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Ive been painting my orks recently and ive decided to add sand to their bases. I used Elmers glue and dunked the bases into sand and left them to dry for a day, but once I began to drybrush the bases, the sand just fell off. Has anyone else had this problem before and if so what did you do to fix it? Thanks.

You really need to seal them with something before you start painting. I always base before spray-priming for this very reason.

spray prime first, and instead of drybrushing, try dry dabbing...also washes do wonders.

So what should I do for the models ive already painted but havent based yet?

I paint the Bases with Tackey Glue you can get it for pretty cheap at any craft store and wal mart. It dries faster and it doesnt have many issues as elmers.

After I apply the Sand or what have you i brush them again with watered down glue (like just enough to get the glue alittle runny) to seal it and put a little more sand and then after its done drying I then brush off the base to get the access off.

Thats how I do it, could just put the watered down glue on without the sand but it looses its texture.

Superglue on the base, dip in sand. Do it in sections if you need to. Once that's done, seal the base in watered down pva/Elmers glue and let dry. Basecoat in the color of your choice and wash/drybrush as needed.

Thanks ill try these tomarrow morning.

For me this is what I do:

1. Apply glue and sand
2. Let dry
3. Apply water-down glue to seal in the sand
4. Paint/Varnish.
5. Varnish again.

Hope that helps.

Here's my process:

1. water down pva glue, cover the base with it
2. dip in sand, let dry.
3. cover base with more glue.
4. dip in sand, let dry.
5. cover base in more glue (to seal it), let dry.
6. Done.

You only really need pva glue and sand, but the trick is to seal it with it as well after the previous layer dries. I use two layers of sand because just one layer looks a bit thin. I save superglue for rocks instead, if I'm to use them.

 Breotan wrote:
Superglue on the base, dip in sand. Do it in sections if you need to. Once that's done, seal the base in watered down pva/Elmers glue and let dry. Basecoat in the color of your choice and wash/drybrush as needed.

this is the answer. watered down elmers over it will sink in and hold it down well. works well for static grass too