"Molds to make 15mm sandbags." Topic

This is an idea I have been working on for a little while. It hasn't gotten past the sketching phase yet, but I think that it has some real potential. I am interested in what others think of the idea, and any suggestions on how to improve it.

The idea is to make a set of molds (similar to what Hirst Arts does) for making 15mm scaled sandbags. Because a sandbag is so small at 15mm scale they will be in large clusters of bags that can be combined in many different ways to form whatever defenses you need. The standard block will be about 9mm tall, with a slight taper. They would be one piece molds, so one side of the castings would have to be flat without any detail.

They will stack end to end nicely (with a minimal seam showing), but stacking vertically would require a little work to get them to fit together. It is still a work in progress, but I'm thinking that the easiest way to make higher walls would just be to have a taller set of molds. Does this sound interesting to anybody, and what types of projects do you think it would be useful for?

I can definitely see the possibilities, though I've no 'constructive criticisms' that you seek.

Do have to say, I got to the third image and found myself looking for a hidden word… ;->=

Doug

One question is ask is how high do people actually stack sandbags? At some point they become unstable. If you're going to stack them high you're also going to have to stack them wide, so maybe a flat topped and flat sided base unit is necessary.

I haven't seen and can't find a picture of sand bags stacked over six feet.

When I needed to do 15mm sandbags I wend to the grocery store and got a bag of barley, or some grain, not sure. It was less than a dollar. Got out my white glue and tweezers and it looked great. Didn't even need to paint it. But that was just for a row or two, not for the epic piles in your post.

looks ok, easy to mould as well

That is very true what you said Andrew about sandbags not being stacked too high. Waist high should be sufficient I think for many fortifications. I was thinking of the double high ones as being specifically for building things like bunkers. I am also considering making some short stacks for things like trench parapets, or fortifying walls and buildings.

I know I've seen some pretty tall stacks of bags leaning against/covering bunkers, hillsides, and the like to absorb explosive concussion, but thought I'd seen pictures of stacks not unlike some you are showing, protecting aircraft in Vietnam to negate mortar attacks.

I would think you can pile the bags as tall as you like, as long as you say something's inside supporting.

Doug

I would buy LOTS of these for 15mm Vietnam.

Seems like a good idea that will sell. Once you got the process and design down. Don't limit yourself to 15mm. You can sell other sizes, too.

Have a few loose bags and some single rows as well.

Good for having some clutter, going over doors and windows even before hardend the single can be used on tanks and such.

Looking good.

Just adding my four hay pennies: these would be awesome and I would buy some.

Carry on, ;)
Keith F.

Use two piece molds and make the bottom of a set have the concave profiles to sit on the top of the set below. If you need help with that, let me know.

Joe

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions everybody. I really want to keep these as one piece molds since the simpler they are too use the more people who could use them (a two part mold is very hard to cast with using dental plaster).
I have also been playing around with adding sandbags to my wall sections. These could be used to add a little personality to buildings, or to make urban bunkers. What do you think of this idea? Originally I was going to just make them as inserts to the windows, but that idea just ended up being too hard to do. Incorporating them into the wall molds just works better and is a lot easier to cast anyways.

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