Flint's Tiny Tutes 2: The RE-tutening

[Flint13]

Evening folks. 

I've been getting a bunch of questions over how I do my snow basing, so I thought I'd sit down and whip up another short tutorial for anyone curious. To me, while snow may be a tad overdone, I think it's quintessential. I have a sort of passion (read: obsession) with winter themes, so it carries across every army I have, including but not limited to Beastmen, Warriors, Chaos Dwarves, Night Lords and Adeptus Mechanicus. The way I do it isn't super clean, but its simple, doesn't take long, and looks decent. 

Enough chat, more frostbite!

Step 1 - Assemble materials. Nothing shocking here. I use cork, black ballast (a model railway mini-gravel. GAWD do those railroad folks know how to make terrain!) and a snow mix made of GF9 snow, ash and everyday baking soda. Also army painter tufts for grass. I've found a "wheat" color to work best covered in snow.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/837/x5k0t.jpg

Step B - Get your base and super glue a few little cork pieces to it to make rubble/hills. Try to make them irregular looking (no square hills!) and pile them up a bit. Nothing too tall if you plan to plant one of the mini's feet on it though.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/856/3dre.jpg

Step 3 : Apply mini to base in a suitably dramatic pose. Our intrepid volunteer is a Fimir warrior I swear I'm going to actually assemble and paint one day. Pinning the mini to the base is 100% optional as long as A.) He is ogre sized or smaller and B.) One foot is on plastic base.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/823/jyq6.jpg

Step 4 - Wash the areas to receive gravel. You'll want to be thorough so the ballast has plenty to stick to. Be sure to lump a bit onto the edges of your cork. This gives it a more natural sloped "crumbling" appearance. 

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/855/oppf.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/850/2mmt.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/822/w1qr.jpg

Step 5 - Wait 45-ish min for the glue to set. Go do something else fun. Hit the gym. Watch a TV show. Finish a level of a video game. 

This is the only portion of the process that takes any time at all. When you come back, prime that poo.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/843/mtql4.jpg

Step 6 - Grab some stony colored paints and an accompanying wash. Here are my choices.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/823/985y.jpg

Step 7 - Drybrush base coat. Feel free to be sloppy. I certainly was.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/853/z3ue.jpg

Step 8 - Dry brush highlight with lighter color.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/850/p9gy.jpg

 

Step 9 (kinda optional) - *HEAVY* ink or wash. Let it dry.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/820/4yi4.jpg

Step 10 (also kinda optional) - Rehighlight drybrush with that lighter color. Go much lighter on this application.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/842/5mm4.jpg

Step 11 (or 9, depending on how lazy you feel today) - Super glue a few grass tufts down. Aim for cracks in the stone or near their base. I think it looks best this way.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/822/29m3.jpg

Step 12 - Apply glue in splotchy patches. This is really personal preference. I find it's good to leave a little bit of stone/gravel showing, but if you want more of a snowbank look, feel free to apply a lot more. Add little dabs to the tufts as well.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/822/in2s.jpg

Step 13 - Snow/ash flock mix. Just plain white snow is kinda boring, so I added about a 1:3 ratio of ash to snow/baking soda. The snow flock is fluffier, the baking soda fills in the smaller gaps and makes the transitions smoother between snow and rock. I normally dip it in the flock container, but a dump and blow method works too.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/842/gktdv.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/843/dmqgm.jpg

Step 14 (Important!) - Go do something else for 4-5 minutes. Trust me on this. Check your email. Text your g/f. Watch a music video. Here's one I like, enjoy:

Step 15 - Back? Good. Here's what happened while you were rocking out. The moisture from the glue kinda bleeds through the flock and baking soda. It's a subtle difference, but noticeable.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/829/dgvs.jpg

Step 15.5 - Reapply snow to refluff.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/850/h0kc.jpg

Step 16 - Wait 30 min for glue to dry, and matte varnish that business.

Victory! You have conquered snow.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/823/cjth.jpg

[Forté]

Nice tutorial there Flint :tu:

[Noctus Cornix]

Will need to give this a try for my Cryx. Thanks Flint!

[CaptainAsmodai]

Flint, awesome tutorial, and great choice in music lol hollywood undead is great

[MordentHex]

who is that woman and how can I stalk her?!! nice tutorial too!

[Noctus Cornix]

who is that woman and how can I stalk her?!! nice tutorial too!

 

Real classy, dude.....