Sandbagging – In a good way

I thought I would get my hands dirty today. Literally and figuratively. I’m not the best modeller in the world, but I sometimes like to have a go at projects I wouldn’t normally. After a bit of googling, I found a good way of making sandbags and sandbag emplacements for my models.

I’ve just started playing Bolt Action by Warlord Games, which is a 28mm second world war game. I also play Warhammer 40,000, which is a ‘heroically scaled’ 28mm game. The two aren’t anywhere near compatible unfortunately, so I’ve had a bit of a challenge to make scenery that I can swap between the two. Yes, I’m tight. I used Das air drying modelling clay, so won’t be painting these up for at least a few days.

My first attempt was a concave emplacement on a roughly 60mm base cut from card. As you can see, it’s just big enough to fit one soldier in, so is more of a sentry post than a proper emplacement. Start small and work up I say. The scale was hard to do as well, due to the different sizes, so in my compromise, I made it a little low for the Games Workshop Imperial Guardsman (aka Astra Militarum). I think that it works well for both however.

Overhead of the first attempt. A Warhammer 40,000 figure. A bolt action airborne soldier.

My second attempt was on very thin MDF and built to allow a larger number of models behind it. I estimate that five or so models should fit in behind them. Again, the height is a compromise, and I’ll be able to fit in more Bolt Action figures than I will Games Workshop figures.

A member of the 6/66th taking cover

The third attempt was – in hindsight – a bit too ambitious and I’m not sure how well it’s all going to hold together when it’s dry. The poles are to support a camouflage net that I’ve yet to make, and were an absolute pig to keep standing. Because I have to make the sandbags individually and pile them on top of each other, every time I add one, I find the others slipping. Very frustrating indeed! Again, this is a sole sentry post, rather than a squad emplacement, but I will be stretching my skills further when I do my next circular emplacement.

The third and final attempt for today. Bloody hard and lots more to do.