Sandbags.

[Legion1963]

Hello LAF'rs, just want to throw this your direction. I am looking for a cheap and cheerfull way/method to make a great number of sandbags. Presently i do not precisely know how many but i think a couple of hundred is a good start. Does any of you done this before and therefore has some hands on experience or perhaps has a big stash of never used/never will be used sandbags i would like to know. Thanks.

[has.been]

Milliput (two part epoxy putty). Mix it up and roll it out into 'sausages' the thickness you want for the sandbags. Then cut the 'sausage' into the lengths you want for the sandbags. If I am placing the sandbags onto something, e.g. a Sherman tank, I will use the putty as soon as I have cut it up, because it is softer (fits onto the surface easily) and stickier (adheres better to the surface). It is possible to leave the cut up sandbags for a few minutes (e.g. 5 minutes at room temperature) they will be firmer and this is what I do if I am making a stack of sacks. The advantages of this system are: The sandbags do not look starched & put together with a set square; They can be drapped over other things; Minor damage (bullet holes/tears etc) can be easily modeled before it sets & detail can be added (e.g. make a small embossing tool & press a logo onto each bag, such as 'Melle' or D.A.K).
I hope this is of some help.

[Just John]

Now I've never done this myself but these sandbags are actually just dried beans - white beans I think - painted up and glued together using rubber cement.

[carlos marighela]

Now I've never done this myself but these sandbags are actually just dried beans - white beans I think - painted up and glued together using rubber cement.

Which is pretty much what they look like. Sandbags not so much.

You can also use Fimo modeling clay, which is a lot cheaper than using Milliput but requires an oven bake. Still if you planning on making hundreds it will be a considerable saving. A trick to getting texture is to mould them whilst wearing a gauze style band aid, it leaves a textured imprint in the clay/ Milliput.

 I've never seen a sandbag that had an embossed image and I've seen my fair share of the actual item. Just remember that the approved style of filling and laying sandbags is 3/4 with the top folded under.

[Elbows]

+1 on the milliput/clay etc.  When rolled and cut, it naturally forms the shape of a good sandbag.  If using clay you can actually press fabric on them for a tiny bit of detail (it leaves an imprint).

[Legion1963]

Gents, thanks for all the input so far. The idea of using is gauze to make an inprint in the clay (i use something that is called DAS pronto) is one that i will be using. Also the description of the proces for making the actual sandbag shape is very helpfull.

[Rob_bresnen]

I haven't tried this technique, but I recently read a suggestion that if you put fabric plasters on your finger tips while you shape your bags, they the fabric pattern is imprinted onto the bag as your work, cutting out a job and sopping you getting finger-prints in you clay. I thought it sounded a great idea but I haven't tried it yet.

[Legion1963]

I haven't tried this technique, but I recently read a suggestion that if you put fabric plasters on your finger tips while you shape your bags, they the fabric pattern is imprinted onto the bag as your work, cutting out a job and sopping you getting finger-prints in you clay. I thought it sounded a great idea but I haven't tried it yet.

Definitely an idea to work on.