Winter Scene

[docb]

I am getting closer to starting the scenery on my layout and was hoping for some pointers. I will using pink styrofoam as a base and am planning a winter-xmas scene in the 1930's. Can I paint the foam? What suggestions for trees? What about frozen ponds, near frozen streams and hints on making waterfalls?
Any and all help appreciated for this beginner.

[jhoff310]

Im glad to hear you are clos to doing the scenery work.yes you can paint the pink foram board use LATEX paint only. as far as trees I would use some pine trees and some decidious trees sprinkled with baking soda or flour and hit them with a shot of CHEAP hairspray. For frozen ponds buy some plexiglass and paint the underside white. you could even use small chunks of plexiglass for ice chunks floating down the stream. For waterfalls... I saw an article in an old MR. they used fishing line wound around a piece of cardboard (glued in the back on wax paper) Make sure it is wound tightly and closely. When the glue is dried cut along the back and put in place.
I hope this helps.
jeff

[Anonymous]

A winter scene will be very nice. They always look beautiful. Why not use white 2" foam. You'll aready have a white base then when you doing your hills, mountains, etc you will be removing foam. If you use a drill with a wire brush when doing that your making a fine power of white foam to use as a ground cover. YES ITS A MESS BUT IT CLEANS UP, that will save alot of money of buying fake snow. And for your creeks and ponds use the Woodland Scenics Real water, but make sure U use a base of plaster or spackling so it doesn't soak into the foam and swell up. For the falls etc use the Woodland scenics bottle of water effects. It does a nice job. Good luck I am sure it will turn out very nice.

[medic_149]

I am currently doing a christmas layout at this time. For the pond, I am using the clear plexiglass. What I did was paint several thin streaks of white on the under side of the plexiglass. then when that is dry, I used a Medium bright blue to give the pond added depth. I hope this helpd some. thanks for the other snow tips as well, I am still having problems with the snow on my foam.

[jhugart]

There was an old scenery book from Kalmbach that had instructions for winter modelling. I used it to great success in a model for a grad student film project. Probably the part that was most convincing was the goop used for the snow base, and the various powders used to create that snowy look.

The good was some white artistic stuff you applied with a palette knife or trowel. Once it was in place, you would sprinkle this dust mixture on it, and it gave you the sparkly texture you see when sunlight glints off fresh-fallen snow.

There were also instructions on water, but I didn't have to model such features.

When I get home I'll check my books and post more info.