Small Scale Military Headquarters

I am making a dio and need just short of a butt-ton of sandbags. Build-a-rama makes them but they're really expensive. It seems they would be relatively simple to make. Any ideas?

Get some PTE figures, they come with cool sand bags and then cast them.

take some burlap cut it to 1:18 scale size stich 3 sides and leave one open like a bag put some dirt or sand in and the stich the last end and boom your done it worked for me in 1:6 scale

At 1/18 those burlap fibers will look pretty huge.

Surprised no one has mentioned Build-a-Rama!

They've been making quality 1:18 custom stowage and gear for years. They have a 10-piece set of 1:18 sandbags: http://build-a-rama.com/1_18/18BAR-31_s ... s_18.shtml

I had good luck with milput putty on my Sherman project:

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... lit=suzy+Q

just made the basic shape, pressed it into some fabric to print on it some "fabric" texture, made a seam with a clay shaping tool, and baked. Once you get going you can make your "butt-ton"

Cheers!

I would also recommend the Build-A-Rama sandbags TMan posted.

They're outstanding.

I prefer "real" ones, but my efforts to do them have been stunted a bit. You have to be a decent sewer ultimately, and patient, to do them in a tiny scale. And sewing a butt-ton is going to give you Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

Yoxford wrote:I had good luck with milput putty on my Sherman project:

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... lit=suzy+Q

just made the basic shape, pressed it into some fabric to print on it some "fabric" texture, made a seam with a clay shaping tool, and baked. Once you get going you can make your "butt-ton"

Cheers!

Maybe take this suggestion, and instead of pressing the fabric on each individual bag, assemble several into the wall or pile you need and just press the visible portions with the fabric. Might save a little time.

Sorry guys,
baked clay, resin cast make only rigid sandbags, do not adapt itself on every surface. I choosed the way to get real sandbags. Dense cotton cloth, cisors, thread and needle, sand and a teaspoon to fill the bags ...
In reality, I found exactly this at a LGB train modeller, making some stuff for dioramas. So I bought about 50 bags for less than 20$, of course, I have to find the sand, fill the bags and close them with thread and needle.
My first intention was to use the bags like they are filled with rice, corn or so for an humanitarian payload in my blackhawk. Hope now to load a complete UN white truck.
No pics yet, but the bags are very close to a realistic sand bag, about 1 1/8 x 2 inch, once filled shorter (have to make a ply inside before closing with thread and needle, 'cause the sand could get out).
A good idea: ask your girl friend, set her at work with her sewing machine.

I'd like to see pics of your sandbags granch, if you have time.

Jesse James,
I had only time to make for you this express diorama with a lot of empty and only few filled sandbags:

Note the plates: these are from 9 mm Para 50 cartridges boxes. I'm collecting them from the shooting yard garbage cans. Could make an improvised airfield in the Pacific War. I am in modern diorama and will try to make a hasty heliport(in the desert), I have now over hundred of these racks, anough for the landing place of a Blackhawk.

Thanks granch, I appreciate the pic.

When I first opened this thread I was thinking that sandbads at 1/18 should be made from Miliput, like one would for 1/35. I bought a set of the Build a Rama bags, but that is expensive in the long run and they don't really stack well. For a handful of bags on a tank, I'd stick with what Yoxfod did..

But I really like Granch's bags, especially since you can do a dio digging fighting positions. Filling and sewing a couple hundred of these would be a pain but worth it.

I also really dig his idea with the plastic 9mm ammo box holders. Those make perfect perforated steel planking (PSP) for bunkers or runways!

Apache 26,
I hope you'll show us something!
Note for the nasty sewing work: you'll make a lot when you have to choose to watch TV serials side by side with your girl friend. No agressive comment because you're all the time in your man's cave...

Hi Guys, I know it's been awhile. We are putting some focus back into the 1:18 market this year. I will be posting pictures real soon!

A couple points of interest is our new Sandbag Walls, Destroyed Wall sections and new litters. Stay tuned!

Mark Vuncannon
www.build-a-rama.com
www.dioramadepot.com