Help with snow for terrain, quick cheap and effective??

[DeGray]

Hi, I am in the process of building terrain for my games club and I have started thinking about snow.

I use a mix of icing sugar, white paint and PVA with snow flock sprinkled on top for deep fluffy snow with melted edges for my minis but this would be quite time consuming and I'm not sure it would look right on terrain.

All and any ideas/ advise welcome.

[LCpl McDoom]

Not sure where you are in the world, but this is the stuff I have for snow effect.
Link: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Instant-Xmas-Magic-Snow-Powder-Reusable-Artificial-Christmas-Decoration-10g-/231372542407?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

It's a polymer of some sort, so can be quite slippy if spilled underfoot, but it does mean it's temporary so the terrain can still be used for non-wintry conditions.

[Too Bo Coo]

DONT use crushed glass.  It looks the best out of all the materials, but it's not really suitable for anything but display pieces because of the danger of breathing it in.

[Too Bo Coo]

The right guy to ask about snow is Silent Invader here on LAF.  He is the Snow Master....

[November]

Baking soda (NOT baking powder). Mix with PVA to get the thickness you want. This makes wet-looking snow. If you want more powdery snow, apply some fresh baking soda atop the still wet mixture. Gloss varnish to seal it to the terrain. Check my gallery for results. I always do snow like this.

[Hupp n at em]

I've heard baking soda yellows with age, and PVA definitely does, so if you're going to mix those in you better include white paint in the mixture.  Personally I think I'll be going with Woodland Scenics snow flock mixed with PVA and white paint.

[Malebolgia]

Yes, Baking Soda yellows. First hand experience here...even with white paint added.
I use crushed glass and it's perfect. And it's not dangerous if you mix it well with a medium...but I wouldn't use it on scenery as it's very hard and coarse. Any miniature that tips over (or is placed on its side) is prone to get chipped fast!
I'd go with Hupp n at em's advice: Woodland Scenics snow:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/category/SoftFlakeSnow

[smirnoff]

White marble dust...it does not yellow

[Col. Aubrey Bagshot]

Get the starter set from these guys:

http://www.precisioniceandsnow.com/

Its made for the Mig & Ammo generation of modelers...
And is THE best snow you will ever see...

Watch the vid and you'll never use anything else again, its that good!

[Rich H]

Baking SODA not baking powder. They are different products. Baking soda does not yellow. 
It works just fine, its cheap and easily available.

[Malebolgia]

Baking SODA not baking powder. They are different products. Baking soda does not yellow.  
It works just fine, its cheap and easily available.

It does yellow...
I have used it a LOT in the past and all of my Warmachine Khador models are now on yellowish brownish snowy bases...

Get the starter set from these guys:

http://www.precisioniceandsnow.com/

Its made for the Mig & Ammo generation of modelers...
And is THE best snow you will ever see...

Watch the vid and you'll never use anything else again, its that good!

WOW! That is awesome!! But is it strong enough for gaming? Looks fantastic, but also fragile.

[Col. Aubrey Bagshot]

Just varnish over the top with my airbrush...
Job done.

[Malebolgia]

Thanks! Will surely buy this one someday. The effect is simply stunning.

[DeGray]

Looked at your stuff November, that table looks ace, what kind of matt varnish do you use? do you think a drop or teo of white paint would spoil the effect?


Im meant to be tacking these to the club tomorrow night so was hoping to pick up ingredients today but it looks like they will be delivered unfrosted.

I am considering buying some of that spray can Xmas snow and giving them a dusting with that at the club sometime. has anyone had any experience with that stuff.

 

[Harry]

Your terrain looks great.

Investigate something called "micro balloons".

Nothing else quite like them.