How do I model tar on roofs and roads

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I always enjoyt the various responses to scenery questions. So here is a good one. I am using AMI roadbed to make roads on my layout and there are joints that I want to cover with “tar.” Does anyone have any good ideas about how tar can be economically modelled?

Thanks.

2

I’m thinking ink or black paint applied with a small nail head would look pretty good. Not perfectly even.

For tar paper on a roof, fine grit wet/dry sandpaper works well, then go over the seams with the paint and nail technique.

3

High gloss black paint will give the smudgy look of tar used to fill up holes in streets and glue mastic on flat roofs… That type of tar usually forms a smooth surface before drying out and is high reflective compared to the normal street/ roof surface.

4

black matte tape is excellent for tar paper on a roof, just be sure to make a good overlap.

I think joint compound is probably the universal scenery material. Cut your roads from masonite - 1/8" - and create a texture with joint cmoound. Floquil grimey black will give you a good base coat and you can enhance that with flat and glosy blacks.

Working some woodland scenics fine ballast (probably HO size is best) into the joint compound will give it an even better texture.

5

actually, I didn’t read your questino properly - seeing that you already have roadbed.

Try black modeling clay

6

I use a thick black paint and mix it with HO Scale Ballast to make asphalt roads. Where I want to simulate a joint, or an irrgularity, I just use the paint w/o the ballast. I also try to put skid marks in the road to simulate use by various vehicles.

7

I use step and skateboard non-skid tape (4" wide rolls about 20 ft long) from Home Depot. The grits are the right size and it is indestructible.

8

Sears has a tool chest drawer liner that is black and about 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. It is some kind of foam material.
It comes in a roll about 18’’ wide and 3 or 4 feet long. It makes very realistic looking streets and flat roofing.

9

I’ve tried various tapes and plain paper to represent tar paper roofs but have found 3M Micropore tape to give the best texture. You might find it in a good drug store but for sure in a place that sells surgical supplies.
I paint it grimy black.
Pete

10

Just an idea, haven’t tried it yet, but what about black nail polish if you are just using it for seems, etc.
Dennis