Plowed snow

[MeatMan]

Hey folks. I've never done a dio before and I'd like to make one based on the pic, different car though.

What kind of medium would be good to form the piles of snow made by the plow?

As you can see, it isn't the same height along the road (as it shouldn't be). I've looked at foam but it won't give the width at the base. Thanks.

[dptydawg]

I've built a couple winter dioramas and have used Styrofoam boards for the snow banks. The blue extruded stuff for flat areas and the white bead board for banks and lumpy areas. I used drywall compound and Woodland Scenics flex-paste to smooth things out.

The white beadboard should work well for the roadside banks in your dio.

Carl

[MeatMan]

Thanks Carl. Picked some up today.

[astroracer]

Building up a foam base shouldn't be that hard. using foam and trimming it with an electric carving knife is how a lot of rock and snow formations are created on model car and train layouts.

 Look for the spray on "popcorn" textured ceiling paint at the big box stores.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Homax-14-oz-Ceiling-Popcorn-Easy-Patch-Spray-Texture-4094/202061372

That would make the bank look very realistic with all of the small chunks and pieces left after the plow blows it off the road.

Mark

[MeatMan]

Thanks for the tip Mark. I've seen a few ways to carve the foam on YT but one thing is consistent; it makes a mess!

[astroracer]

Thanks for the tip Mark. I've seen a few ways to carve the foam on YT but one thing is consistent; it makes a mess!

Yes it does. if you have a shop vac handy that helps. I ended up doing all of the foam outside when I was a kid. Mom wasn't real happy and shop vacs were not an option back then.