How to make a tropical beach?

[Wallyocerous]

I'm trying to think of the best way to create a realistic-looking sandy, tropical beach.  Should I just use a super-fine sand or mix it with something else?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Also, if anyone knows a good manufacturer of a 28mm rowboat let me know!   

[Hammers]

I'm trying to think of the best way to create a realistic-looking sandy, tropical beach.  Should I just use a super-fine sand or mix it with something else?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Also, if anyone knows a good manufacturer of a 28mm rowboat let me know!   

Zvezda (russian plastic kit manufacturer) makes a nice 1/72 kit which will work nicely as a small 28mm dingy. I have three.

[answer_is_42]

I'd just use cloth for a beach. You'd be surprised how good it can look if you get the right texture.
How's this for a rowboat;
http://minimi.co.uk/pirates/whaler.htm

[Dan]

I painted a dropcloth for my Dads Army beach which is easy to transport , but maybe you want something more realistic.

[Overlord]

I made a beach board for my 'Baywatch' themed Hott army:


The sand is just sand! PVA onto the MDF baseboard then builders sand sprinkled all over.  Left for a couple of days to completely dry out, then painted and drybrushed.  The 'sea' part has no sand and is just the MDF painted as gradually deepening towards the edge.  This was then given a couple of coats of gloss varnish.

Gratuitous army shots. 

[Westfalia Chris]

I made a beach board for my 'Baywatch' themed Hott army:

You know, as a German, I´m practically legally obliged to like "The Hoff" (Hoff HoTT?), but the first thing that crossed my mind was "OH THE HUMANITY". Not for the splendid execution, but... oh dear, what were you smoking when coming up with that one? 

Dan, I absolutely love that beachcloth. Looks like taken straight out of an Impressionist painting.

[Overlord]

You know, as a German, I´m practically legally obliged to like "The Hoff" (Hoff HoTT?), but the first thing that crossed my mind was "OH THE HUMANITY". Not for the splendid execution, but... oh dear, what were you smoking when coming up with that one? 

I normally take part in the Hott weekend at Berkeley/Slimbridge (UK). A few years ago I was sat chatting to a friend during a break (beer may have been involved, the event is held in a pub)  We started talking about silly armies (Hott tends to have a few) and somehow Baywatch cropped up.
After intensive research, mostly centered on the correct uniform details of 'CJ', I put together the army: Hott on the beach.

Mitch                     Hero General x1
CJ                         Hero x1
Pick-up                   Behemoth x1
Surfers                   Riders x2
Beach Volleyballers   Shooters x4
Lifeguard Hut           Stronghold

 

[argsilverson]

A very interesting theme. HOTT Baywatch Army. lovely board.

What minis do you use?

[Westfalia Chris]

I normally take part in the Hott weekend at Berkeley/Slimbridge (UK). A few years ago I was sat chatting to a friend during a break (beer may have been involved, the event is held in a pub)  We started talking about silly armies (Hott tends to have a few) and somehow Baywatch cropped up.
After intensive research, mostly centered on the correct uniform details of 'CJ', I put together the army: Hott on the beach.

Mitch                     Hero General x1
CJ                         Hero x1
Pick-up                   Behemoth x1
Surfers                   Riders x2
Beach Volleyballers   Shooters x4
Lifeguard Hut           Stronghold

 

Brilliant madness.

[Overlord]

A very interesting theme. HOTT Baywatch Army. lovely board.

What minis do you use?

I only used 2 different minis for the army:
Surfers & 'The Hoff' are old Chariot miniatures: http://www.navigatorminiatures.com/product.asp?P_ID=1522&strPageHistory=search&strKeywords=naked,slinger&numPageStartPosition=1&strSearchCriteria=all&PT_ID=all
I removed the sling from them and performed some rather eye-watering surgery.
The Hoffs arms were bent to a new position with a ricegrain as a float.

Pammy & the volleyballers: Naked dancers from Peter Pig (Cant find them on their site): http://www.peterpig.co.uk/
Used straight out of the pack with another added float for CJ.

Paint everything flesh then add a swimsuit.

The pickup is from Peter Pigs AK47 range.  Surfboards are plastic card, with waves cut from polystyrene and coated in watered down filler. Beach hut scratchbuilt from odds'n'ends