Snow V2.0

This is an update to last year's post about snow bases. 

TLDR: put down a coat of Woodland Scenics Foam Putty. Once that is dry, use another layer of AK Interactive's AK8011 Snow mixed with water.

Previously I had done most of my snow bases using Woodland Scenics Foam Putty. As a material, it behaved somewhat like miniature snow when semi dry. This made it easy to add footprints, tracks (treads or wheels), or other disturbances.

It wasn't perfect though. The color is a little off-white and the texture is not quite smooth enough to be "perfect". After experimenting with a few new units, I've figured out how to use AK8011 Snow by AK Interactive to solve both of these problems. Unfortunately AK8011 comes with some of it's own problems. 

[When I'm home again I'll post a side-by-side comparison of the two methods here]

AK8011

Positives:
+More pure white color (this does not always show up in photographs)
+Smoother texture

Negatives:
-Sticky/tacky. Makes it difficult to apply. Required more work to avoid unrealistic accumulation around non-static items (Soldiers moving through the snow).
-more difficult to achieve snow-like disturbance effects.
-Needs to be watered down to achieve anything like a smooth finish.
-When watered down, can not provide "bulk" or be used to "build up" a base. Drying can also cause issues due to water separating or cracking when drying

The first two issues mean you will be doing significantly more work for only slightly better looking results. For that reason, I think many people will be happy to stick with my original snow tutorial. If you still want to best snow bases possible, read on...

The main problems caused by using AK8011 are in building up bulk and absorbing the water. As it turns out, our original snow material, foam putty, is great for this. The foam putty can be used to create a bulked up base layer on our bases that will absorb the excess moisture we are adding to our watered down AK8011 snow. The process is detailed below...

Snow Bases Tutorial V2.0

Step 1: Miniatures are painted and based. Prone figures are not glued down at this point.

Step 2: Bases are painted white. Edges in whatever color you like. Note: prone figures are not on there yet.

Step 3: static grass is added, followed by foam putty. Use water to smooth out. Let dry.

After the third step you'll add logs, or other scenery you want to be only lightly covered in snow.

Step 4: Glue logs or other debris. Apply AK8011 Snow and water mixture. See below for details.

Mix some AK8011 Snow with water into a container of some type on the side. I'm not sure what the portions are, but you'll want to add water until it the mixture will settle even. Take a large brush and apply the mixture to the base. You may find it easier to put a large amount down with the brush, then push it towards hard to reach areas. Go back with a smaller brush and fill in the hard to reach spots.

You'll add foot prints and prone figures much like you did in the older tutorial. The difference with this material is you will have to wait longer, and your window of opportunity will be smaller. Because the medium is sticky it will need to be fairly dry before you try anything.

Once the AK8011 Snow is dry, you may want to brush on a satin varnish to give it a wet look.

Room for improvement
I still don't think these bases "perfect". One issue I run into is the snow is not quite a smooth as I would like. Maybe this could be fixed with multiple small layers? Let me know if you have any improvements or suggestions.