irwit Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi all Im kind of to the point of giving up with trying to create snow so Im hoping someone can help me. What I am trying to match is the image here http://www.coolminiornot.com/264296 The qualities for me are the fact that the snow is white, slightly transparent, glossy, and you can use very small clumps of it and it still retains these qualities. So far I have tried The GW snow = hairy snow The GW snow plus PVA = hairy mess Talcon powder plus PVA = dull Bicarb + PVA = ok but too transparent Woodland scenic snow + pva = good but the pieces are too large so doesn't work for small clumps. Bicarb + PVA + a dusting of bicarb = too soft, loses to transparent and glossy feel. Ive sent the guy a message but no reply yet. Any help much appreciated ! Thanks for reading Will. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebG Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Try having a look at some of these, though you've tried a few. There's also crushed glass, example . Good luck! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000197 Share on other sites More sharing options...
irwit Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 thanks for the links reb but I have tried these 2 and neither give the quality with really small lumps of snow. Im really not sure where I am going wrong with this, lol. Maybe im being too picky but I really want it like the example image. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000201 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebG Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Maybe try playing around with Water Effects rather than just PVA? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000263 Share on other sites More sharing options...
irwit Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 yeah that has crossed my mind however all the examples the water effects seems to be more transparent than the pva so I dont think that will help the issue. Ill keep trying some different consistencys and effects and hopefully something will work! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000266 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtle Discord Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 This is taken from the excellent Jimmi's Worldeater WIP thread here at B&C. As an added note, if you find the PVA glue is drying too translucent, just add a bit of white paint to it while mixing up the 'paste'. You won't need a lot, just enough to make it milky and help boost the white-on-white, but it will be hard to tell before the glue dries. Normal snow 1) Mix up some Bicarb of soda and PVA glue in a 50/50 ratio until you have a toothpaste texture. You can add a little dash of water to make the paste easier to move around on the base. DO NOT USE either woodglue and/or baking powder as they yellow over time..........and no one likes yellow snow! 2)Use appropriate tool (i use a sculpting tool) to drop paste onto the desired area and to push it around until your happy. I let it dry and do a few layers to get nice piles of settled snow. 3) On the final layer, sit your model in a tray and pile up neat bicarb over the PVA bicarb mix. Leave this to dry overnight before moving the model. 4) Once dry, remove model from tub and use a brush to dust off any excess powder. 5) Spray with matt varnish to seal it all! Melting snow 1)Add some greenstuff to the surface on the base, textured it with a rock to create the ground then painted it as normal. 2)Paint a puddle of PVA around the feet, leaving the bit closest the feet untouched so it looks "dry" and you can see the untouched GS ground texture. 3)Once the PVA goes off add the bicarb/PVA snow leaving a "border" of the PVA layer visible. 4)Once thats dry knock off any excess snow then spray dullcote varnish over the hole thing. 5) Now go back over the PVA with brush on gloss varnish to make the ice look wet, ensuring to get a bit of varnish on the overlap between the ice and snow to sort of blend the melting effect. 6) Pat yourself on the back! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000350 Share on other sites More sharing options...
irwit Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Thanks for the post discord but it was actually me in that thread asking for him to post the tutorial :teehee: Ive tried adding some white paint but it loses the translucent look that the example image has. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000353 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtle Discord Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Oops. That's what you get when you start rambling before consuming some morning coffee. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000388 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Never ever use GW snow; it's just white grass flock, and that makes it fuzzy and terrible. I also don't like baking soda as it's too dull, which is great for very small scale (like 1/144 or something) scenes, but not for bigger scales. I am a strong proponent of GF9's snow. I used it when making my WFB Chaos, as you can see here. I don't remember the exact amounts, but a rough estimate could be 1:1:1 Snow:Water:White Glue. This gave it some transparency, some thickness, and a relatively glossy feel without being too much of any, as well as being super-hard when dry. I accidentally cracked one of the bases in half and the snow actually didn't crack at all; it's what held it all together! It's also super simple to do; I honestly just put it over the primer grey of the bases, giving it a very cold look. I'd suggest getting it and experimenting to meet your needs. It may not Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3000442 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolftracks8 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Ok. I am 56 and have been a hobbyist for over 45 years. I have been reading and watching tutorials on snow bases and dioramas for the past few weeks. I 've purchased everything under the sun to try what has been suggested. Today, I made my best snow yet; I first painted the area with gloss white paint. I then mixed equal parts of DAP Fast'N Final Lightweight spackling compound with Woodland scenics FLEX PASTE. Using a hobby spatula , I spread the goo where I wanted a snow bank. I then SMOTHERED the area with CALUMET BAKING POWDER. When dry, I tapped the piece to remove any excess. Finally, I sprayed the piece with KRYLON Matte Finish. So far, it looks just plain great. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3008466 Share on other sites More sharing options...
irwit Posted March 6, 2012 Author Share Posted March 6, 2012 Ok. I am 56 and have been a hobbyist for over 45 years. I have been reading and watching tutorials on snow bases and dioramas for the past few weeks. I 've purchased everything under the sun to try what has been suggested. Today, I made my best snow yet; I first painted the area with gloss white paint. I then mixed equal parts of DAP Fast'N Final Lightweight spackling compound with Woodland scenics FLEX PASTE. Using a hobby spatula , I spread the goo where I wanted a snow bank. I then SMOTHERED the area with CALUMET BAKING POWDER. When dry, I tapped the piece to remove any excess. Finally, I sprayed the piece with KRYLON Matte Finish. So far, it looks just plain great. Any chance of some pics? I'm going to try again soon and am thinking of a mix of talcon powder and baking powder. What I am trying to avoid is having to varnish the final product as IM hearing horror stories about matt varnish spray leaving models white. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3008727 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolftracks8 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Any chance of some pics? I'm going to try again soon and am thinking of a mix of talcon powder and baking powder. What I am trying to avoid is having to varnish the final product as IM hearing horror stories about matt varnish spray leaving models white. I will try and get some pics posted. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3008811 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elostirion41 Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Seahawk, did you just mix up your ingredients then spread it on the bases or was it applied in some other way. I purchased some of the GF9 snow awhile back for my Space Wolves but I haven't gotten around to the bases yet. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3008892 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 I mixed the stuff together on a paper plate. Probably not the best because the plate absorbs liquid, but yea, I mixed and then applied. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3008925 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jupiter Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Never ever use GW snow; it's just white grass flock, and that makes it fuzzy and terrible. I generally agree with your suggestions (and there are certainly better options than the GW snow) but I would differ with you on the criticism of the GW snow. I've found that -- rather than PVA glue -- using super glue to stick the snow to the base over several layers gives a decent (and non-fuzzy) result. Could just be me, but I've been happy with the results. Still, I like all of your suggestions Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3009286 Share on other sites More sharing options...
irwit Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 Thought I would post up my results. Still a little powdery but the trick was in the ratios of water/pave/baking powder. Think I will up the PVA for next time round but still happy. This is also rock solid, even in small clumps, no need to varnish which is what I also wanted to avoid. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3013179 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolftracks8 Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Thought I would post up my results. Still a little powdery but the trick was in the ratios of water/pave/baking powder. Think I will up the PVA for next time round but still happy. This is also rock solid, even in small clumps, no need to varnish which is what I also wanted to avoid. LOOLS REAL!!! The only reason I spray flat finish is to prevent the baking powder from yellowing in the future. I just got some Alumilite microballoons and I am going to try making a snow scene with them. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/247736-how-to-make-really-good-snow/#findComment-3013674 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.