Great review! I recently bought the AK Snow products on a whim for a diorama my kid was doing and was shocked at how realistic the the combination of the snow + sprinkles + microballoons is. One of AK's tutorials recommends that you mix the snow+sprinkles into a past then sprinkle the microballoons on top. In addition, you then thinned down PVA glue and sprinke microballoons on the edges to feather them and WOW, what a result that gives ... maybe not that necessary for basing a miniature but for a larger base or diorama it improves the effect even more. Compared to everything else I've used in the past for my mini basing, the AK snow effects line is really significantly better. It's not that expensive either. BTW there is one more product in their snow effects line, which I haven't been able to get a hold of yet, called Snow Sparkles. I think that might be a drier (or completely dry) version of the Snow Sparkles product. Supposedly it adds a real glistening effect to the snow.
Oh and those microballoons can really get up your nose when you're doing a larger piece. My kid and I were sneezing for 5 minutes straight after she used them on the diorama lol...wear a mask for larger/extended applications haha!
Oh wow, that is a lot of options and different feel of snow to replicate for ones minis. This does give a better example of what I would like to do eventually when I get to my Space Wolves army! Thank you for another awesome tutorial!
Hi, thanks for the video. How do you use ak microballons on top of ak snow terrain? I just poured some microballons on top of the snow terrain while it was still wet but they don't stick to it very well... did you put pva glue over ak terrain snow before adding the microballons? Thank you!!!
Army Painter's snow is my go-to I find that if you mix a spoonful of snow with a spoonful of PVA glue and splodge it onto the base so it comes up in nice little mounds, and maybe dollop a bit on top of some snow tufts as well (for realism!) it can look really nice. You never really get away from the fact that it is, as you say, rather coarse, but I'm happy with the way it's come out so far: my WW2 Polish are looking adequately chilly, in any case!
Really good and informative video! Another good way to soften the edges of the AK snow is a bit of water on a brush, dabbed at the edges, or even the sparkles at the edges to give the melting edges look.
Lovely to see these all next to each other! I am planning a Finnish (mainly) set of winter terrain and seeing you put these through their paces was really helpful!
I've found when doing my Flintloque figures that the Army painter snow looks brilliant when sprinkling it over tufts to look like fallen snow. But the AK snow that looks amazingly like slush, bloody brilliant. Must get to local games shop.
Great video, while a little pricey I think I have to go with the snow sprinkles. It's perfect for the 'melted snow' look that I'm wanting to add to my dark rocky bases, and that sparkly finish that it has should really give the finished product a nice bit of pop. Thanks for the great comparison!
I'm a long time user of Vallejo's snow and been very satisfied, but this really opens my eyes to how I can take my hobby to the next level :) thanks guys!
This video is just what I was looking for, a guide through the diferent snow effect products available. Also a really quick and good guide through the process. all in all, a perfect 10/10! Cheers
Well done. Very, very helpful. I am about to do snow bases for my new Ogre Kingdoms army. I am thinking of mixing GW Valhallan Blizzard with the Army Painter snow.
Wish I had seen this before I bought the Army Painter version? LIke you said in this review, it's not *terrible*, but I'm not so hard up for cash that I wouldn't spring for better if I knew about it!
Hello! Thank you very much for this video, as I was planning to do snow bases for my Battletech minis as an homage to my old Khador minis from Warmachine, which had a pure "snow" base made of fine white sand, white glue, and a little bit of a ice blue paint to give it a nice tint. Quick question: Can I do a pure snow basing (AK Terrains Snow + Micro Balloons) or would it be better if I did snow splotches on a dark gray texture base? Some what worried that snow splotches would look off due to the scale of Battletech.
I have 2 boxes of army painter, the only kind I can find fast. Is it fine for buildings ? With PVA glue and white ink. I can buy microballons from annoter brand but comes a tad expensive, 15€.
So with your AK snow + ballonons or Vallejo snow + balloons double up, how did you apply the balloons on top? While it was drying, or after it was dry?
Extremely useful! How did you make the AK Micro Balloons adhere to the AK Realistic Snow? Did you simply sprinkle them on top while the snow layer was still drying, or did you wait for the snow layer to dry and apply PVA or similar?
Hi, after watching your video I chose to get ak terrains snow and microballons. I want to use it for my terrain pieces, do you have any recommendations for sealing it for models to stand on without ruining the effect?
If you mix 1 part of each natron, white acrylic paint and wood glue, you get an easily spreadable, glittery and smooth snow paste very cheaply
Great review! I recently bought the AK Snow products on a whim for a diorama my kid was doing and was shocked at how realistic the the combination of the snow + sprinkles + microballoons is. One of AK's tutorials recommends that you mix the snow+sprinkles into a past then sprinkle the microballoons on top. In addition, you then thinned down PVA glue and sprinke microballoons on the edges to feather them and WOW, what a result that gives ... maybe not that necessary for basing a miniature but for a larger base or diorama it improves the effect even more. Compared to everything else I've used in the past for my mini basing, the AK snow effects line is really significantly better. It's not that expensive either.
BTW there is one more product in their snow effects line, which I haven't been able to get a hold of yet, called Snow Sparkles. I think that might be a drier (or completely dry) version of the Snow Sparkles product. Supposedly it adds a real glistening effect to the snow.
Oh and those microballoons can really get up your nose when you're doing a larger piece. My kid and I were sneezing for 5 minutes straight after she used them on the diorama lol...wear a mask for larger/extended applications haha!
