Years ago, my friends Dad had this paper snow mat on his giant layout, and it looked similar to the “quality” of the green grass mat they sell today. The mat was (of course) white and had a snowlike sparkle to it like Christmas cards you get. Anyone remember that stuff? and also, has anyone seen it for sale lately? I asked at the hobby shop at the mall (not a train store) and he didn’t even know what I was talking about. This is not a “puffy” mat like cotton batting or anything like that. Just a paper roll of white sparkle “snow”. OF course, I am going back into the mid '60s and nothing recent.
Hi Jim, our local craft store - called JoAnn Fabrics - had something like this - but a few months ago. It was a big roll like wrapping paper but glittery and snowly looking - though without the sandpaper texture like the old LifeLike grass mats. One of my neighbors bought the latter at Hobby Lobby and spray painted it white. It looked great - especially as the texture came through and some of the green.
My buddy bought a mat at the local craft store but it wasn’t paper it fells like a synthetic matterail but it is about 1/4 inch thick with the sparkles in it.
There are JoAnn Fabrics here in NJ too! I will have to check into that. There is also a craft store called Michaels around here too. These are great ideas for a “snow” layout.
Hello JimM. I happen to model snow on my permanent layout. I use Floracraft Winter Snow on top of wet gloss white paint. Joann’s markets a similar snow under Buffalo snow. (Just avoid the shredded coconut looking stuff) Work in 1x1 foot areas, and use a straw to blow the excess onto your next painted section. This will give you a nice even covering, that won’t come up or change colors over the years. I “wisp” on a few palm fulls of clear glitter to give it a crystaline effect.
Buckeye - Honestly, haven’t seen the Scenic Express snow. Probably right up front, my procedure is cheap. Everyone has extra white paint stored around, and the Floracraft/Buffalo snow sells for $1-2 per bag. I’ve been using it on my Christmas layouts for a dozen years, and once the paint bonds it to the surface it doesn’t come off (even when leaning or kneeling on it), and it doesn’t yellow.
The only drawback is you can only buy the stuff from September to December.
I used a similar product on my Christmas layout. You can pick it up in any Dollar General or Store like that, not Big Lots. Just ask a sales person for 'Christmas Fleece". It comes folded in a plastic package. Cost is about $1.00 per package. It is white, sparkles on it, soft and cuts real easy. You might find it now and put away for next season.
Bomber, thanks for that idea! I went down to the local DOLLAR TREE today, and I FOUND the Christmas “Fleece” but at that store, it is called “Glittering Christmas Drape”. The cool thing is, all the Christmas stuff is 1/2 off! YES, half off at a Dollar store! HAHA I am building an 8X8 layout so, I bought 8 packs which are 32"X50". I figure I needed 3 for each 4X8 plywood, for a total of 6, but now, I may go back and get a few more… just in case I tear it or something like that. Maybe using it for cutting out rectangles and putting it on the roofs of buildings and such… The sparkles are multicolored, but not excessive. Just right. This stuff is thin enough for the track to lay on, and not get “lifted” up by the snow too.