons. You can even try sugar-free sweeteners!

There are also two common ways of doing it with whatever powdery base material is used - making a paste with glue or by sprinkling it over something adhesive. If you use the paste method PVA works well but acrylic gloss medium might give better results.

Einion

 

[Monkeysplitters]

I used this method:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/443

The sugarfree sweetener sounds like a good idea. Now would you mix that in with the base paste or mix it with the \"dusting\" over the paste. I think Id lean towards the latter.

 

[Jericho]

I used the Citadel snow flock and it works pretty well. Just add a pile to your pallet, add a ton of PVA until you can get most of it mixed together, then add a few drops of water until you get something that resembles slightly dried-out toothpaste. It turns smooth when you let it sit, but it\'s still tacky and dry when you poke at it.

I don\'t think it matters what you do for the first layer, because you can always sprinkle some sparkling material afterwards.

My friend Brian bought some snow flock ages ago that looks really cool. It looks grainy/crystalline like sugar but it doesn\'t dissolve when added with PVA and water. Sadly he hasn\'t had the package for years so we don\'t know what brand it was.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Monkeysplitters
I used this method:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/443

Okie dokie. Well baking soda is sparkly enough for some tastes, I\'ve used it myself and I quite like the effect.

First thing I\'d suggest trying is not dissolving it in water first. I don\'t think I\'ve ever read that one before. Just put a small pile on a clean ceramic tile, add in enough PVA/acrylic medium and mix away, then add a couple of drops of water if needed to get to a lighter consistency. Even without any water both PVA and acrylic medium have water in them already so the paste will shrink upon drying (which increases the sparkly look compared to when it\'s wet).

Originally posted by Monkeysplitters
The sugarfree sweetener sounds like a good idea.

Worth trying it at least - I ground some glass from a broken bulb yesterday to see how it looks for snow

Einion

 

[Monkeysplitters]

I ground some glass from a broken bulb yesterday to see how it looks for snow

Im interested, how did it work. and how small did u have to grind it and what did u use to grind it?

 

[airhead]

use the baking soda or microballoons. Last step, sprinkle on some alum (find it in the spices) while the glue is still damp.
That will give the sparkle.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Monkeysplitters

I ground some glass from a broken bulb yesterday to see how it looks for snow

Im interested, how did it work. and how small did u have to grind it and what did u use to grind it?

The grinding worked great, although it took longer than I expected. I got it down to a fairly consistent fine powder, although it could do with being sieved to even it out.

I used a pestle and mortar, unfortunately mine is black so the powder is a light grey but this might not matter if used for surface sprinkling.

Originally posted by airhead
Last step, sprinkle on some alum (find it in the spices) while the glue is still damp.
That will give the sparkle.

Alum, like a few other things (damn it!) is much harder to get in some places than it is the the US

Einion

 

[airhead]

Enion, try the local grocers. Should be in the spice rack. The only food use I know of it is in pickling (making pickles).

It also is used to settle out silt in a pond (flocking agent). My try an pool store or aquarium shop?

 

[alextheartist]

You seriously think we have pool shops over here?

lol

 

[airhead]

Originally posted by alextheartist
You seriously think we have pool shops over here?

lol

Sorry, over here they are more common than convenience stores....

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by airhead
Enion, try the local grocers. Should be in the spice rack. The only food use I know of it is in pickling (making pickles).

Home pickling isn\'t big over here.

Originally posted by airhead
My try an pool store or aquarium shop?

The second might be worth a shot, thanks. We do of course have pet stores!

Einion

 

[No Such Agency]

A word of warning (oft-repeated for sure): some PVA glues will cause the snow to turn yellowish over time. Not very attractive. Alas, I\'ll have to re-base one of my minis for precisely this reason.