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Ok to make it short and simple here are the issues:

1) Basing - I PVA glued sand onto the bases yet whenever I try to "wash" it with PVA to seal it, most of the sand comes off the base, any tips??

2)Green Stuff - After gettin annoyed with my Path finders i used GS to "Glue" them onto the base, however i have now yet removed the GS apart from on area that still looks "sticky" bit is actually hard, any ideas in how to remove this??

Ok Thanks for any replies i get and shall speak to yous soon!

1. It comes off because that sand isn't actually glued to the base. Or it might not be totally dry. Or you might be brusing the PVA on top too hard. Either one. I would suggest mixing your sand with the PVA and brushing it onto the base.

2. No clue. Can't understand what you're tryin to say. D:

Ok a tad more detail on the GS problem.

As i said i used it to stick my pathfinder to a base, i recently debased him but some of the GS is still stuck onto the base it looks as if it should come off as easy as the others but its not. Its as if the plastic has fused with the "sticky looking" GS. any way of softening it to make it easier to get off of the base.

To my knowledge, GS won't fuse to plastic. I'd just tug on it or use your knife to cut it off. It might just be stuck?

In terms of "softening" it, you're out of luck, once it's mixed there's no way to stop or reverse the reaction. Heat might make it a bit more flexible (in the short term) but if it's already fully cured it shouldn't make it worse.

Re Sand

If you are watering down the PVA to "seal" then the chances are that all you are doing is weakening the PVA used to bind the sand in the first place.

Most PVA glues tend to be water soluble.

Are you letting it cure fully before sealng?
Also a varnish would help seal the sand without it fetching off the basing.

Re GS stuck to base:
Carefully remove with a scalpel blade but try not to slice and dice fingers. Is what I would do.

Can't help you with the GS, but for the basing problem, I always make sure that I:
A) use a sufficient amount of undiluted PVA before dipping in my sand container and leaving them buried (the bases, at least)
B) wait until the glue has had plenty of time to set up before removing them
C) use a stiff brush and tapping on the underside to knock loose grains off before sealing, and
D) gently apply watered down PVA to seal (less brushing, more applying/dragging drops around and letting them flow until I have full coverage)

Patience is key. If the glue hasn't dried fully, you're going to pull off half of your initial layer of sand as the sealing wash wets and softens the underlying glue. Similarly, vigorous brushing of the wash will take off sand. Even being relatively gentle, I lose a few grains that survived the cleaning brush but weren't quite solidly attached. Once sealed, the sand is solid enough that a knock hard enough to remove any will take off chunks, not individual grains.

Models, especially metal models such as Pathfinders generally have smooth contours surfaces under the feet. Green Stuff doesn't bind to it that well. Add some caked on paint and it becomes even weaker.

On the other hand, GW bases are textured. Push Green Stuff onto it and it'll stick really well. Add glue and it's not coming off.

Thanks for the reply guys, it shall help alot

I always use superglue to adhere sand to my model bases. it's FAR more stable than PVA glue. It's more expensive in the long run, but the stability is worth it to me.
I can't tell you how many times I've seen sand "peel" off of bases when PVA glue was used.

Eric

When you glue sand to your base, use undiluted white glue. Allow it to dry completely then blow off the excess sand. Then spray prime the model and base. No need to put more glue on top.