Hello all. I am almost done with the city portion of my HO layout - buildings, streets, etc. One thing everyone asks about is how to model roads. I modeled mine with sheet styrene, but what should I use to model the alleys behind the buildings? I have all the detail parts like trash cans, dumpsters, cats, racoons, etc., but don’t know what to use (styrene vs ground foam or ballast for sirt/gravel) for the alley itself.
Thanks. Any help would be appreciated.
Depends on the city you are modeling. I know that larger cities (LA, NY, Chicago) have paved alleys, but most of the alleys in Phoenix were dirt. And who’s to say that in your empire, they don’t have both?
Marlon’s right, it depends.
I know that here in Indianapolis we have paved alley’s, but they’re in worse shape then the roads. Lot’s of potholes and cracked pavement is the order of the day. This is a method that works well for that kind of pavement;
Backing up what has already been said, it somewhat depends on the city, as well as when and where. But if you are modeling a really big city, the street-access alleys will usually be concrete (pre-war) or asphalt (post-war). In the East, mid-block alleys (sometimes almost like hidden secondary streets down the center of a block at the rear of buildings) can be dirt and typically cluttered with debris, weeds, and even small trees. This latter arrangement can make for some very interesting modeling!
CNJ831
One possibility, which I have driven over in Nashville, TN, is a strip of broken-up asphalt down the middle of the alley, with gravel and (usually hardened) mud along the edges adjacent to property fences and commercial building founations. Evidence of ditching for utilities was obvious, and not just visually (THUMP!)
Don’t forget the weeds.
Chuck
Plaster, spackle or even joint compound will give more realistic look to the alleys. Sheet styrene is much too smooth/ flat for neglected areas like this. If they are not paved, you could just use a fine sand or cinder. Stain with washes and add weeds and debris.
Bob K.
if you model a northern climate , paved alleys will be full pot holes and since the landlord’s responsible for upkeep, the pot holes will have pot holes, don’t forget newspapers, they’re everywhere.
Thanks for all the replies. My city is a small freelance city (bigger than a town) in the midwest taking up a 3’x6’ area on my layout. The allys are there essentially for rear-door deliveries and refuse removal.
Well now you’ve got several good suggestions. You might even be able to mix it up a bit. You know, paved alley’s in the downtown, and dirt/gravel in the burbs.
I use a mixture of Lite weight drywall seam cement - fine sawdust - and latex paint of what ever color I want. It does the dirt road bit. You can carve potholes the next day, in that it takes 24 hours to dry. That gives lots of time for modification. When dry it is like plaster. Sometimes I add a little water. Then I spread it like butter until it looks right. This is a variation on ground goop.
Here’s a nice tutorial on dirt roads that might have some tips that could be used for an alley.
I don’t know if I am qualified th answer or not being I have onle been into HO trains for about 4 months now, but I made my dirt roads out of masonayr sand I got at the local concrete plant. Just place it like you want then spray it with a mixture of Elmers glue &water. If you want to take it uo spray with pure water, wait a few minutes then scrape it up with a putty knife. To make a paved road I used the back side of rolled roofing, for concrete roads do like the dirt roads then paint a shade of gray you like. Mike
You see, thats the beauty of this place, EVERYONE is qualified to answer.
I’ve heard of your method and am told it gets great results.
Thanks for chipping in! [8D]