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Making Ice and Snow
6
Comments
"MSW crew-mate Augusto Martinez (rea00cy) shares his method of re-creating the look of an icy sea-scape, in this SBS (step-by-step) MSW feature!"
Several modelers have very positively evaluated the snow and ice effects in my latest submission to MSW- DKM Scharnhorst in Icy Water- and expressed interest in a SBS article on how I made them.
In the next paragraphs I describe and illustrate the procedures, materials, tools and steps that I followed to make these effects.
First, the materials are very simple and affordable by every modeler: For the ice floats I used pieces of 1/8” and 1/4” acrylic plastic sheets. As I usually make my own display cases and bases using this material, they were readily available for me.
For the snow buildup I used acrylic sheet saw dust. I collect this dust from my table saw after cutting the sheets to make my cases and bases, and sieve it to sort the product into different particle sizes: coarse, medium and fine. For the snow build up I used the last two. Coarse particles are used for different purposes, e.g. turbulence appearance in bow waves, propeller whirlpools and stern wakes.
Commercial products: Polar silicone caulking and heavy/medium acrylic gel (Liquitex®). Acrylic paints and Elmer’s glue.
Tools: cutting pliers and paint brushes.
Briefly, photos 1-4 show the initial stages of making the top of the A/B WL base and attaching the model to it. For additional details on how to build an A/B WL base I would refer the reader to this link here.
Scharnhorst in Icy Waters- Making Icing and Snow
Several modelers have very positively evaluated the snow and ice effects in my latest submission to MSW- DKM Scharnhorst in Icy Water- and expressed interest in a SBS article on how I made them.
In the next paragraphs I describe and illustrate the procedures, materials, tools and steps that I followed to make these effects.
Materials and Tools
First, the materials are very simple and affordable by every modeler: For the ice floats I used pieces of 1/8” and 1/4” acrylic plastic sheets. As I usually make my own display cases and bases using this material, they were readily available for me.
For the snow buildup I used acrylic sheet saw dust. I collect this dust from my table saw after cutting the sheets to make my cases and bases, and sieve it to sort the product into different particle sizes: coarse, medium and fine. For the snow build up I used the last two. Coarse particles are used for different purposes, e.g. turbulence appearance in bow waves, propeller whirlpools and stern wakes.
Commercial products: Polar silicone caulking and heavy/medium acrylic gel (Liquitex®). Acrylic paints and Elmer’s glue.
Tools: cutting pliers and paint brushes.
Creating the base for the model...
Once the model is mostly assembled and painted, I usually make the base. As I like to display my ships in their element, i.e., water, my representations are made in two formats: waterline and A/B waterline (where A/B means Above/Below). This kit (1/400 Heller) is made as a full hull model, so I selected my favorite A/B waterline base for it.Briefly, photos 1-4 show the initial stages of making the top of the A/B WL base and attaching the model to it. For additional details on how to build an A/B WL base I would refer the reader to this link here.
Comments
A very interesting and well accomplished technique Augusto!
It really makes us feel freezing
Congratulations and thank you for sharing this SBS technique with us
Cheers,
Rui
NOV 08, 2010 - 04:41 AM
Yes, thank you Augusto for this SBS. Like Rui said, it makes me feel all cold!
NOV 08, 2010 - 12:18 PM
Thank you very much for those kind words of appreciation, mates!
Augusto
NOV 09, 2010 - 10:55 PM
Well done, Augusto, that was clear and understandable with excellent photography for the visual explanation. FRIZZY WISKERS all round!
Peter F
NOV 10, 2010 - 02:37 AM
Hi Augusto!
A well thought-out and practical special effect technique. Your choice of employing acrylic sawdust is particularly crafty since it won't yellow over time, a crucial factor since we'd like to think our projects will be around a long time.
--Karl
NOV 10, 2010 - 05:14 AM
Copyright ©2021 by Augusto Martinez. _OPINIONS Model Shipwrights, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Model Shipwrights. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2010-11-08 00:00:00. Unique Reads: 13178