I`m want to make a diorama which shows a tank that is stuck in the mud and is waiting to get towed away next to the road is some frozen water (lake) because my diorama is situated in russia ww2 at the beginning of the winter.

the problem now is: A lot of things I have sorted out already but I don`t know how to make realistic ice. In Holland when you look at the ice you can see through it and under the ice it`s dark grey to nearly black with white spots (captured air) and big cracks

I tried with plexiglass but I wasn`t satisfied while it lacked realism

Could someone help me out with this problem

Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Now here's a challenge !
I never tried it, but I would attempt the following :
Start with a dark brown river bed / pool bottom
1) make clear resin water
2) paint white "air bubbles" on the surface with semitransparant paint mixture
3) add an overall gloss finish, so there's clearly a layer of ice OVER the air bubbles
4) add snowdust on certain areas, blown together by wind like in real life.

I'd make sure there's some dead reed growing through the surface, that adds to the wintery feeling.

Just a thought...

Jan

This is just a wild guess but how about clear resin, maybe 2-3 layers? You could start with dark coloured layer and the surface could be almost clear...some snow (baking soda) on surface, maybe some "wet spots" where the snow has melted and the depth would be visible...
There are so many kinds of ice and only some of them are clear transparent..
I would also go for some vegetation sticking up from water near dry land.

Sounds very interesting BTW! I was playing with an idea myself where a tank would be crashed through ice, stuck...

Toni

Heh...This is always hilarious when same kind of tips are delivered simultaneously!
#:-)

Toni

well thanks for the tips guys
I hope it will work out good

Hey and that clear resin thingy you just called is that what they sell in the modelstores as instant water ??

Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Oh before I forget to ask this ...

What will be the best way to simulate cracks

Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker :-) :-)

The most convincig way to make cracked ice would be to make pieces of ice that are moved over / under other pieces, maybe a few panes of ice that are not perfecly horizontal but stick out just the tiniest bit out of the water, maybe a few smaller pieces of broken ice panes that lie around on other tops. Don't forget a few ducks paddling around in the open piece of water in the middle.

Just a thought. To make a horrid little diorama you could shove a drowned victim floating UNDER the ice surface.... his pale face against the surface... no, that's sick. Guess it's bedtime after all.

Jan,
Don't ducks fly south in Russia?

Jim

thanks for the tip and the well let`s say a bit macabre dio idea maybe I use it


no i`m not going to use that...... Joke :-) :-) :-)

but anyway my ideas for the dio I`m planning is getting better and better with every post I make here and I will make an article of the whole process
so I`m thinking of a credit list to thank all that helped me further.

Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Hi!
i read an article of MIG=Miguel Jimenez, where he made a Tiger I stuck in the ice of a lake, he used wax from candles, just make a box, melt the candle wax on it, let it dry and voilà, it´s done. And you can easily crack it in parts, if you like...
HTH

Depends too on the depth of the ice. A shallow pool might totally freeze through... in which case "solid" color would be more likely. Try using clear resin (EZ Water) or multiple coats of acryllic floor way, and add in a middle coat of whiteacryllic to the liquid, so you get a milky haze. Then add a few more layers of clear, add microballoons for snow accumulation, and there ya go. For "cracked sheets of ice", try painting the thin microscope slide glass white, then break a few and insert into the wet resin or acryllic floor polish. Looks pretty darn good!

Keith

Hi,

Here Tiger I Ausf E Early Version you can see the results of the technique refered by Paulo (ArmouredSprue).

At ML forums there are a thread where MIG explains how he did that.

Instead of using candle wax, you can use parafin.
I got some at my local supermarket. It's the kind used to seal home made jam.
It's just so cheap...

Hi,

Here ML Forum is the post where MIG explains how he did the ice on his Tiger dio.

In case you want to see pics of this Dio

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/german/migtiger.htm

enjoy

Well beat me too it quick one.

well and again thank you all
every time I look I can choose out more and more ways to make ice
now I can experiment what the best way for me is



Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker :-) :-)

I`ll tell you all which technique or combination I used

Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Hello,

A while ago I have found a nice litle article from Charles Reading "Creating Simple yet Effective Ice"

I have put it on my site (under tips) and you can find it here, hope it wil help.

http://users.pandora.be/ronny.noben/website/Start.htm

ehmm Roadkill?

maybe it`s my internet connection but the link won`t work



Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Faust,

I just looked over it, and it seems to work, but here it is again

http://users.pandora.be/ronny.noben/website/index.htm

or

http://users.pandora.be/ronny.noben/website/start.htm

You wil be send to the main page and from there you klick on the TIPS button (shermans on the left), if the URL does not work, try the link under my name - Roadkill's
Modeling Corner

No luck with your links either...

MMMMMMMMH

Nope they all three won`t work , probably it`s my @#$&%$## internet connention



I think I`m going to molest my internet provider

FUBAR FUBAR FUBAR FUBAR FUBAR FUBAR FUBAR FUBAR



Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Damn,

I have tried it by a friend an he had no prob, don't understand

Nope still no succes




Greetz Robert "FAUST" Blokker

Another method for making some smaller patches of ice, like thos along the shore of a lake or stream is to use super glue. Lay down a sheet of plastic wrap (Saran Wrap here in the States) and then apply a puddle of super glue. move it around with a wooded toothpick or something and then hit it with excellerator. When it is dry is resembles jagged ice very well and it doesn't stick to the plastic wrap. "Q"