Hi all. Does anyone have a quick and easy way to make sandbags, say, enough for a small machine gun nest?
Haven’t done any myself. But I read somewhere once that you can use modeling clay to make sandbags. When you finally got the shape and size you wanted, press those small sandbags against a hankie or thin cloth to get that cloth texture kinda look on them.
I’ll be trying them myself anyway. Good luck.
I have used 2-part epoxy putty to create sandbags and it works great. Available from just about any good hardware store and is fairly cheap. It comes in two “sticks” of putty that when blended together will give you a period of time to shape and form your sandbags, contour them, and press them into the formation you wish.
What I do is combine the 2 parts, roll the whole thing out into a “worm” about the size of the sandbags I want to make, cut then to length, press them with course material to give them a texture, use the end of my knife to press stitched and seams in the end of the bags, and finally place them in the situation that I want. Wait for them to dry and paint and weather accordingly.
I have done them similar to the way Shermanfreak said except I used Sculpey clay rolled out and pressed with the flat side of a knife. After that shape them and bake them.Paint and weather to your likeing. You can see how they look in my M151A2 Dio in this forum. Good luck.
you can do what is written above or you can purchase plastic or resin pieces and glue them into position.
good luck, have fun,
I use a similar technique to Robert and Chris, but instead of rolling them, I just pinch off little sections of putty and form them by hand individually. It may take a bit longer, but every bag is completely individual. A little texture, and all is done. It’s alot cheaper than buying aftermarket kits, too. A box of the putty can be had for less than $5 for a supply that’s lasted me for 3 years.
demono69
Thanks much for the feedback. These methods were just what I was looking for. I’ll check out lizardqing2’s M151 dio.
Doc
After you make the sandbags and before it hardens or you bake it to harden, lightly press a piece of course fabric like cotton duck or canvas. This gives a nice scale burlap effect.
Mike
Hi Doc TG,
Fine Scale Modleller magazine of March 2002 has a detailed step by step description of making realistic sandbags.
The cover has a special section on how to airbrush which is probably the quickest way to find it.
Page 39 has the diagrams of “how to” using tissue paper and white glue.
The author is Bob Collignon and the article title is “One Special Sherman - Part two”
I have not looked but it may be accessible on line here too.
Cheers, Pete.
Putty and cloth sound easy enuff
I use Apoxie Sculpt for my sandbags. It has a slow hardening time, which allows you to work longer . I form the bags to the model or dio, then press cheescloth on the surface which gives the bags a rough texture. Let them dry paint and weather to your satisfaction. Good luck![:-^][^]