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An opinion on snow.

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  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Western Canada
An opinion on snow.
Posted by ghamilt1 on Sunday, December 19, 2004 12:35 AM
Good day.

I am almost finished a rather complicated figure (and a really expensive one at that) and I need to apply a little artificle snow to the ground work for that final, perfect touch. I did some some research and it appears that most diorama builders use one of two methods for snow. 1. a combination of white glue and baking powder or 2. the same white glue and a ready made commercial snow product of one kind or another.

What has been your experience with these methods? Does the stuff stick? I'm planning on taking this figure to some shows over the next year, so I'm a little concerned about having to reapply a new layer of snow every time I travel. (can you imagine having to explain to curious customs officals about that white powdery substance in the plastic bag in my luggage.) Does the snow effect last, or does it some how change in colour or consistancy over time?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to consider this question. It's an expensive figure, so I need to get it right the first time, and any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers;
Glenn
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 19, 2004 8:42 AM
Get down to the pharmacy & get a box of Magnesium Sulphate, also known as Epsom Salts (well, in the UK it is). Don't eat the stuff, it's a very effective laxative. It also, however, is a very good (& cheap) scale snow.
Apply white glue to your base, sprinkle this stuff on there, wait for the glue to dry, lift base onto edge & tap to release loose snow, and there you have it.
Not too sure about it's ability to travel, that will probably depend on how much glue you use, but you can always sprinkle a bit more on when you get there.
CAUTION, always wash your hands after use, unless you want to find out how good a laxative it is!
Pete
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Western Canada
Posted by ghamilt1 on Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:36 AM
Washing hands...I understand...sage advise indeed. Thanks Pete, I'll give that a try and post the results.
  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Canada
Posted by sasd on Sunday, December 19, 2004 10:48 PM
You could also try white sand ballast or decorator sand and whitglue/water mix.
Check out my Jagdpanzer IV in the Ardennes dio.Smile [:)]
"Battleing Bastards of Bastogne"
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:24 PM
I have tried plaster of paris and it worked fine. But I needed to spray some fine coat of gloss clear to give it some shine.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 20, 2004 12:16 AM
i found that the noch product at least, does not look as natural as it should as when it is mixed with white glue it becomes smooth and translucent stay away unless you want mud.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 20, 2004 1:29 AM
While baking soda may be popular for use as snow, I would use something else. I used to use baking soda for texturing parts for rust. Over the years, the surface of the mufflers on my panzers would crack open and ooze out a sticky yellow liquid, requiring a complete cleaning and repainting. Preferably use something that is not hygroscopic.
  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Canada
Posted by sasd on Thursday, December 23, 2004 9:16 AM
Might as well bring this thread to the top as well,has some really good ideas in here as far as snow is concerned! Great stuff!
"Battleing Bastards of Bastogne"
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 23, 2004 4:35 PM
Thanks about your opinions
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 24, 2004 4:47 PM
What about saw dust painted white ???
  • Member since
    January 2004
Here is some super fine Snow....
Posted by Ali1kj on Saturday, December 25, 2004 4:33 AM
[img.nr] http://smallshopeu.com/Rocket%20pics%20page/Untitled-8.jpg [/img.nr]

The Small Shop Eu.......makers
http://smallshopeu.com/SNOW-COAT%20Page.htm

In the USA
WW2Modelmaker.....R&J....Great Models etc have this


Cheers guys....H-I-Hs
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 26, 2004 7:08 PM
i think we beat this How to make snow topic to death! but this is the best one ive seen,
OK, we know how to MAKE IT! how do we paint it? i know i know DUH WHITE!!! BUT snow is not always white......when the sun reflects off of it it shines kinda silver and shadow is BLUE!!! i was really thinking about it on the chairlift todai...(SKIBUM)
i was also thinking of a FORCED SHADOW dio....im making a pather in bastogne for the bulge GB.. and i was thinking to paint where the shadows would be blue...
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: East Stroudsburg, PA
Posted by TigerII on Sunday, December 26, 2004 9:25 PM
DOUBLE D. Just sprinkle the snow on. Don't worry about shadows until you turn on the lights for taking pics. Let the shadows form naturally and don't try to force shadows. Thats something from the past. With the proper lighting you'll get the shadows that you desire.

TigerII
Achtung Panzer! Colonel General Heinz Guderian
  • Member since
    January 2004
Posted by Ali1kj on Monday, December 27, 2004 4:33 AM
Very true....or is it...??

.With the Snow-Coat...which is translucent BTW....you can put down the shadows under the snow as DD wishes then appy a very thin coat on top to get these effects if you wish....or go white
...............also as it is not absorbant you can stain it correctly for mud etc,,,its super fine grain size never looks wrong when there is dirty snow behind and fresh on top. Just look at the above photo and compair the grain of SNOW-COAT to the other materials out there...look REALLY CLOSE and you can see what I meen....every thing else just looks like some kind of white powder :(



AJ

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