How do you paint ice?

Started by Luddite, 19 June 2010, 01:40:44 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Luddite

Simple really,

I'm looking for advice on how to paint realistic-looking transleuscent ice...
http://www.durhamwargames.co.uk/
http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

"It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion.  It is by the juice of Typhoo my thoughs acquire speed the teeth acquire stains, the stains serve as a warning.  It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion."

"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." - Gary Gygax
"Maybe emu trampling created the desert?" - FierceKitty

2012 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

"I have become inappropriately excited by the thought of a compendium of OOBs." FSN

Leon

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)
www.pendraken.co.uk - Now home to over 7000 products, including 4500 items for 10mm wargaming, plus MDF bases, Battlescale buildings, I-94 decals, Litko Gaming Aids, Militia Miniatures, Raiden Miniatures 1/285th aircraft, Red Vectors MDF products, Vallejo paints and much, much more!

ronan

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...)
;)

nikharwood

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)

Luddite

I'm painting a 28mm Malifaux December crew.


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, and these little fellows 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), 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.
http://www.durhamwargames.co.uk/
http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

"It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion.  It is by the juice of Typhoo my thoughs acquire speed the teeth acquire stains, the stains serve as a warning.  It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion."

"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." - Gary Gygax
"Maybe emu trampling created the desert?" - FierceKitty

2012 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

"I have become inappropriately excited by the thought of a compendium of OOBs." FSN

Dave Fielder

First, don't do it in Iraq! It's Freakin Redders here ...  ???
Romeo and Juliet is a Verona Crisis

Leon

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!
www.pendraken.co.uk - Now home to over 7000 products, including 4500 items for 10mm wargaming, plus MDF bases, Battlescale buildings, I-94 decals, Litko Gaming Aids, Militia Miniatures, Raiden Miniatures 1/285th aircraft, Red Vectors MDF products, Vallejo paints and much, much more!

nikharwood

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

Specifically i'm wondering how best to approah this chap 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.

I want them to really look 'icy' and transleucent (something like this 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:











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

Megamatman

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:











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

Those are evil Nic! Nice  8) 8) 8)
Megamatman

Last Hussar

02 July 2010, 11:03:34 PM #9 Last Edit: 02 July 2010, 11:05:50 PM by Last Hussar
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)
I have neither the time or the crayons to explain why you are wrong.

GNU PTerry

nikharwood

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??!

Leon

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!
www.pendraken.co.uk - Now home to over 7000 products, including 4500 items for 10mm wargaming, plus MDF bases, Battlescale buildings, I-94 decals, Litko Gaming Aids, Militia Miniatures, Raiden Miniatures 1/285th aircraft, Red Vectors MDF products, Vallejo paints and much, much more!

FierceKitty

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.
I don't drink coffee to wake up. I wake up to drink coffee.

Luddite

http://www.durhamwargames.co.uk/
http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/

"It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion.  It is by the juice of Typhoo my thoughs acquire speed the teeth acquire stains, the stains serve as a warning.  It is by tea alone i set my mind in motion."

"The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules." - Gary Gygax
"Maybe emu trampling created the desert?" - FierceKitty

2012 Painting Competition - Runner-Up!

"I have become inappropriately excited by the thought of a compendium of OOBs." FSN

Last Hussar

 My Hovercraft Is Full Of Eels
I have neither the time or the crayons to explain why you are wrong.

GNU PTerry