Great War Sandbags

Peter Nenadovich · #1 18-07-03, 03:57

Greetings All,

I'm working this summer at an outdoor theatre outside of Peterborough. The last play of the season deals with the effect of war on a Peterborough family during 1914-1918. Part of the set includes a small section of trench with a dugout. My question for the forum is, what dimensions were sandbags of this period? What would be the best material to make them out of? Would burlap from White Rose do? Any answers would be greatly appreciated, as I see my near future becoming very busy with sewing, filling and piling 'bags.

Thanks,

Peter Nenadovich

Frank Misztal · #2 18-07-03, 04:56

I'm not sure of the exact measurements used in WW I, but 12"-14" wide by 24"-26" long would be pretty close. You could use burlap potato sacks and (after modification) fill them with wood chips. (A filled bag with sand can weigh around 50 lbs.)

Potato sacks will not be the exact colour, but close enough. The mesh of the bag would be much more open than a proper sandbag, so trying to fill it with dry sand would be futile.

You may want to consider dropping in on an army surplus store (Queen and Bathurst in Toronto) as they usually have sandbags kicking around. You may get a deal on them and would save time and effort compared to making them.

Hope this helps.

Dave Downs (LT Ducky) · #3 20-07-03, 17:50

Frank, great idea on wood chips instead of sand!!!

As for surplus bags, wouldn't they most likely be modern-style plastic rather than burlap?? That's what I've seen here in the US.

edit: I don't even find burlap in feed stores anymore.....

Frank Misztal · #4 20-07-03, 18:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Downs (LT Ducky)
... As for surplus bags, wouldn't they most likely be modern-style plastic rather than burlap?? That's what I've seen here in the US.

edit: I don't even find burlap in feed stores anymore.....

Agreed. But, it's surprising what one could find in some back storage area if one asks. A visit to a local reserve armouries may also be productive in finding old burlap sandbags that were forgotten about.

Snowtractor · #5 20-07-03, 19:23

are burlap , just got a bunch of new ones last year. Or even the root bags used for trees at nurseries . Carved styrofoam sheet painted would look very realistic as a sandbag wall as long as the audience couldn't get behind it. Just a thought.
Sean

chris vickery · #6 22-07-03, 02:08

Looking for sandbags,eh? Brian Asbury of BCA Services currently has a few hundred in stock, last I checked they were filled with woodchips and were available at a reasonable price. Mr. Asbury is well known to the film production industry as a supplier of military movie props and equipment.

Alex Blair (RIP) · #7 22-07-03, 02:31

Brian is not on line but he can be contacted by fax or phone..
or snail mail...

He travels lots but be patient and he will get back to you...

Brian Asbury
PO Box 26
Milton Ontario...
L9T-2Y3
Phone/Fax...1-519-853-1738

Brian is probably the # 1 source for CMP Parts in Canada also..

Peter Nenadovich · #8 22-07-03, 03:23

Greetings,

Thanks for the input, everyone. As it stands, we're thinking of using muslin, since it's reasonably cheap and can be run through a sewing machine easily. The consensus is that current burlap would indeed have too loose a weave - hence the muslin. We figure that either dying it or just smearing them with mud may make them look ok. As for renting bags, the budget is too tight, so we need to make and mend on our own.

Peter Nenadovich