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So, I've been seeing a lot of models around lately with snow. I spoke with a guy at my local GW recently who made a deep, snowy themed board with a lot of powder using nothing but the GW modeling snow. He apparently went through 10 little buckets of the stuff to do so

So, for those of you that don't know, there's a much more affordable and effective way to make deep powder for your minis/scenery. The end result will come out looking something like this:



So, here's what you're gonna need.



- Baking powder. This stuff is anywhere from $2 to $5 at the grocery store, and you'll get more than you need. DO NOT MISTAKE FOR BAKING SODA.

- Modeling snow. A tin of the GW stuff will easily base two full Apoc armies GW brand costs about $8

- PVA glue, or Elmer's glue. For large scenery, I'd go with Elmer's since you wont need to sculpt it as much, and it's far cheaper. GW brand is pictured, but is more expensive than most, and not by any means better.

- A sculpting tool of some sort, or even just a bent paperclip

- A surface to contain the mess

- And of course, your model/scenery



Let's begin.

About this much baking powder and glue will work for a small base. It may look like a lot of glue, but I still have half a tube after basing around 40 models.



Mix it up...



And now you have cauliflower The consistancy should be a soft, gummy like feel. Like green stuff, if your hands or tools are wet, the snow won't stick to them, making sculpting easier. I didn't really want to do anything fancy, so I just put on on the base and wrapped some of it around the legs.



While the putty is still wet, you'll want to dip it into the modelling snow. If it already seems too dry for the snow to cling, let it dry completely and add a thin layer of PVA glue over the top of the putty, then drop it in. Don't forget to put glue anywhere else on the model that you might want it. My necrons look like their rising from the ground, so I put various amount of snow all over them (Minus areas that I imagine would melt the snow immediately).



And, voila!



Note that it's a bit hard to tell the difference between the putty, and the putty topped with modelling snow. It looks choppy without the snow on it (my camera couldn't do it justice), and when it dries, it looks a lot worse. The modelling snow is quite necessary.


I hope this tutorial helped!

Those pics are fairly large.
If you could change that, it would be better.
But still, pretty cool!

<3
Great!

forruner_mercy wrote:Those pics are fairly large.
If you could change that, it would be better.
But still, pretty cool!

They should get smaller with your window. Imgur automatically resizes photos based on how big the window is

I've been looking for a good way to make bases for my Khador.

Surprised actually with how disappointing the GW snow flock was last time I got it.

Alternatively you can break it up a little with tweezers or a tooth pick towards the end to change it over to this effect. Just add in a little water with the mix and it should work, though I was using just straight GF9 flock so it may vary a little.


Definitely going to try out your method though, I can see it also working well on tree branches and roofs when making snow terrain as it has that nice light appearance.

n0t_u wrote:Surprised actually with how disappointing the GW snow flock was last time I got it.

Alternatively you can break it up a little with tweezers or a tooth pick towards the end to change it over to this effect. Just add in a little water with the mix and it should work, though I was using just straight GF9 flock so it may vary a little.


Definitely going to try out your method though, I can see it also working well on tree branches and roofs when making snow terrain as it has that nice light appearance.

Wow! Slushy snow likes yours is something I havent figured out. That would be really good for putting near exhaust vents or on bases with grass where snow is melting

Nice snow! Will try it sometime. Thanks for sharing!

Nice tutorial. I never would have thought of making deep snow, but now that I see how simple it can be...

I just won a comp with minis based on bicarb of soda snow and dried mint leaves. Baking powder snow ftw!

im new to space wolves, and i think now ill burry them all to the neck with this stuff it looks so cool compared to just sprinkling some white on the base and calling it done lol. wonder even use it when its still in the wet phase to put on my gunship on the front streaking back, and then dipping it, looks pretty maliable im pumped. thank you