The holiday season is the perfect time to give your miniatures a touch of winter magic. You want them looking battle-ready, complete with snow and ice effects that reflect the festive chill in the air (because who says war canβt be a little βcoolβ?).
Snow basing is a simple way to add that frosty, festive touch to your figures. Below, weβll show you how to achieve the look and get your minis ready for their holiday-themed battlefield.
Gather the Necessary Supplies
To start snow basing your wargaming miniatures, you'll need just four essential supplies:
- A bottle of white PVA glue
- White paintβany basic acrylic works
- A pot of snow flock
- A plastic bottle cap for mixing
Head to your local hobby shop for snow flock. Woodland Scenics sells pure white powder that looks like fresh snowfall, while Army Painter offers crystalline flakes perfect for winter terrain. Either option works, and one pot will cover an entire armyβs worth of bases.
Mix your snow in a plastic bottle cap using white PVA glue and acrylic paint from your collection. Set aside an old brush for applying the mix, as snow tends to crust over your brushes.
Create Your Snow Mix
Now that youβve gathered your supplies, itβs time to mix your snow. The consistency matters for a realistic, frosty look on your miniatures. Here's how to get it right:
- Pour the Glue: Pour enough PVA glue into your bottle cap to cover the bottom.
- Add White Paint: Add a few small drops of white acrylic paint. You want the mix to look milky.
- Mix in the Snow Flock: Gradually sprinkle snow flock while stirring. Keep mixing until you reach a balanced texture.
- Test the Mixture: Dab a bit of the mix onto a spare base. It should hold shape but spread smoothly.
If the mix feels too runny, add more snow flock. If itβs too thick, a drop of water will loosen it up. Once your snow holds its shape and spreads easily, youβre ready for the next step.
Apply Snow to Your Bases
This is where your winter battlefield comes to life. Your snow mix needs to feel naturalβthink about how real snow falls and builds up.
- Start in Patches: Apply the snow mix in random spots, dabbing it with your brush where snow would naturally collect.
- Build up Drifts: Pile deeper snow around rocks and edges where the wind would blow it.
- Vary the Depth: Make some areas thicker and others thinner to mimic how real snow drifts.
- Check Your Coverage: Step back and look over your base. Leave some base texture showing through for realism.
- Let it Set: Allow the snow to dry for a few hours, or overnight for best results.
Once dry, your miniatures will look ready for battle in a winter wonderland. Brush away any loose snowflakes to complete the look.
Add Ice Effects for Extra Detail
Snow alone can create a stunning winter base, but adding ice effects gives your miniatures that extra frosty touch. Start with high gloss varnishβafter your snow layer dries, dab it onto rocks, edges, and ground patches. The snow will take on a slick, wet appearance just like real ice.
You can easily adjust how icy your scene looks. For a frozen, wet landscape, mix extra gloss varnish into your snow. For a drier winter scene, use less varnish and pick just a few key spots to make icy. Each approach creates a different kind of winter day.
Adding light blue contrast paint like Frostheart underneath the snow can create even more realism. The paint creates depth that looks just like ice forming under the surface. It's a simple technique that will make your winter bases pop on the tabletop.
Give Those Final Touches
Now that your snow and ice effects are set, itβs time to bring some festive details to your winter base.
Consider adding frosted grass, small pinecones, or even tiny holiday decorations like miniature wreaths or gifts to give your miniatures that extra seasonal charm. These small touches help create a cozy, wintery landscape that fits right into the holiday season.
If you're painting minis for wargames or tabletop role-playing games like Konflikt 47 during the festive season, these extra details will make your miniatures feel like they belong in a magical winter battle. Snow-covered rocks or holiday-themed debris add a layer of fun and immersion to your figures.
Once everything dries, seal your work with a matte varnish to protect the base during gameplay.
Add Weathering for Extra Depth (Optional)
Adding weathering to your snow base can bring it to life. Lightly dusting some dry pigments around the edges of the snow gives it a more natural, lived-in look.
If you want to go further, you can press tiny footprints or add some splashes of mud. It makes the base feel like your miniatures have been battling through the snow.
Bring Winter Magic to Your Battles
βTis the season to give your miniatures a frosty, festive makeover. Whether you're guiding your wargame miniatures through snowy terrain or bringing tabletop role-playing games to life with icy details, these winter basing techniques add that perfect holiday touch. You donβt need to be a master painterβjust gather your miniature painting supplies and let your creativity flow like fresh snow.
