Desert Sand

[Guest]

Hello all,

I have seen some absolutely excellent desert dioramas on here, and I am wondering, What do you all use for sand?

I have explored using regular old sand, but the grains are somewhat too large and they are almost glossy.

I require extremely fine grains with a matte look to them.

I would also like to know if anybody knows a way to effect a hard packed dusty surface with cracks and whatnot.

Thanks,

-Christian.

[Guest]

Bicarbonate of soda painted a sand colour would be my way. It gives a scale appearance & painting it gives better control over the colour ; different parts of the world have varying shades.

For hardpack, just a plaster like polyfilla, and carve or paint the cracks.

Cheers

Patrick

[stona]

I am absolutely NOT a dioramist! However,following advice from this very forum I used sharp sand for my one and only desert dio. I did spray it to get the colour I wanted.

I don't think it is too over scale even at 1/72. The larger rocks and stones are railway ballast begged from a railway modeller!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

i use ground coriander from the spice section in any super market

[spanner570]

Christian, keep it simple.

Like Steve, sharp sand every time, dirt cheap and for fissures and cracks, just scribe along the sand with either the back of your modelling knife or a precision screw driver. For deeper 'Holes' just dig a bit out of the base.

Some sharp sand has a good, natural desert colour, but apart from spraying, if you want a different colour here and there, just flick some water on it, don't ask me why, but it will dry darker.

Budgie grit makes another excellent desert floor!

Ron

[Guest]

Hi Chris, i use budgie sand from the pet shop if you want to see an example of it have a look at my after Gazala diorama. All you do is sprinkle it on then add a slightly darker wash of oil paint over it then highlight sections.

scott

[geegad]

I'm with Scott first dio I did in sand I used sand from the pet shop cheap pound for a large bag goes a very long way

Geegad

[Guest]

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your advice, but I have found a method perfectly suited to my needs.

Ground up kitty litter makes a very fine sandy type of thing. Mix in a little tile grout, sprinkle it on wet plaster, spritz it with water, and it dries rock hard, ready for airbrushing.

-Chris