Temporary snow

[Joetrain59]

Hi Folks,
  I am wondering what to use for snow, just for one scene for a photo. I've heard of flour in the past, don't think so!
 Then I want to remove it, to get back to layout work.
 Thanks,
    Joe D

[peteski]

Baking soda:  It sparkles.

[Lemosteam]

And for a permanent application?

[skytop35]

Baking soda:  It sparkles.

Yes, I agree !

[Scott Lupia]

Baking soda looks great but it can have a long lasting impact on the layout and equipment.  When I shot the cover for RMC 12/01 I used baking soda.  I am still finding equipment with corroded wheels and axles!  On my trainmasters the baking soda made it up to the brass wipers above the trucks.  Everything was corroded.  Apparently that is what baking soda does!  That took some time to correct!

Scott Lupia

[mark dance]

WS Lightweight Hydrocal for me...vacuums up easily.

And for permanent application as well a la Mike Danneman.

md

[C855B]

Baking soda looks great but it can have a long lasting impact on the layout and equipment.  When I shot the cover for RMC 12/01 I used baking soda.  I am still finding equipment with corroded wheels and axles!  On my trainmasters the baking soda made it up to the brass wipers above the trucks.  Everything was corroded.  Apparently that is what baking soda does!  That took some time to correct!

Yes, but your layout smells fresh and wonderful, and not like a musty old refrigerator.   

Heckuva way to discover that baking soda (NaHCO3) is caustic. IOW, it eats things. Its role in cooking is as a reagent, meaning that it reacts with the acids in other ingredients - lemon juice and vinegar, for example - to create "lift" in things like cakes.

Hydrocal as Mark suggests is a better option. I'd not use it in high-humidity situations like your average basement, because it will suck the humidity out of the air and want to setup.

[mark dance]

Arizona Rock and Mineral marble dust is also good as a temporary snow in thin layers. It has a nice sparkle but doesn't form drifts like hydrocal. When using it as permanent snow however, care is required because it can turn brown when glued so much touch up with gesso may be required.

Md

[peteski]

The question was about temporary snow.  If it is kept dry and cleaned off promptly' it should not have any negative effects.  I imagine it would be hard to thoroughly vacuum off fine-powdered Hydrocal from the scenery (like ground foam).  To me using Hydrocal would be like using talcum powder (way too fine).  Baking soda is more coarse so it will be easier to vacuum it off cleanly.

[mark dance]

The question was about temporary snow.  If it is kept dry and cleaned off promptly' it should not have any negative effects.  I imagine it would be hard to thoroughly vacuum off fine-powdered Hydrocal from the scenery (like ground foam).  To me using Hydrocal would be like using talcum powder (way too fine).  Baking soda is more coarse so it will be easier to vacuum it off cleanly.

I have used WS lightweight Hydrocal for temporary snow in photos for several years.  We have had no issues as a result of it on a layout designed, built and maintained to deliver highly reliable operations. 

Here is an example: 


and another:



I am not saying other things won't work but I don't hesitate to recommend LW Hydrocal if the original poster thinks it meets their need visually.

md

[graffen]

For permanent snow the baking soda is wonderful!
Just mix with PVA and marvel as it gets all fluffy and sparkling!

[Puddington]

Flour and Baking Soda together.....



Hydrocal and baking soda together - don't get it wet....

[peteski]

I have used WS lightweight Hydrocal for temporary snow in photos for several years.  We have had no issues as a result of it on a layout designed, built and maintained to deliver highly reliable operations. 

Here is an example: 

Mark, that snow looks very permanent!  Do you have any photos of that part of the layout after vacuuming the snow off?  It would be interesting to see how it looks like in a warmer season.

[Joetrain59]

Well I went to LHS today and got WS Hydrocal. Just need time to pull it all together
 Joe D

[mark dance]

Mark, that snow looks very permanent!  Do you have any photos of that part of the layout after vacuuming the snow off?  It would be interesting to see how it looks like in a warmer season.

All the hydrocal snow on the log bunks in the photo you are referring to is temporary and it was removed after the shoot by just blowing it off. 

The snow piled on the tracks and surrounding scenery (rocks, ground cover, plow, flanger, loco, etc.) for the second shot with the plow was vacuumed up.  The underlying scenery needs to be "vaccuumable" (if that is a word) of course.

md