Ways to make snow

This is going to sound really, really stupid...

I was presented with this problem recently myself. I planned on using Woodland Scenics snow, but the LHS was out and I couldn't wait. I was at the local art store and they had this big bags of white, semi-transparent (very semi) white tiles for $2. Then the wheels started churning. I bought the bag, broke a number of tiles into little pieces then put them into my spice mill. They ground up into a fine, fine powder that shimmers. It's cool, though, I'm sure not good for the spice mill.

The ground glass was easy to apply. I coated the area I wanted snow on with Future, added the glass and then covered with a few layers of Future. It ended up looking pretty good.

Here is a pic:


~ g

I used plaster of paris. It is fine and I don't think it is susceptible to molds or bugs. You can spray some clear paint (fine mist -randomly) to it to add some luster.

Nobody mentioned 3M Spray Glue. That's what my modeler used for his winter dioramas this year. The results look like this :

I've just seen the weather forecast for Aberdeen in north-east Scotland for tomorrow. The easiest way for me to make a snow diorama will be to open a window in the house and hold the model outside for about 60 seconds.........

I found the most realisic way was to build my ground base from plaster, then paint it so it looked like grass rocks etc( you don't have to be too careful). Then get a 50/50 mix of white glue and water and add baking soda until you get a fiarly thick paste. Put the paste on with an old brush and it's sticky enough to put on walls, into tracks allsorts. On my snow dio i put dots of it onto a miniture waffen ss poster as if someone had been throwing snwballs. And the best bit is it drys rock solid, it twinkles just like real snow and you can dust on baking soda when everything is dry and it looks like loose powder snow.

sorry that this may sound stupid but what is the hairspray? you mean the aerosol can type stuff thats used as an alternative to holding gel?

Dave

http://www.smallshopeu.com/SNOW-COAT%20Page.htm

Not sure how these products differ from the others but the results sure look real.

Thanks gringe88 Ill look into it.

there's a product put out by a company called Three Guyz Hobbies. its called 'Just Snow' havent used it yet, but it seems to be made form some sort of faom product. looks just like the real thing too. i'll have to see how it works and reacts to adhesives, but i dont htink it will be NE different from foam turf by Woodland Scenics. NEway....

BTW buddyboyho- just paint the micro balls with an airbrush or rattle can after you've applied them.

I have Woodland Scenics snow Heavyarty but it looked to course for 1/48 scale so I went with the cornstarch.

maybe i should try snow for my first dio...

I use hairspray and baking soda for my snow, it works great. (haven't had trouble with bugs though......)

Excellent work Gino!

We use microballoons at work but unfortunately, they are chocolate brown.

Regards, Dan

This topic comes up often here. I think the best is a product by Woodlands Scenics called ....Snow. It is made out of microballoons, tiny , hollow balls of styrene plastic. It is easy to apply, simply use pump hairspray, wet down area, and sprinkle on. You can spray lightly with more hairspray to seal it down. Apply more snow for heavier drifts, etc. Goes for about $8 for a huge container that will do many a snowstorm. Here is the result.




You may find that with some food-based products, such as baking soda or corn starch, you may get yellowing over time, or bugs may feast on it.

Hope that helps.