after seeing all those beautiful pieces of work I decided to pick up some Celluclay and make my first diorama … EVER! Since almost all of my models are from Winter Scenarios of the Eastern Front, a snowy scene was a must and i decided to order some Scenic Woodland Snow to add realism. However, I am not sure if I like the result all that much. The diorama look pretty well in its raw state with the celluclay and after I had given the celluclay a coat of dity white paint i thought - that looks neat. then I added the Snow and this is the end result of a frustrating afternoon. I had Hairspray, Acrylic and Enamel Clearcoat bottles on the living room table and now the table looks like a snowstorm. The micro balloon snow just seems kind of too “grainy” and its a pain in the butt to make it stick and seal it. Once the seal has hardened i am gonna clean off the borders and tidy it up a little but I would LOVE to hear tips on how to improve my winter modelling skills as I have seen some very inspiring winter dioramas from the modelers on the board here.
The basics for the diorama are:
$3 Walmart Picture Frame
1/35 Stug from Dragon
Woodland Scenics Snow
Outside Turf from the parking lot
Woodland Scenics snow
Now for the pics (if you see Red X’s do not pass go, do not collect $200):
I’ve gotta agree with you that the snow looks pretty grainy. Baking soda works very well for making snow, but after a few years it starts to turn yellow. By the way the stug looks fantastic
Thanks for the encouragement guys. I looked at this morning and I was a little more happy with it. We’ll call it fresh fluffy snow and leave it at that. I really wanted to feature the model more. This is my second ever armor model that I built and it came together very nicely. I’d like to think that I have since improved my skills but this one really came out nicely. I built this one before I ever knew about this forum and I wish I would have spent money on Pe parts for this one but back at that point of time I had no clue what PE even stood for. If someone had said a PE part i would have thought he meant a “Pee Part”.
First–Steve, the StuG is GORGEOUS! SERIOUSLY! The weathering and whitewash is really surerbly done–PE? Who needs PE? Not this StuG!
I know what you’re saying about the micro-balloons; I wasn’t much enamored with them; in fact I don’t think I even used 'em. I wouldn’t use ANYTHING that has “baking” in the name! It’s not chemically inert, and I had a horrible experience years ago using baking soda with enamels for rust texture!
I have found that using talcum powder in successive layers on top of lacquer or white glue worked for me in this 1/72 dio–I haven’t tried it in 1/35, but suspect it would fly…it can be kept down by sprinkling it on a layer of white glue for thin application; on thicker parts I use celluclay smoothed on, painted white and then hit it with a few layers of talcum over a thin layer of white glue. Dullcoat it to seal it.
It’s messy as hell, but I was pleased with the results…
Since the living room table is my modelling environment I am going to try some artifical spray-on snow. My wife suggested it as she made me vaccuum and I thought - that’s not a bad idea.
The worst that could happen si the base looks awful but she can turn it into a Xmas Centerpiece for the table. [:D]
