Although lucky for me I haven't made a start on the base for my diorama, this is what I have been thinking, and would like some feed-back on the following thought - Build the dock, use real sand for the base along with a few rocks (hand made) and then cover with clear gel painting the tops of the waves white close to the stationary boat at the dock. Would I have to wash all the sand, use lose or glue down (the whole lot is being covered by gel) and finally, what grade of sand for a 1-72 model ?

Be careful of which type of sand you use. At 1/72 scale even the smallest 'play sand' is going to look huge. It may be the affect you're looking for, just be careful. If you want a sandy look you may want to look at something like WoodLand Scenics "Snow". Yea - I know snow.... the color is all wrong, but the texture and size is better suited for the scale. Just apply it and paint it. I think baking power is used as snow, but if may disolve and loose its texture in the application (with PVA/Glue and water).
You could also try to use clean kitty litter. The basic 'clay based' type, no fancy stuff, no scoopable stuff. Grind it up or smash it up with a hammer to get a really fine sand.

If you use play sand I wouldn't worry about washing it. Washing kitty litter will ruin it. Just get a nice layer of paint over it to seal it, then you can put a dull coat over it to really seal it.

Hi Alec

Within this thread, there is a small SBS on base making with real sand/dirt:

http://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/forums/115660&page=1

Hopefully it's useful to you.

Chas

If you can source it, I'd use the fine white sand you used to find in public ash cans for cigarette. They used to be seen at every entryway to hotels etc.
Good luck,
C.

Thank you for the replies and info, what had actually put a stop to my little plan, was that someone told me, sand can bleed into the clear gel thereby giving it a yellowish stain, and obviously if this did occur, the whole sea effect would be lost. So, I'm going to chicken out on this one, and simply stick to paint. The diorama I am building, is my first full blown diorama, and I can't imagine it being that good, nevertheless, I wanted loads of information on basically everything I could think of asking. Thank you all again.

Hi Alec,
Go to a pet store and ask for Chinchilla dust or sand.
It's used for Chinchillas to clean their fur.
It is extremely fine and makes great modeling sand,its almost a powder.
Real sand is still to grainy and when mixed with glue,basically turns to mud.

Finely sifted dirt should do the trick. Just get some dirt from your garden and let it dry completely. Then sift it through a series of fine mesh sifters/strainers. When you are done, you should have a product that is the consistency of powder but still have enough definition. Then simply apply it over while glue and paint it.

HTH

IMO real sand is a no-go, even for 1/35 scale dioramas.
Smooth out an area with spackel, as smooth as possible (use a damp sponge). Place whatever details you want in the spackel at this time. Theres a good chance this will crack as it dries (depending on how thick your spackel is), so repeat to fill any holes. When you have your surface, paint with diluted white glue and lightly sprinkel finely-sifted dust to give the sand effect.
Another way, instead of adding the "finely-sifted dust", just brush paint with pastels/pigments and thinner. This is rough enough for scale sand.

Thank you for that Frank, the diorama is my first full blown 1-72, and originally I wanted a sandy bottom over a quite clear sea, the sand continuing up the side of a harbour wall with the sea behind this. Like I said, this is my first, and yes I hear chicken as I have optted out of the sand, gone over to rock and mud, what you've described I'll do my best to remember for my next diorama. At the moment I am chasing water effect (clear) and what apparently would seem an easy task has turned into a nightmare, I've brought 3 different lots of water effects so far, the first bright blue which you have to paint (no good to me) the 2nd resin solid water mixed with hardener which can eat into your plastic model (strike 2) and finally today Spectrum acrylic gel medium which is white but is suppose to dry clear, I'm testing that as I write this. So that's 3 I have tried for water effect, I don't honestly want something I have to paint afterward, true I'll be painting the tips of the waves. Thank you for your reply.