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Dioramas
Do you love dioramas & vignettes? We sure do.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
Snow
07closet
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: July 24, 2005
KitMaker: 29 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:31 PM UTC
hi,
how do you make realistic snow that is cheap to make for a diorama that you can also put on your model.
Thanks, Tom.
Henk
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 10:56 PM UTC
If you type 'snow' in the little searchbox to the top right, and make sure 'site' is ticked, it will bring a large list of artikels about snow up. Like this one

There are also some good 'how to's' in the feature section

Cheers
Henk
Bk27
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Lisboa, Portugal
Joined: February 17, 2005
KitMaker: 92 posts
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Posted: Friday, July 29, 2005 - 10:10 AM UTC
One more help
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/other/create_snow_cheehongahn.html
peacekeeper
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 07, 2004
KitMaker: 715 posts
Armorama: 297 posts
Posted: Friday, July 29, 2005 - 11:24 AM UTC
Actually, Tarok posted this announcement earlier today. Snow!!!! go figure!! https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/1210
07closet
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: July 24, 2005
KitMaker: 29 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 01:22 PM UTC
thanks for the help
TsunamiBomb
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Arizona, United States
Joined: September 21, 2004
KitMaker: 1,447 posts
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Posted: Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 03:38 PM UTC
Baking Powder is the easiest and the best, all you have to do is seal it with hair spray and your done.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 04:08 PM UTC
Stay away from food items. You will get a bunch of replies telling you to use stuff like flour, baking powder/soda, sweatener, etc. These items will look good in the short term, but over time can yellow and breakdown, or be eaten by bugs. Even if sealed with hairspray.

Best product I have found is Woodlands Scenics Snow. It is made from what is called Micro Balloons. They are tiny balls of styrene plastic. Simply apply pump hairspray to the area you want it to be, then sprinkle it on. For thicker areas, continue applications till you have what you want. A big jar of it only goes for about $8 and will provide many a blizzard. Here is how it comes out.




Spend the few extra bucks and get the better quality product and it will last much longer.
A bottle is enogh for a few blizzards as well.
TsunamiBomb
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Arizona, United States
Joined: September 21, 2004
KitMaker: 1,447 posts
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Posted: Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 04:31 PM UTC
Ive had my baking powder diorama for almost a year now. No yellowness, it looks exactly like it did when I put it on. Also, the WS stuff, in my opinion looks really fake. The peices look almost the size of a real 1/1 flake of snow and they are sorta clear looking.
Neill
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California, United States
Joined: May 26, 2003
KitMaker: 1,255 posts
Armorama: 485 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 06:25 PM UTC
Sweet N Low is still my favorite... I use a 50/50 water/white glue solutions and sprinkle it on. To create thicker snow, snowbanks or drifts, I first build up with plywood or styrofoam, then cover. Its chemcial sweetener so none of the food or sugar associated problems affect it. I have use this solution for over 25 years and have never had any yellowing, deterioration or bug problems... Now I would never put it in my coffee or tea mind you, but great for snow.

Neill





HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 04:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ive had my baking powder diorama for almost a year now. No yellowness, it looks exactly like it did when I put it on. Also, the WS stuff, in my opinion looks really fake. The peices look almost the size of a real 1/1 flake of snow and they are sorta clear looking.


A year is not a long time. I have had them look fine for a few years, then start to yellow and fade. Don't know what WS Snow you have seen? It is as fine as baby powder, nowhere near the size of actual snow. It is also white, not clear.

Truthfully, I could care less what you use. Just giving my views on what works best that I have gathered over 20+ years of modeling. Microballoons, whatever brand, are the best snow product out there. Foodstuff will yellow or be eaten over time.
HILBERT
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 4,808 posts
Armorama: 1,069 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 04:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Stay away from food items. You will get a bunch of replies telling you to use stuff like flour, baking powder/soda, sweatener, etc. These items will look good in the short term, but over time can yellow and breakdown, or be eaten by bugs. Even if sealed with hairspray.


But if it comes to yellow? can't you spray it then?? With white?

If not and the best solution for it is that stuff what you said.
Woodland scenic snow.. is that not to coarse??
But how do you know this?? Self experienced?? I want to make a snow dio.. and want to use bacing soda.. but that is not recommended?

A lot of questions..

Bye H
Henk
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 04:34 AM UTC
I to am a fan of Baking Powder, having used it with good results, and without yellowing. Having said that, they are not yet that old, so the jury has to remain out. As I sprinkle it on a layer of claer varnish, which soaks in to the BS, I hope it is sealed enough to stand the test of time. A local art shop recently started selling Woodland Scenics, and I have looked at the Snow, but the cst has sofar put me off. But, I'm going to do a few more snow/ mud dio's in the near future, so I'll get a bottle and compare it with BS.

Cheers
Henk

PS To be fair, the original question asked for 'cheap ways to make snow' and baking soda and baby powder are fairly cheap. Woodland Scenics may be good, but cheap it certainly ain't..
HILBERT
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 4,808 posts
Armorama: 1,069 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 04:37 AM UTC
Article Article!!

Well I can't wait what your opinion is about that white stuff.
I hope it will turn out as a good conclusion.

HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 04:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

But if it comes to yellow? can't you spray it then?? With white?

Not when it is already on the dio and you have all the figures, vehicles, etc on/in/under the snow. Unless you want them to be all white as well.


Quoted Text


If not and the best solution for it is that stuff what you said.
Woodland scenic snow.. is that not to coarse??
No, it is made for model railroads, and is quite fine.


Quoted Text

But how do you know this?? Self experienced?? I want to make a snow dio.. and want to use bacing soda.. but that is not recommended?

I have used all sorts of items to make snow dios over the years. The Woodland Scenics Snow has given me the best results. Yes, I have used baking soda and it has yellowed. Flour has ben eaten, and sweetener has brought ants.


Quoted Text

PS To be fair, the original question asked for 'cheap ways to make snow' and baking soda and baby powder are fairly cheap. Woodland Scenics may be good, but cheap it certainly ain't..


There is cheap and there is a way that works well for the long run. I would prefer to spend a few bucks and have it look good and last. To me, the benefits outweigh the cost. Don't know what other shops charge, but I bought a 32 oz. shaker bottle for only $9. I have used it on a couple dios and still have about 3/4 of it left. Seems pretty cheap to me.
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