Both extremely useful suggestions, thanks guys :]
Oh wow, that is a lot of options and different feel of snow to replicate for ones minis. This does give a better example of what I would like to do eventually when I get to my Space Wolves army! Thank you for another awesome tutorial!
Dude! Space Wolves on Snow would look awesome!
Just getting into snowy bases. Botched my first one so this vid helped. Plus "PAINT YA DAMN RIMS!" killed me 🤣
Yeah, the AK stuff is meant to be used in tandem. They have a tutorial on their own page which shows how to do this and get really nice results
Hi, thanks for the video. How do you use ak microballons on top of ak snow terrain? I just poured some microballons on top of the snow terrain while it was still wet but they don't stick to it very well... did you put pva glue over ak terrain snow before adding the microballons? Thank you!!!
Army Painter's snow is my go-to I find that if you mix a spoonful of snow with a spoonful of PVA glue and splodge it onto the base so it comes up in nice little mounds, and maybe dollop a bit on top of some snow tufts as well (for realism!) it can look really nice. You never really get away from the fact that it is, as you say, rather coarse, but I'm happy with the way it's come out so far: my WW2 Polish are looking adequately chilly, in any case!
I really like AK snow sprinkles. Very realistic and I bet one can use it as a water foam too.
That is exactly the video I've been looking for. Very comprehensive and to the point video, thanks.
Another top quality, short and sweet product overview. Will definitely be coming back to this when i need to get some snow products.
Thanks for watching! Glad you found it useful :)
Really good and informative video!
Another good way to soften the edges of the AK snow is a bit of water on a brush, dabbed at the edges, or even the sparkles at the edges to give the melting edges look.
Great suggestions, thanks!
Lovely to see these all next to each other!
I am planning a Finnish (mainly) set of winter terrain and seeing you put these through their paces was really helpful!
I loved the snow sprinkles. So realistic for snow that melted a bit. That with the terrains snow would look great. Another interesting video. Thanks.
That would be cool! The sprinkles would definately help 'soften' the edges of the terrain snow I think! Thanks :)
thank you for this. I was trying to internet through VJP and AK - very helpful
I've found when doing my Flintloque figures that the Army painter snow looks brilliant when sprinkling it over tufts to look like fallen snow. But the AK snow that looks amazingly like slush, bloody brilliant. Must get to local games shop.
Great video, while a little pricey I think I have to go with the snow sprinkles. It's perfect for the 'melted snow' look that I'm wanting to add to my dark rocky bases, and that sparkly finish that it has should really give the finished product a nice bit of pop. Thanks for the great comparison!
I really appreciate this comparison.
This video is exactly what I was looking for! Cheers
I'm a long time user of Vallejo's snow and been very satisfied, but this really opens my eyes to how I can take my hobby to the next level :)
thanks guys!
This video is just what I was looking for, a guide through the diferent snow effect products available.
Also a really quick and good guide through the process. all in all, a perfect 10/10!
Cheers
Well done. Very, very helpful. I am about to do snow bases for my new Ogre Kingdoms army. I am thinking of mixing GW Valhallan Blizzard with the Army Painter snow.
Great video! I settled on the AK Terrain Snow and AK Microballons!
Did you guys feel you needed to use a sealent on any of the bases?
Wish I had seen this before I bought the Army Painter version? LIke you said in this review, it's not *terrible*, but I'm not so hard up for cash that I wouldn't spring for better if I knew about it!
Any idea how I can break up snow bases for a Battletech mini? Don't think the tufts would work well given the scale.
Thanks!
Hello! Thank you very much for this video, as I was planning to do snow bases for my Battletech minis as an homage to my old Khador minis from Warmachine, which had a pure "snow" base made of fine white sand, white glue, and a little bit of a ice blue paint to give it a nice tint.
Quick question: Can I do a pure snow basing (AK Terrains Snow + Micro Balloons) or would it be better if I did snow splotches on a dark gray texture base?
Some what worried that snow splotches would look off due to the scale of Battletech.
Use army painter with superglue. Its tops
I have 2 boxes of army painter, the only kind I can find fast. Is it fine for buildings ? With PVA glue and white ink. I can buy microballons from annoter brand but comes a tad expensive, 15€.
So with your AK snow + ballonons or Vallejo snow + balloons double up, how did you apply the balloons on top? While it was drying, or after it was dry?
Extremely useful! How did you make the AK Micro Balloons adhere to the AK Realistic Snow? Did you simply sprinkle them on top while the snow layer was still drying, or did you wait for the snow layer to dry and apply PVA or similar?
do you need to use glue to make the ak products stick or will they do it on there own???
My Citadel Valhallan Blizzard turns a little yellow when it dries is it the brown underneath that is showing throu? can i paint it white?
Great video!
Hi! thanks for the video. How did you mix ak microballons with ak snow paste? just add the microballoons on top os snow paste before it dries? Thanks
AK all the way!
How do you get the minis on these bases? Just superglue?
Hi, after watching your video I chose to get ak terrains snow and microballons. I want to use it for my terrain pieces, do you have any recommendations for sealing it for models to stand on without ruining the effect?
What an awesome video, I know that this can be an expensive hobby so I'm hoping to not get toooo drawn in haha.
You and me both!
You forgot Snow Tex 🙂
this is not about terrain it's about bases!
None of them looks like snow. Honestly, it just looks like white blobs of paint on a base.
That’s in part due to them just blobbing it’s on