"making" snow how to do it

[megroot]

Hello Guys,

I'am almost finished my Spanish Volunteer. He is dressed in winterclothing, and the small base that come with it has to been painted.
The guy is in winterdress, so fortunately i have to make something on the base that look's like snow.
When i was doing AFV modelling i make the snow out of babypowder. It smells good but after a long time (6 months) it became yellow.

So what is the best thing to use of for making snow?

Thanks.

Marc

 

[JP PRAJOUX]

I myself use micro-balls used for sanding the metal in the plane industry. It really look like snow as it makes littles reflections and it's perfectly white. Unfortunateluy I can't tell you where to buy some (I myself had a fried who was working for Airbus) but making a research is worth it. It must not only be used by airplane industry, I guess.
Hope I didn't send you to a dead line...
Bye
JP

 

[Luis R.]

here in Spain, a small company called Aldamodel used to produce the perfect artificial snow. It's some kind of natural white stone, grounded to a fine sand. They've sold the product to Andrea who will be marketing it under their own brand in a near future, if they're not doing it already. Check Andrea's site.

 

[LCoote]

I really like the look of this stuff, it really does look icy
http://www.smallshopeu.com/SNOW-COAT%20Page.htm

 

[Grizzly]

Like JP i also use micro ballons it is also used by R/C model plane builders and i get it from my hobby shop's R/C section. Their micro glass balls so wont yellow with age.
Here is a pic of a 1/72 tank in which i used the micro balloons,it have used it for other scales with very good results. HTH
Thomas

 

[Grizzly]

Forgot to add i've had this little model sitting on a shelf for three years

Thomas

 

[Einion]

Hi Marc, you can make a convincing snow using nothing more sophisticated than baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). I don't know if it's as easy to locate where you are but it has a slight sparkle and it's cheap, but it is a little sensitive to humidity and you shouldn't apply it to brass or bronze paints. I haven't had the chance to try it myself but you can also use alum (aluminium sulphate) which looks good in the photos I've seen using it.

Whichever material you use you can apply it by simply dusting it over a fresh coat of acrylic gloss medium or varnish and then blowing or brushing off the excess. I prefer to make a paste though with PVA glue - you can sort of sculpt the 'snow' in place with tools and texture it with brushes, plus you can make a thick layer that you can't easily replicate using the other method. You can even make small balls with it to simulate disturbed snow and they will adhere quite well to the model if you apply them with a damp brush and they look very realistic.

Einion

 

[Pete_H]

Hudson & Allen makes an artificial "snow." In its simiplest form, all you have to do is add a bit of water to make a paste and apply it to the base. With the right consistency, you can "sculpt" it into the groundwork much like Einion suggests. Some also add microballoons to this in order to achieve a sparkle effect. One trick I recently picked up from a friend is to mix in acrylic gloss gel medium so as to get the stuff to stick to the groundwork better.

 

[Kamil Feliks Sztarbala]

Einion's tip with baking soda is the best.
~kamil

 

[amherbert]

Originally posted by Pete_H@Jul 28 2004, 04:31 PM
Hudson & Allen makes an artificial "snow."  In its simiplest form, all you have to do is add a bit of water to make a paste and apply it to the base.  With the right consistency, you can "sculpt" it into the groundwork much like Einion suggests.  Some also add microballoons to this in order to achieve a sparkle effect.  One trick I recently picked up from a friend is to mix in acrylic gloss gel medium so as to get the stuff to stick to the groundwork better.

I've used many of these methods.

I've used H&A 'slush'. It worked well, but was too sparkly, so I had to tone it down with a few washes of white. It looks like old snow that way (which should have some yellow, dirt and other colors to it).

Microballoons are a pain to use - they get everywhere easily - and you should wear a mask so you don't breathe them in, but they look great.
My attempt with microballoons

Baking soda works too, but it can change color.

Cheers
Andy

 

[KeithP]

Interesting input from Luis. If you are interested in the Andrea snow that he mentions it listed as pre-release from MTSC.

http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/preorde...figurekits.html

Cheap enought that I may give it a try

Keith

 

[Roc]

As you can see,there are many effective methods for replicating snow.

I use Sweet and low, I coat the area with a highgloss white, and while still wet I sprinkle the Sweet and Low.

contrary to what some people think, Sweet and Low does not attract bugs , never changes color and most important it has the perfect texture for replicating snow.

Roc.

 

[Guy]

Good idea Roc........I'll have to remember that

 

[megroot]

Thanks a lot guys.
The method of Einion seems for me the best. I don't like microballoons, i worked on a casting room in a hospital. We have all things done for our health that we don't breath dust from plaster of paris, or the cast from polyurethane or polyesther. So why should i take a health risc with microballoons.

Sweet and Low ?? Here in the Netherlands i don't now what it is.

Hudson and Allen seems good but very glossy. I have heard that it is for 1:87 scale. Correct me if i'am wrong.

Greetings Marc

 

[Jim Hockett]

I have had good luck with a product called lightweight spackle. It is sold here in the US for patching holes in walls, I would think a similar product should be available to you. It comes ready to use, and is cheap and easy to work with. this is an armour dio I used it on.
Jim

 

[megroot]

Looks Good, Looks convincing
Can you give a name of the brand, it sometimes help to search for the same produkt here in the Netherlands. Most at the time it is the same but a different name.

Thanks Marc.

 

[Jim Hockett]

Marc,
There are a host of brands. Two of the most common are Red Devil and 3M. This dio is about six years old and shows no sign of yellowing. I really like this product. Even if you want to add some sort of "sprinkles" for a dusting of snow this makes a good base.
Jim

 

[Guy]

G'Mornin Marc,
Sweet & Low is a sugar substitute used over here primarily for coffee to replace sugar. There are many other brands but Sweet & Low was one of the first to come out as a sugar replacement. HTH

 

[megroot]

Good Morning Guy,

When you were sleeping on the other side of the ocean we were working (and between the patients who need a cast follow what is happening on the planet) .
For the european members. Here the brand is under the name of:
Canderel e.d.

Thanks for the reply.

Marc

 

[Erikvb]

Hey marc

Scale Line in Tiel have some good snow! www.scale-line.com
I bought some yesterday and it really looks nice!
I don’t know what it is but it’s white and makes little reflections

Greetings
Erik