Basing Sand for 10mm

[John Cook]

I had an extension built about 20 years ago and the builder left a bag of ready mixed sand and cement intended for brickwork.  I've been using it for bases ever since.  It is quite fine textured, you can add a bit of grit to it, it dries hard and is the colour of light earth.  I use PVA glue, diluted a little, to apply it - paint the stand with PVA and dip it in the sand/cement mix.  It takes a while to go-off during which time tracks and detail can be added as required.  One dry I dress it with static grass etc as necessary, depending on theatre.  If it is the Levant/N Africa I leave it more or less as it is and it dries to just about the right colour for desert terrain.  Never had a problem with any kind of reaction to metal figures, resin or plastic.  On the rare occasion I've needed to rebase anything, bending the plasticard bases I use makes it come away easily.  I wouldn't use anything else.