I know this might seem weird but I'm a newbie so be patient. What colors should I use to paint sandbags? Any techniques you guys would recommend?

Thanks,
North

It depends on what contry your sand bags are from but the most common colors I have seen are OD green and desert tan. Also make some of the bags lighter than the others because the sun light will fade some faster than others. Hope this helps And welcome to ArmoramA!! This is the best sites on the web.

OD and burlap tan coloured. When your painting them, mix up a couple colours so all the bags aren't exactly the same colour. It's really small and makes a big difference.

Also if you want a cheap way to make sand bags get some 2 part putty, mix it into a big sausage and cup it off at measured increments. they'll look great and if your putting them on a tank or something they'll lie down really naturally.

Welcome aboard


Jeff

I haven't made any sandbags yet but the most probable color would be almost the same color as your background eg. you wont put green sandbags on a dessert! Make the sandbags a little bit more lighter than the surroundings as to make it more obvious than the background.

Tip: Watch many war movies, you might get some idea there.

Color is varied as previously noted. Don't forget texture on scratch made one. Take an old rag with tight texture or a medical gause and press it into just shaped bags to give a burlap texture.

We, the US military, use a couple of types of sand bags. Some are the traditional burlap that come in either light olive green or natural burlap color (tan) or any shade in between. We also have some fake nylon burlap bags that come in a light olive color or desert tan. These are shiny and not as good as the traditional burlap ones.

Sand bags are fairly porous and tend to take on the color of the sand inside. This is because all the minute particles of dust get squeezed out of the bags as they are stacked, filled, tied, etc. Now if you fill them with dirt like when you are in woodlands, they tend not to change color as rapidly as sand.

German bags. I was gonna try mixing "sand" and Tamiya "Flat Earth" , see what that looks like. Thanks for all your help guys

I have always loved to use the Chicklets gum. Drop some in water and let the shell melt off then take out and you can bend it to fit where you want (so it sags, if you need it too). Then use your fingerprint for the texture and your knife for the stiching.

Sladog - Question - was it you who used Chicklets for cobblestones?? I remember a post where the same technique of melting off the coating and then seating them in some kind of meduim was used for cobble stones.

Slodder, nope, not me. Although they could be used for that I suppose.

I still have chicklets left from like 10 years ago when I did a tank. Those and tissue paper for bedrolls are great conversation pieces. When people hear what they are they can't beleive it.

How exactly do you make the TP tent rolls? Soak them in white glue?? How do you keep them form ripping and not sticking to everything?

If I remember right, lightly wet a tissue then fold it in half then in half again and start to roll. For small bedrolls you only need to roll it a few times then cut and tie each end with string. Next, drench it in white glue and let dry.

"How to build Dioramas" by Shep Paine gives great detail on this. Either that book or his book on Armor. Forget which one.