Sandbags: Making and painting sandbags for wargames

Sandbags are useful for entrenchments and other fortifications. So I thought I’d make and paint some.

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Making Sandbags

My sandbags are made from milliput. Nothing fancy there. Just roll out some and cut short lengths then push together into a wall or some such.

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Steven’s Method of Painting Sand Bags – Version 1

I’ve opted for a scheme similar to that I use for Flocking but with a different base coat:

• Paint Vallejo (141) 70.921 English Uniform
• Heavy dry brush Vallejo (123) 70.847 Dark Sand¹
• Dry brush Vallejo (007) 70.837 Pale Sand²

Notes:
(1) For Dark Sand coloured paint you can substitute any of:

• Ceramcoat Maple Sugar Tan (this is Mark Case’s preferred shade)
• Cote D’arms 522 Pale Sand (despite the “Pale” in the title it is quite similar to the Vallejo)
• Americana DA191 Camel

(2) For Pale Sand coloured paint you can substitute Howard Hues Geo-Hex Desert

In hind sight this results in sandbags that are too light.

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Steven’s Method of Painting Sand Bags – Version 2

For version 2 I wanted something darker so I included some darker shades before moving the to the final “sand” top coat.

• Paint Vallejo (141) 70.921 English Uniform
• Heavy dry brush Vallejo (113) 70.880 khaki Grey
• Dry brush Vallejo (103) 70.821 German Camouflage Beige WWII
• Dry brush Vallejo (007) 70.837 Pale Sand

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Alternative Methods of Painting Sandbags

When I was looking at repainting my Sandbags using Vallejo I searched on the internet for advice. I found several alternatives …

From Flames of War: Epic Loot Part Two – A Guide to Painting the Sherman and Tank Destroyer Stowage with James Brown

• Either Paint Vallejo (115) 70.988 Khaki
• Or Paint Vallejo (114) 70.879 Green Brown

Or FoWiki: Painting Midwar Ostfront Summer Germans

• Paint Vallejo (119) 70.914 Green Ochre

Or Rules_of_Engagement Forum Index » Soviet » Soviet 155mm Gun Position

• Paint Vallejo (141) 70.921 English Uniform
• Dry brush Mix of Vallejo (141) 70.921 English Uniform with White.

Or Great Escape Miniatures: Constructing Gun Emplacements suggests five layers

1. Black Undercoat
2. Heavy all-over dry brush of Vallejo (148) 70.941 Burnt Umber
3. Dry brush Vallejo (143) 70.983 Flat Earth
4. Heavy Dry brush Vallejo (132) 70.876 Brown Sand
5. Dry brush Vallejo (124) 70.819 Iraqi Sand

Or Brush Strokes: 10 mm WWII Vehicles

• Paint Vallejo (121) 70.913 Yellow Ochre, (122) 70.912 Tan Yellow, or (036) 70.804 Beige Red
• Heavy drybrush Vallejo (006) 70.928 Light Flesh, (005) 70.918 Ivory, or (004) 70.820 Offwhite