From airfields to battlefields to racetracks, you can see sandbags just about everywhere. For models, sandbags can be part of a scene or an extra detail added to a vehicle. Injection molded plastic or resin sandbags can be useful, but getting these to look right for your subject can be challenging. Sometimes, the best solution is to sculpt your own with epoxy putty. The simple shape makes the task easier than it may seem, and you can curate the exact appearance you’re looking for.
Mix equal parts of your two-part epoxy putty (like Aves Apoxie Sculpt), making a flattened snake shape approximately the width of the sandbags. The putty is tacky, so shape it on a hard surface, like glass, and smear a little petroleum jelly to keep it from sticking.
Using a ruler and a sharp hobby blade, cut the putty into equal-sized pieces appropriate for the sandbag length. Cut the top corners off each rectangle to start shaping the tops of the bags.
Next, with a bladed sculpting tool, define the basic shape of the tied-off end of the bag. It does not have to be too precise at this point; the final shaping will happen once the bags are placed where you want them.
Position the bags considering how you want them to realistically sag. If you’re placing more than a few, work in layers to avoid ruining the details when placing one sandbag on another. Once placed, you can further work the shape of the sandbags with a rubber shaping tool.
Once the first layer of bags has dried, clean them with a cotton swab coated in isopropyl alcohol to remove residual petroleum jelly. Doing this will allow the next layer of bags to stick in place and will allow primer and paint to adhere without interference.
Repeat the process as many times as necessary. When the putty sandbags are completely dry and cleaned, you can do additional shaping with a hobby knife to sharpen details or smooth surfaces—like removing pesky fingerprints from initial sculpting!
Sculpting sandbags is not difficult once you get the hang of it. Practice making a few batches until you get the shapes looking the way you want, and then it becomes a repeatable process that goes rather quickly. In no time, you will be able to create that bunker, racetrack barrier, or even pile them up on your favorite Allied armored vehicle.