Grey Sand

Vallejo Grey Sand, a texture paste for dioramas

Grey Sand is not a paint but a thick acrylic paste with filler which, once applied, creates a relief resembling loose sand. It comes into its own wherever an earthy surface is to appear around a model: on the base of a diorama, on a vignette, on a display plinth or just as a narrow strip of terrain under the running gear of a vehicle. The shade is a grayish sand. Because it is an acrylic compound, once dry it can be repainted at any time, tinted with a wash or dusted with pigment, so you can adapt the final tone to the particular scene.

Use

• Applied with a spatula, a flat brush or an old plastic card straight onto the base; the pressure of the tool determines the thickness of the layer.
• While the paste is damp it can be modeled: you level tool marks with a moistened brush, and you create wheel or track impressions by pressing a part into it.
• Static grass, small stones or dry twigs can be pushed into the fresh layer; once dry the paste holds these additions too.
• It air-dries to a matte, firm surface. Two thinner layers dry more reliably than one thick one, which can stay soft inside.
• Clean your tools and the neck of the container with water before the compound sets; water will no longer dissolve dried paste.

Who it is for

For builders of dioramas, vignettes and simple plinths who do not want to mix terrain compounds from filler and sand. It also suits modelers who build mainly aircraft and only occasionally deal with terrain, because the paste is ready for immediate use and needs no further additions. The grayish sand shade serves well as a neutral base on which both dry and damp parts of the terrain can be painted in.

Close the container carefully after use so the compound does not dry out. Keep out of the reach of children; it is not a food. Do not eat while working and wash your hands afterwards.