I think the main consensus from the panel of peers is that the snow just looks like a big white blob and I agree. I read everyone’s comments again and while everyone has a bit different take on it, the general idea is that it needs to be more cut up and thinned out. The other general consenus is that the whole thing needs to be wetter where the run off is. I will be working diligently on those two things. I will also try to get the creek in, I had considered that from day one and ignored my myself. But Rooster is right it needs it.
What Would Ray Do?
Well here is what I have done to the Albino Anaconda. I chopped the snot out of it. I think it looks much more like it belongs. I will still add some boulders and embedded logs. The rock in the center I think I will make green on the very top and add a bush. Oh and in the above picture there are distinct dirt trails coming of the out croping. I will be doing this with some almost black grout that matches the rocks I am making. Unless someone has a glaring problem they see I will likely keep this shape and dress it up.
And I removed the blob of snow and played with a culvert. Nothing is in place its just to show the idea. The pipe will be a wire wrapped wood stave pipe.
More to come tonight but I would love to hear critiques and criticism before I plaster.
Much better. I think I would flatten out the bit on the right a little more at the roof line like you did on the left. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)
That does look better.
How about taking some of the bits that you cut away and put them here and there on the roof like in your real life photo and a few pieces on the ground? Would there still be snow in the trees at all or maybe in the shadows on the ground?
Would you dare to break a few of the timbers on the snow shed and put a large branch or stump through it?
Could you use a clear minwax polyurethane dripped down from the snow bank onto the roof to make it look wet?
Todd H
I might add some here and there. Definetly would not be any left on the trees. Wind, rain, and solar radiation takes care of that. Trees are the first to go bare. But under the tree yes because that are piles up deep with the falling snow from the tree and the shade. A dab there would be very plausible. Snow on the roof would I think would be some of the first snow to go. With a dark wood and with air movement below it I would think the shed wold heat up faster than the ground around. So maybe some in the dark recesses of the shed may be plausible also. I will play around with that. One consideration that was brought up in my other thread is plowed snow. I might consider a small remnant of a plow berm but I might be getting to deep into this lol
Todd B,
Yes. flattening that right hand leg would be good.
Rooster,
Slope aspect. I found it interesting that this says to you north facing. From the very start this has been south facing to me. Interesting with no perspective of the sun that the feel is different for both of us. But on that note with all the lighting in this area the shadows would lend themselves to south facing full sun. If I do add snow under the tree it will have to be to the back of it in the shadows. That would be the only way it would be “right”. But even though I see it different I am glad you brought it up because it makes sense to think about natural shading.
Yeah, Devon that looks way better, shape and form wise! Now just make the wood a darker shade any where that is 3 scale feet from the pile, so it looks wet. It doesn’t have to be shiny, just darker to look wet. Of course the dark area should drain to the bottom. Really cool build!
to my eyes now it looks much better.
… and i would second the idea of putting some blobs of nearly melted snow in shadowy places.
Very cool Devon!!
Todd Haskins said:
That does look better.
How about taking some of the bits that you cut away and put them here and there on the roof like in your real life photo and a few pieces on the ground? …
That’s what I’m thinking too. It does look better though, m ore believable.
edit: the edges of the snowfield has a “torn” effect also, which I think would seal the deal.
That’s much better Devon. “Wetting” the roof will seal the deal so to speak and I like the idea of some snow left in the shadows. The culvert looks good too. It adds just a little more realism to the entire scene. Might you consider just a trickle of water coming out of the pipe.
So I am glad the crowd is more happy. That is what I love about this site and sharing builds. Yeah I get picked on for my Devoning but I also get tons of help that makes for a better model.
So since my last update I have gotten some done. I plastered the new snow mound. I also cut some small pieces pieces to place under the tree and also in the shadows of the snow shed. I also cut a small ditch in the back of the snowshed to correspond with the culvert (thanks Rooster for the “loosening of the rock” not sure if that’s what you meant but that’s what I got out of it). I painted up a bunch of small boulders made from foam like the ones at the culvert to fill that in and the ditch on the other end and also to scatter about.
What is left is to paint the snow. For the wet areas I will stain the wood darker with black India ink and then apply clear gloss acrylic medium to it and all the surfaces that should be wet. I also want to try the CA glue on fishing line so I can get that stop action water running effect. We will see where it goes.
For all those that were convinced I was way ahead well it will be crunch time this weekend.
rock face icicles
Devon I saw the idea mentioned to you and thought you might like to see how even when warm out you still have hanging icicles on the face of shaded wet rock faces. These whether sheer or sloped just a sign of ground water seepage or run off. It would bind the whole diorama. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Edited to say make sure you remember to apply the gloss medium to the top edges of the rock face under the shed area while you are at it
For the top of the ice sheets before they divide into icicles you can use plastic wrap and gloss medium for shape.
I miss the sea serpent…
John
OK OK I give in . . . Icicles it is. I will give it a try
Devon Sinsley said:
OK OK I give in . . . Icicles it is. I will give it a try
Not to be a downer, but I’ve never seen a good model of icicles, but then I haven’t looked around that much for one. I guess that’s why we call it a challenge! I’m interested to see what you come up with, and I wouldn’t put it past you to make it work. I suggest you make them removable, just in case it isn’t successful (a kindly way of saying it looks stupid and ruined your otherwise great work!).
John Passaro said:
Devon Sinsley said:
OK OK I give in . . . Icicles it is. I will give it a tryNot to be a downer, but I’ve never seen a good model of icicles, but then I haven’t looked around that much for one. I guess that’s why we call it a challenge! I’m interested to see what you come up with, and I wouldn’t put it past you to make it work. I suggest you make them removable, just in case it isn’t successful (a kindly way of saying it looks stupid and ruined your otherwise great work!).
Ive seen one way but its tricky, using plastic sprues from model kits, heat over a candle then pulled apart, they still have to be painted but it does make the shape pretty easily.
John Passaro said:
Devon Sinsley said:
OK OK I give in . . . Icicles it is. I will give it a tryNot to be a downer, but I’ve never seen a good model of icicles, but then I haven’t looked around that much for one. I guess that’s why we call it a challenge! I’m interested to see what you come up with, and I wouldn’t put it past you to make it work. I suggest you make them removable, just in case it isn’t successful (a kindly way of saying it looks stupid and ruined your otherwise great work!).
John,
Others have suggested CA glue on fishing line. Gonna give that a try. But I am also going to do it on a scrap piece of rock wall to see what it looks like. I have decided this will be the last thing I do. I need to finish other parts of it first. The snow, the sign, the culvert, the wet ground, and adding the debris back. So we will see how it goes.
Vic Smith said:
Ive seen one way but its tricky, using plastic sprues from model kits, heat over a candle then pulled apart, they still have to be painted but it does make the shape pretty easily.
I will try this also. I happen to have some model sprue materiel and i used to do that all the time to make wires, fuel line, whatsoever for cars. I might work.
OK so a google search came up with all sorts of ideas to try. If I can get to it this weekend I will try some of them. We have the CA dripped down fishing line, the sprue idea, I had though about hot glue blobs stretched, Saw one using clear silicon dabs stretched and allowed to dry.
even if i don’t get it done in time this will be a great subject to pursue.
Yeah but, you need clear sprues to stretch, it’s hard to paint grey ones clear… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
