What to use for desert sand? (1 Viewer)

bearybones

bearybones

Sergeant
Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
744
I'm building a long-term, very large diorama of a Crusader army attacking a Saracen walled city and am at the point where I am beginning to add foliage, etc. for added realism. I have been looking at what is avaiilable and am not sure yet, as to what I should use for desert sand. I am looking for the most authentic lookingh effect. The sand should be the color of sand in the area of Jerusalem. I have never been to that area and am not sure what color to use, or what brand, etc. I expect a beige/yellowish color would be appropriate. There are all kinds of products available for train layouts that are labeled "summer grass", spring forest undergrowth, etc. Does anyone know if there is a product available for train layouts, etc. that is labeled "desert sand"? Any suggestions would be welcomed.
 
You could also try some of the craft or dollar stores for artist sand. Comes in an array of colours and is cheap.
 
I have found the hobby store - Micheals - to have great colored sand and I use it with my Crusader & AK dioramas. They also carry wonderful dried plants to use as well.
 
I suggest you to add real sand than you mix water and white glue and you spray all over. When is dry you can buy any sand color (spray) to put on the top of the sand.
 
Hello,
I hate to be a kill joy, however, there is no "sand" in the Jerusalem area. Actually, the soils in the area of Jerusalem are quite good for growing grapes, olives, cereals and trees. The soil in the Jerusalem area and throughout the highlands of modern Israel and the portions of the West Bank is known as Terra Rossa, it is red-brown in color and very clay like. The palm trees that you may see in Jerusalem today, are not indigenous, but rather the result of tourism boards catering to the stereotypes of tourists who expect to see palm trees in all areas of Israel. In other words, there were not palm trees around Jerusalem and Bethlhem during the Crusades or in earlier periods.

Cheers,
Benjamin
 
Cheers Forum Squadron Members:

The best material I have seen to date is by Timberline Scenery! My friend used their items exclusively for his Crusaders diorama & I use their product for my airfields. Check out the website and you will see what I mean. While you are at it look at his (Forum Member "King Charles Cavalier") Formula 1 diorama that is pictured on the website-he utilized their tree's as well & the whole scene is about 1:50 scale I believe-based on the actual course at Spa, Belgium (second link below). Next week I will post some pictures of his Crusaders diorama for him. I would not be surprised if Gordon is using this product for his K&C scenes! In any case, here you go...

http://timberlinescenery.com/xcart/home.php?cat=1

http://timberlinescenery.com/xcart/Ackalitis/

Tally Ho,
Beaufighter
 
Thank you to everyone who offered advice on the desert sand. Your answers were all helpful and very much appreciated. I've decided to make the terrain a bit more rocky than I had previuosly intended, but I'll also be putting some sand into the scene. I'll post images up the road, when the diorama begins to take shape. Best wishes to all.
 
bearybones said:
Thank you to everyone who offered advice on the desert sand. Your answers were all helpful and very much appreciated. I've decided to make the terrain a bit more rocky than I had previuosly intended, but I'll also be putting some sand into the scene. I'll post images up the road, when the diorama begins to take shape. Best wishes to all.
Click to expand...

This was also helpful for me too, especially the thread regarding on what the actual terrain is like. I am also building a Crusades diorama of the fall of Acre in July 1191. I would really like to see some pics of what you have done so far.

Mike
 
Mike, I really enjoyed seeing your diorama. I think it is coming along very nicely. I don't yet have a permanent display table for my diorama. I plan to get to that in a few months. That's when I'll start shooting and posting images of my diorama on this forum. This is a long-term project for me. I have 4 towers, the city gate and two breahced wall sections for the front of the city. I have one wall section with no battle damage, that John made for me, upon my request. Very nice of him. That wall section will extend back from an end corner tower. I plan to eventually get another undamaged wall for the other side of the city facade. I will have three scaling ladders on one front wall and the tower that is next to the gate
and the siege tower breaching the front wall on the other side of the
facade. I'v placed the Conte ballista in one of the top towers and made two custom K&C Saracen conversions to man the ballista. When I start doing the terrain, I'll build a rocky hill and ridge along one side of the diorama and will place the catapult on top of that ridge.
 
I've taken the flags that are held by the two Saracen figures and mounted one on of the city towers by the front gate and mounted the other one on one of the city gate towers. I painted the flagpoles red, shortened and rounded the points on top of the flapoles and painted them gold. I've weathered the city walls, towers and gate a bit more and slightly altered the color of some of the bricks, for added realism. I'm having a great time getting things together.
 
bearybones said:
Mike, I really enjoyed seeing your diorama. I think it is coming along very nicely. I don't yet have a permanent display table for my diorama. I plan to get to that in a few months. That's when I'll start shooting and posting images of my diorama on this forum. This is a long-term project for me. I have 4 towers, the city gate and two breahced wall sections for the front of the city. I have one wall section with no battle damage, that John made for me, upon my request. Very nice of him. That wall section will extend back from an end corner tower. I plan to eventually get another undamaged wall for the other side of the city facade. I will have three scaling ladders on one front wall and the tower that is next to the gate
and the siege tower breaching the front wall on the other side of the
facade. I'v placed the Conte ballista in one of the top towers and made two custom K&C Saracen conversions to man the ballista. When I start doing the terrain, I'll build a rocky hill and ridge along one side of the diorama and will place the catapult on top of that ridge.
Click to expand...

Sounds fantastic - I like the idea of the undamaged wall section and that you were able to get them. My facade will be made of 4 towers, 3 wall sections, and the gate. My tower will be breaching one of the wall sections and the catapults (I plan to have 2) will be placed in fromt of the other 2 wall sections. The ballista is a great idea also. Would like to see the K&C conversion Saracens you made for that. I could go on and on. I am really hooked on this range - luv it!!!

Mike
 
I've just use sand .
sand from Omaha. france :)

Richard
 
You might try a pet store and get a small bag of aquarium sand or crushed coral of a coler that suites you. Rob
 
Let me see some pictures of the sand with your display. Just interested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top