Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Painting & Modelling => Topic started by: Luddite on 19 June 2010, 01:40:44 PM

Title: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Luddite on 19 June 2010, 01:40:44 PM
Simple really,

I'm looking for advice on how to paint realistic-looking transleuscent ice...
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Leon on 19 June 2010, 07:26:05 PM
I remember 'sixsideddice' talking about something similar a while ago in an email.  I think he was going to put a base coat on, for ice I'd assume white/blue, then build up loads of layers of varnish to give it that translucent look?

I'm sure other people will have better advice though!

8)
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: ronan on 19 June 2010, 09:20:35 PM
Quote from: Leon on 19 June 2010, 07:26:05 PM
I'm sure other people will have better advice though!
8)
Try to play in Narvik ?  ;D



(sorry... I'm so sorry...)
;)
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: nikharwood on 20 June 2010, 12:22:44 AM
There's different ways of doing this depending on what you're working on (figures / terrain / basing etc)

Give me a bit more detail & I'll bung you some thoughts.. 8)
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Luddite on 20 June 2010, 11:11:55 AM
I'm painting a 28mm Malifaux December crew.


http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16236&cat=260&page=1 (http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16236&cat=260&page=1)

Specifically i'm wondering how best to approah this chap http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16189&cat=260&page=1 (http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16189&cat=260&page=1), and these little fellows http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16226&cat=260&page=1 (http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16226&cat=260&page=1).

I want them to really look 'icy' and transleucent (something like this http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/205 (http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/205)), but i have a feeling that' s beyond my skill, so just making them look 'cold' and ok would be good.

Also, not sure how to get a good 'snow' effect on the bases.  I've experimented with the GW snow-flock and just can't get to to look anything like snow...

All advice will be greatfully recieved.
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Dave Fielder on 02 July 2010, 03:38:43 PM
First, don't do it in Iraq! It's Freakin Redders here ...  ???
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Leon on 02 July 2010, 04:13:38 PM
Quote from: Dave Fielder on 02 July 2010, 03:38:43 PM
First, don't do it in Iraq! It's Freakin Redders here ...  ???

Haha, redders!  I haven't heard that phrase since my mate came out of the Navy with all kinds of new lingo!
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: nikharwood on 02 July 2010, 07:43:13 PM
Quote from: Luddite on 20 June 2010, 11:11:55 AM
I'm painting a 28mm Malifaux December crew.


http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16236&cat=260&page=1 (http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16236&cat=260&page=1)

Specifically i'm wondering how best to approah this chap http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16189&cat=260&page=1 (http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16189&cat=260&page=1), and these little fellows http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16226&cat=260&page=1 (http://wyrd-games.net/shop/product.php?productid=16226&cat=260&page=1).

I want them to really look 'icy' and transleucent (something like this http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/205 (http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/205)), but i have a feeling that' s beyond my skill, so just making them look 'cold' and ok would be good.

Also, not sure how to get a good 'snow' effect on the bases.  I've experimented with the GW snow-flock and just can't get to to look anything like snow...

All advice will be greatfully recieved.

Apologies Luddite - must have missed this one...anyway, some thoughts:

- black undercoat
- deep blue overbrush
- lighten with a deep-blue & turquoise very thin mix & wet-layer this [repeat with progressively lighter tones]
- extreme edge highlighting
- blue ink wash
- re-highlight...

I'd probably leave like that & wash with undiluted Klear...or even gloss varnish. I think you'll have to experiment a bit - but I'd layer this: if you try to drybrush, you won't get the translucency that you're after.

I've not used the GW snow - but have used Woodland Scenics: essentially you want to mix this with PVA into a paste & build up in multiple layers: you'll get a better effect if you paint the areas of the base you want to cover white first. I did about seven sealed layers on these bases:

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/lord1.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/knights2.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/shaggoth.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/spawn.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/heroes.jpg)

Another trick is to use baking soda mixed with PVA instead...
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Megamatman on 02 July 2010, 09:56:57 PM
Quote from: nikharwood on 02 July 2010, 07:43:13 PM
Apologies Luddite - must have missed this one...anyway, some thoughts:

- black undercoat
- deep blue overbrush
- lighten with a deep-blue & turquoise very thin mix & wet-layer this [repeat with progressively lighter tones]
- extreme edge highlighting
- blue ink wash
- re-highlight...

I'd probably leave like that & wash with undiluted Klear...or even gloss varnish. I think you'll have to experiment a bit - but I'd layer this: if you try to drybrush, you won't get the translucency that you're after.

I've not used the GW snow - but have used Woodland Scenics: essentially you want to mix this with PVA into a paste & build up in multiple layers: you'll get a better effect if you paint the areas of the base you want to cover white first. I did about seven sealed layers on these bases:

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/lord1.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/knights2.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/shaggoth.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/spawn.jpg)

(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/nikharwood/wfb%20chaos%20army/heroes.jpg)

Another trick is to use baking soda mixed with PVA instead...

Those are evil Nic! Nice  8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Last Hussar on 02 July 2010, 11:03:34 PM
QuoteHow do you paint ice?

Don't use acrylics - as it melts it will wash them away!

Seriously though my second thought (after the crap joke) was PVA- it dries mostly clear.

WARNING I'VE NOT TRIED THIS - EXPERIMENT FIRST BEFORE ACCEPTING THE ADVICE OF SOMEONE WHO IS WORKING HIS WAY THROUGH HIS FATHER'S DAY GIFT (Box of Wychwood beer)

(I had to edit that for beer induced typos)
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: nikharwood on 02 July 2010, 11:15:36 PM
QuoteThose are evil Nic! Nice

Why, thank you  ;D

I do enjoy painting 28mm - you can obsess to the nth degree....wouldn't want to paint the feckin things all the time, but they're good for the soul when used wisely  8)

Of course - looking at these again (I painted them in about 2004-ish?) I want to do more - but in 10mm...fancy doing some serious Chaos fantasy figures chaps??!
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Leon on 03 July 2010, 01:08:18 AM
Quote from: nikharwood on 02 July 2010, 11:15:36 PM
but in 10mm...fancy doing some serious Chaos fantasy figures chaps??!

If they looked like those ones, yes!
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: FierceKitty on 03 July 2010, 08:44:18 AM
A South African wargames championship experimented with computer-generated terrain some time ago. As you might expect, a few contingencies are not anticipated. In particular, one hapless played fieling a very knights-heavy army found himself fighting on an impassable Alexander Nevsky-style lake with a single road running from one baseline to the other, and was literally annihilated by a single unit of pikemen, who were themselves unscathed.
   Translucence was not the primary subject of after-game recrimination.
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Luddite on 03 July 2010, 02:13:08 PM
 :o :o :o

Eh?
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: Last Hussar on 04 July 2010, 12:38:44 PM
 My Hovercraft Is Full Of Eels
Title: Re: How do you paint ice?
Post by: 17-21l on 10 July 2010, 06:49:19 PM
Ha ha ha! jeeeez we've got some toppas on this forum

God save the Queen!