I dont have experience with modeling sand, but I am wondering it wil \"cheapen\" the look of the base... So far I have a cracked desert path leading from my mini on the base, but I was going to surround the path and mini with sand. Any idea\'s on how well sand mixes with other terrain types? What else is good for desert type wasteland terrain?
Using modeling sand for the base
- Thread starter J2FcM
- Start date
Shawn R. L.
New member
Dirt from the yard......perfect!
Well, this is what I got so far... I am really... skeptical about how it will turn out. But I was thinking of putting scenery sand around the GS dried cracked wasteland stuff (which is like eminating from the wizard). I was just debating wether the sand texture would look goofy with the cut up GS. Any other ways to transition from cracked wastland into regular sand\\dirt?
Any suggestions on the GS work? or colors? (i was thinking brwn dirt, and the cracked stuff like black (charred!))
Any suggestions on the GS work? or colors? (i was thinking brwn dirt, and the cracked stuff like black (charred!))
Not sure how it would look; never tried it myself.
If you want to get an idea, though, here\'s a site with a few pictures of dry/cracked earth:
Mud Textures
Hopefully there\'s something there that can help you.
If you want to get an idea, though, here\'s a site with a few pictures of dry/cracked earth:
Mud Textures
Hopefully there\'s something there that can help you.
Shawn R. L.
New member
One thing I dont like about alot of the sand and such you can buy is that in one bag it\'s all exactly the same grit. It ends up looking like a zen garden. Too perfect and uniform. I just use dirt form the yard because there is fine dust, fine sand, regular sand and small pebbles....just like real life.
thanks for the link Hinton, there are some helpful texture examples there.
I think when I get time and the outside dirt dries Ill snag some and do a dry run with modeling sand on one half my base, and outside dirt on the other side... I looked at a base made with the modeling sand on it, and I felt like it looked like gravel.. instead of sand\\dirt. The grains just seemed a bit bit to be dirt... but again, I\'ll get a picture up soon.
Hopefully it\'ll come out nice seeing how cutting up GS into pieces was a beeotch
I think when I get time and the outside dirt dries Ill snag some and do a dry run with modeling sand on one half my base, and outside dirt on the other side... I looked at a base made with the modeling sand on it, and I felt like it looked like gravel.. instead of sand\\dirt. The grains just seemed a bit bit to be dirt... but again, I\'ll get a picture up soon.
Hopefully it\'ll come out nice seeing how cutting up GS into pieces was a beeotch
I refuse to pay good money for something I can get out of my own garden. If you want to buy sand get it from the hardware store for a couple of dollars for a wheel barrow full. I agree with shawn tho I hate the same grain sand and make my own mix with different sixe grains in it. It looks more \"Realistic\" and yes sand or dirt will soak up alot of paint thats why I always under coat it with PVA and black paint mix.
Good luck.
Good luck.
COMPARISON
Ok... first... modeling sand:
second... dirt from outside that was sifted thru a strainer:
The outside dirt is much finer... The modeling sand seems to fit better with my cracked up GS though... any thoughts? I sort of like how near the edges it thins out and some pieces are scattered into the cracks. But is there something I don\'t see to it? ALSO... Im not sure how I would color the finer outside dirt... How can highlight and shade that which is so small??????
Finally, I pondered lining the area around the cracked terrain with the more coarse model stuff, then shift into the finer sand.
Ok... first... modeling sand:
second... dirt from outside that was sifted thru a strainer:
The outside dirt is much finer... The modeling sand seems to fit better with my cracked up GS though... any thoughts? I sort of like how near the edges it thins out and some pieces are scattered into the cracks. But is there something I don\'t see to it? ALSO... Im not sure how I would color the finer outside dirt... How can highlight and shade that which is so small??????
Finally, I pondered lining the area around the cracked terrain with the more coarse model stuff, then shift into the finer sand.
Dammekkos2
New member
The best sand for basing comes from the pet shop though, the type they use for bird cages etc. I bought some a few years ago for 50p, the bag of sand was about 20 or 30 times bigger than the GW \"Modelling\" sand (£3-4?).
airhead
Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
blend them. get a nice range of sizes that way. Without sand, that will look like a dry lake bed with the clay all cracked and open.
Much of the GW sand is not silica if it is soaking up paint. Sounds like a lot of model railroad ballist which is clay.
You will want to give it a dark well thinned wash and a final drybrush highlight to give the sand some extra depth otherwise it will look like a toy soldier on a sand base.
Much of the GW sand is not silica if it is soaking up paint. Sounds like a lot of model railroad ballist which is clay.
You will want to give it a dark well thinned wash and a final drybrush highlight to give the sand some extra depth otherwise it will look like a toy soldier on a sand base.
demonherald
New member
maybe worth adding a little textre to the areas first by blending some lumps of GS around to provide a more uneven surface.
priming and glue.
is PVA better than white glue? I\'ve been using white glue on CD cases, and found it... well isn\'t that good. Should I use wood instead of CD cases and PVA glue?
Also, is it more sensible to prime your base... and gravel in this instance? I would assume so as it will match the painting better... but maybe there is incite Im missing...
is PVA better than white glue? I\'ve been using white glue on CD cases, and found it... well isn\'t that good. Should I use wood instead of CD cases and PVA glue?
Also, is it more sensible to prime your base... and gravel in this instance? I would assume so as it will match the painting better... but maybe there is incite Im missing...
F
faulkns
Guest
White glue is also PVA glue and is also not - confused?
PVA is the one to use. It is white. Make sure you don\'t use wood glue. PVA washes out in water as well. Dilute it down a bit before you dip in the sand and make sure it dries totally first
Totally agree with your second comments though. I always glue on sand & gravel Before I prime. Gives another layer of binding, makes it easier to paint as it doesn\'t soak it up as much.
Did these like this
Now I\'ve graduated onto making my own mixes with sand and gravel to get the look I want. Try it
PVA is the one to use. It is white. Make sure you don\'t use wood glue. PVA washes out in water as well. Dilute it down a bit before you dip in the sand and make sure it dries totally first
Totally agree with your second comments though. I always glue on sand & gravel Before I prime. Gives another layer of binding, makes it easier to paint as it doesn\'t soak it up as much.
Did these like this
Now I\'ve graduated onto making my own mixes with sand and gravel to get the look I want. Try it
