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I'm sure it's been covered numerous times but ice and snow.. how do y'all do it? I have a modest SW army that's based with astrogranite.. but I need to add some cold! I tried using glue and the GW snow kit... looked clunky and dumb. Also, what do y'all do for ice? I feel like a lot of glue dry brushed with blue then white? No idea. Help!

Usually you don't try to paint ice and snow, you use a snow product.

Woodland Scenics make a snow product "Soft Flake Snow" I've used and it comes out alright but it's a bit out of scale (grains are too big). You mix it with a water effects product.

Some people like baking soda and PVA, I've been told by some experienced modellers that it's not stable and can break down over time so I've avoided it.

Likewise I prefer using water effects to PVA because PVA can yellow over time, I use this...

http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=432

Other options instead of baking soda or Woodland Scenics are crushed glass (but this one is a nightmare to work with, use gloves and be extremely careful) or microballoons.

If you actually want to paint snow rather than simulating it, light blue greys are probably what you want to use.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Likewise I prefer using water effects to PVA because PVA can yellow over time, I use this...

http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=432

Don't ever use this. It's literally Woodland Scenics water effect re-bottled at a massive price increase. Buy it from the original source along with your snow and save a lot of money.

I tried snow for the first time recently and was happy with the results. I just mixed baking soda with PVA glue and this was the result:



Apparently it could yellow over time. I am not sure what the time frame is for that, but I figure if it comes to that I can just scrape it off and reapply.

 Peregrine wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Likewise I prefer using water effects to PVA because PVA can yellow over time, I use this...

http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=432

Don't ever use this. It's literally Woodland Scenics water effect re-bottled at a massive price increase. Buy it from the original source along with your snow and save a lot of money.

Depends how much you need I guess. Woodland scenics sell big bottles which are much cheaper per unit volume (over here it's about $40 for 470 ml or $30 for 240ml), if you're only doing snow bases you don't really need a whole heap so you can get the Secret Weapon one ($5 for 15 ml) but if you're doing a lake or river then you'd be crazy to use it. I got the Secret Weapon water in one of their kits that came with weathering powder and plaster for basing (about $20 for 3 small pots of weathering powder, sand, plaster and 60 ml of the water effect).

But either way, point being I think it's better to use a water effect than using PVA.

I was just taking about how I did mine in another thread.

Snow bases:
Paint rim black, top white.
Glue tutfs/rocks to base.
Mix PVA and water at about a 1:1 ratio.
Add flock to form a paste, not too thin, so it can fill gaps and retain some shape.
Apply paste to base (with offset spatula/knife). Add a little dab to tops of rocks, or other places snow might collect.
While still wet, swish base though dish of loose flock to coat.
Shake excess flock off, wipe rim clear.

And some of the pages I used for research, with some nice comparison pictures.

http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2010/01/details-8-ways-to-base-with-snow.html
http://hakomike.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/snow-basing-materials-reference.html

I started with the GW snow kit, and switched to Woodland Scenics once that ran out.

If you want heavy snow or drifts, I highly recommend Flexpaste (http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/item/C1205) followed by a coat of somewhat watered down PVA glue and a light dusting of your prefered snow flock (I really like a flock made by Noch as it has super fine mica flakes in it that gives the appearance of ice crystals - http://www.modellbahnshop-lippe.com/produkt/NOCH/27-7-0-188473-004010-0-0-0-0-0-0-grp-gb-p-0/produkt.html)

Thanks for the replies all!