Christmas Layout snow suggestions

I use cheap white quilt batting that I got in the sewing section of Walmart.  NH Joe

New Haven Joe posted:

I use cheap white quilt batting that I got in the sewing section of Walmart.  NH Joe

Thanks, Joe.  That looks good.  Nice and thin.  I need to go to Walmart.

Using the Walmart stuff !

I use 1/2” styrofoam insulation panels.

In previous years, I used the white batting.  I had to make sure everything underneath was white, or it would shine through.  A thicker batting may not have that problem.

This year I painted a 2-inch piece of foam with two coats of white latex paint and sprinkled the WalMart brand snow on the second coat while wet.  It is still a work in progress on the 'What did you do on your layout today' Forum topic.

White matte-finish latex paint with "Diamond Dust" sprinkled on it while paint is still wet. Trust me on this one.

Joe Hohmann posted:

White matte-finish latex paint with "Diamond Dust" sprinkled on it while paint is still wet. Trust me on this one.

Sounds like a great idea, I see it is available at Michael's.

Joe Hohmann posted:

White matte-finish latex paint with "Diamond Dust" sprinkled on it while paint is still wet. Trust me on this one.

I trust you and I bet it looks great but I have a 8x15 ft. area for a floor layout.  I can't paint my hardwood floors.  Well, I guess I can but then I'll get divorced.  So I need to stick with the batting or something equally removable! 

I also use the thinner rolls of batting as mentioned previously. However, I first lay white bed sheets down so that flooring/carpeting won’t show through the batting.  I then lay my track and finish by sprinkling clear glitter over the batting (similar to diamond dust previously noted) taking care to avoid getting it directly on the track.  The glitter will give it a ‘frosted’ look of realism.  I’ve added a picture from our layout last year to give an idea of how it looks.

I use the snow batting one would find this time of year. Typically at Joann's Fabrics or some craft store. It has that sparkle effect, but it is very thin, so you would need a white sheet underneath. But it is cheap. Probably get 4-5 packages for under $15.

I used the white snow batting  (found this time of year) and used scalpta-mold (as is) in white to simulate snow banks, edges, etc.  I sprinkled Department 56 "snow" in areas not near the tracks for some sparkle. Not perfect, but the best I have been able to achieve.

AmFlyer posted:

I use 1/2” styrofoam insulation panels.

I've been trying to get that "tire track" look and it never looks that good.  Please tell me what you did.

Got a few blankets at Menards yesterday. They have a nice collection of blankets and types of snow powder and flakes for everyone. 

To get the tire tracks I first use a car or a truck to make light indentations in the styrofoam. I then highlight the the indentations with a mascara brush. This was one of my wife's suggestions and it seems to work great. It is also quick to do. The town on a 4x8 layout can be done in 30 minutes.

SteveC, thanks for asking the question; thanks to Amflyer for answering it; and, thanks to Mrs. Amflyer for the mascara/brush hack .

Gee!  Mrs. B. doesn't use makeup.  I'm not even sure which part of the facial recreation mascara is or the brush used!    I had better look it up online before shopping.   

Thank you Amflyer and Mrs. Amflyer.  

I would just get some white carpet or white felt. I use it on my Christmas layout and my main layout and they both work great

I used the white batting from the Walmart craft area.  It is thin and lays down great.  I also found bags of fake snow you can order online or get at Hobby Lobby that I put on the roadways.  I try to keep the fine snow particles away from the tracks though.  For roofs of buildings I will take cotton balls and rip parts of them off and stretch them out where you would have snow laying in the valley of the roofs, at corners of buildings etc... Also you can do the same thing and then take a light dusting of a tan or very light brown paint or chalk and make snow banks that you can point glue in certain places.  Let me know if anything I said does not make sense and I will elaborate further. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Gee!  Mrs. B. doesn't use makeup.  I'm not even sure which part of the facial recreation mascara is or the brush used!    I had better look it up online before shopping.   

Thank you Amflyer and Mrs. Amflyer.  

The Dollar Store is a great place to buy cheap cosmetics and their associated implements.