How can I make something look sandy?

[helix_3]

I'm considering making a prop that appears to be clogged with sand. Are there any products or procedures to do this?

There's model railroad sand, but that doesn't look quite right. The prop is human-sized, so the texture must appear like regular dust/ sand.

 

[Crimotaku]

get a small portion of glass "dust". The ones they use for train kits. Then u use quick dry glue for model kits .. brush it on. apply grass "flakes/dust". When it dries, apply glue again to solidify it or add more "dust/flakes" .. and keep doing it till u have the amount u want. Then paint.

 

[helix_3]

get a small portion of glass "dust". The ones they use for train kits. Then u use quick dry glue for model kits .. brush it on. apply grass "flakes/dust". When it dries, apply glue again to solidify it or add more "dust/flakes" .. and keep doing it till u have the amount u want. Then paint.

Great, I can get that fake grass stuff at a local shop and try it out tonight! Thanks for the help.

 

[Ash]

I made replicas of the Fifth Element stones with pink insulating foam. Once carved and sanded I applied plaster filler and then applied Stucco over it. It's the stuff everyone hates on their ceilings but works really well for a stone texture. After it dried I painted it the proper color need.



-Ash

 

[cavx]

What about real sand bonded with a resin?

 

[robstyle]

The simplest and most obvious may be the best solution, fine grain sand and super hold hairspray. You would be amazed at how often that technique is used in film/tv.

 

[DWVinny]

Nothing ever replaces the real thing.. If you use a good glue it will last a long time. As an example. I used fine sand and glue for the desert section of my sons Mario cart track. Added a bit of color variation via airbrush. Its been heavily played with for quite a few years now and still looks pretty good. The pyramid was purpose made to prevent cars hitting the concrete wall. It has been pummeled with what must be hundreds of cars flying off the track by now, and is holding up amazingly.

 

[GaryArm]

I agree with the above suggestions
In fact I did a commercial about ten years ago that was set in ancient Rome and all the detail on the sets were made from caved styrafome.
We brush painted over it with a thick paint that was a sealer and the base coat colour and then sprayed over the half dried paint with real sand (using an old vacuum cleaner with the fan blowing rather than sucking) An air brush was used to give highlight and shadowing etc.
The set read very well to the eye and on camera.
Sometimes the old tricks still work