DON'T USE BAKING SODA FOR SNOW!!!!!!!!

jthurston wrote:

Wow, how uncool. It left a residue that damaged the stuctural integrity of the plastic? Thanks for the heads up!

Kykeon wrote:

Yeah, I used to use baking soda for adding texture under paint. I too got the barfy, yellow-brown ooz leaking out from under the paint! I now use powdered silica, which is totally chemically inert. Just don't throw it around because it is not good to breathe the stuff.

Thank for posting it!

Thanks for the warning guys, I was about to use it mixed with paint and Mr. Surfacer to simulate mud.

Now, where do you guys find the unscented Talcum powder or the powdered silica?

Yann Solo wrote:

Thanks for the warning guys, I was about to use it mixed with paint and Mr. Surfacer to simulate mud. Now, where do you guys find the unscented Talcum powder or the silicum powder?

One possible source for powdered silica is Diatomaceous Earth, or DE for short. DE is used as a filtering agent in public swimming pools, some people use it in their home pools as well. The only problem is that it comes in huge bags. Pottery supply or art supply stores also have powdered silica in small quantities, as it is used in pottery and ceramics. I have actually gone out and dug the stuff up out of the ground. DE is just what it sounds like, it is the prehistoric remains of siliceous diatoms, plankton and other tiny sea creatures, whose glass-like bodies die off by the trillions and form deposits of DE which we can now find on the surface, if you live near an area where DE occurs and you know where to look....

I have also used silicon carbide abrasive powder, used in rock polishers, for texturing paint. I have had problems with talc before, as it is sometimes difficult to get it thoroughly mixed into the paint sometimes and it flakes off after it dries. I also don't really like the texture talc produces. Talc is made up of very small, flat flakes. When you mix it in paint, the texture it produces tends to be rather clumpy, not the rough, grainy texture we usually want. This is why I like to use powdered silica or silicon carbide powder instead.

Hi

I went and got some of the games workshop snow .will try that on my next one .Also there is Woodlands snow that I have seen in my LMS .

David

Kykeon wrote:

One possible source for powdered silica is Diatomaceous Earth, or DE for short. DE is used as a filtering agent in public swimming pools, some people use it in their home pools as well. The only problem is that it comes in huge bags. Pottery supply or art supply stores also have powdered silica in small quantities, as it is used in pottery and ceramics. I have actually gone out and dug the stuff up out of the ground. DE is just what it sounds like, it is the prehistoric remains of siliceous diatoms, plankton and other tiny sea creatures, whose glass-like bodies die off by the trillions and form deposits of DE which we can now find on the surface, if you live near an area where DE occurs and you know where to look.... I have also used silicon carbide abrasive powder, used in rock polishers, for texturing paint. I have had problems with talc before, as it is sometimes difficult to get it thoroughly mixed into the paint sometimes and it flakes off after it dries. I also don't really like the texture talc produces. Talc is made up of very small, flat flakes. When you mix it in paint, the texture it produces tends to be rather clumpy, not the rough, grainy texture we usually want. This is why I like to use powdered silica or silicon carbide powder instead.

  I will investigate that silica stuff; sounds like something I need in the drawer!

the doog wrote:

Yann Solo wrote: Thanks for the warning guys, I was about to use it mixed with paint and Mr. Surfacer to simulate mud. Now, where do you guys find the unscented Talcum powder or the silicum powder? Unscented Talcum can be found anywhere that they sell "baby powder", that's it's "brand name"--just look in the "baby aisle" of your local market or drug store.

   If you use scented talcum powder your dioramas will not only look great.....but smell great too!!!.....

   Boomer...

Anyone see anything wrong with Plater of Paris?

I have been using it for awhile and havent noticed anything.

But, the models I have used it on have been sold or given away so I really cant say but I'm getting ready to use it on another model, a Star Wars AT ST in a snow scene.

Mike

mikepowers wrote:

Anyone see anything wrong with Plater of Paris? I have been using it for awhile and havent noticed anything. But, the models I have used it on have been sold or given away so I really cant say but I'm getting ready to use it on another model, a Star Wars AT ST in a snow scene.   Mike

the doog wrote:

mikepowers wrote: Anyone see anything wrong with Plater of Paris? I have been using it for awhile and havent noticed anything. But, the models I have used it on have been sold or given away so I really cant say but I'm getting ready to use it on another model, a Star Wars AT ST in a snow scene.   Mike In that scale you wouldn't be able to see the texture of the snow anyway, so it should be fine. I guess it all depends on the "look" you want; I don't use it for my dios because  I find it much more difficult to shape than Celluclay, and a lot harder to control. You might want to experiment with a light coating of talc on top of the plaster to impart a more "feathery" surface to it? Let us know what it looks like if you do!

Thats an excellent idea.

I'll post pics when I'm done with it.

Mike

mikepowers wrote:

Anyone see anything wrong with Plater of Paris? I have been using it for awhile and havent noticed anything. But, the models I have used it on have been sold or given away so I really cant say but I'm getting ready to use it on another model, a Star Wars AT ST in a snow scene.

  MikePowers......

   I don't like plaster as i think it is too off white in colour. I have a container of stuff called SIMPLY SNOW. I picked it up at the Queensland Model and Hobby Expo a couple of years back. I haven't tried it yet but it looks very good. It is very light and 'fluffy', very fine in texture and has that snow look to it.  It is made by a company called   EFD SIMPLY GLUES. The only contact i have for them is an email........   simplyglues@hotmail.com    and a phone number if you want to try it......  (02) 69221187...

   This is a pic i found of it used on a railway layout.....

     Boomer...

Boomerang wrote:

mikepowers wrote: Anyone see anything wrong with Plater of Paris? I have been using it for awhile and havent noticed anything. But, the models I have used it on have been sold or given away so I really cant say but I'm getting ready to use it on another model, a Star Wars AT ST in a snow scene.     MikePowers......    I don't like plaster as i think it is too off white in colour. I have a container of stuff called SIMPLY SNOW. I picked it up at the Queensland Model and Hobby Expo a couple of years back. I haven't tried it yet but it looks very good. It is very light and 'fluffy', very fine in texture and has that snow look to it.  It is made by a company called   EFD SIMPLY GLUES. The only contact i have for them is an email........   simplyglues@hotmail.com    and a phone number if you want to try it......  (02) 69221187...        This is a pic i found of it used on a railway layout.....          Boomer...

Thanks Boomer.

That dio looks very cool, and cold.

Kykeon wrote:

Yeah, I used to use baking soda for adding texture under paint. I too got the barfy, yellow-brown ooz leaking out from under the paint! I now use powdered silica, which is totally chemically inert. Just don't throw it around because it is not good to breathe the stuff.

On the other hand, would this be a good application for a nasty running ooze from a model monster figure's gross skin condition?

Tom