quick roads

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I dont know, does a panted road or duct taped road look better?

2

Painted. I tried the tape routine and it still looked like tape no matter what I did to it. I finally got fed up with the painted ones as well and made plaster roads.

3

This is how I make my roads: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/crowley/ashphalt_roads.htm

4

Hey that’s a pretty good way to make roads. Except that must be a really old road because even it california where I live roads don’t get that cracked.

One way to make roads fast but they don’t look right ecxept for brand new just dried concete roads is white poster board cut to with and length. Unfortunetly though since it doesn’t bend you hace to cut turns in it.

5

Hi Dan –

Let’s see if I understood you correctly:

  1. Use “creative hands flexifoam” e.g. from Michaels crafts - comes in sheets 8" x 11".
    Not too expensive - comes to about $2 per sheet.
    Thickness is roughly ?
  2. Cut wide roadway strip from foam sheet.
    Approximate width for a normal two lane road strip w/curb on both sides is ?
  3. Cut (two) narrow curb strip(s) from foam sheet.
    Approximate width of strips for a normal city road ?
  4. Glue on top of the roadway strip on either side of road
  5. Mix plaster of paris to about consistency of thick latex paint, stir in black acrylic paint to hide white color of plaster.
  6. “Paint” the roadway and concrete with plaster mix. Allow to dry.
    Takes about ?
  7. Paint surface of road with dark acrylic paint. Once dry, it can be lightened again with a (light) dusting of plaster of paris.
  8. Paint surface of curb concrete colored.
  9. Material can now be worked to add
  10. Small cracks (press down w/thumb - the coating will crack in natural ways)
  11. Bigger cracks (cut with knife, sprinke a little sand in crack)
  12. Storm sewers (cut out with knife, paint black)
  13. Potholes (dig out a little hole with knife, add paint & sand)

Was that a reasonable approximation of what you do ? Anything major I had misunderstood from your pictures and explanation ?

Great idea about the plaster of paris coating on foam to make the road surface brittle, btw !

What do you do to make the road look good around curves ?

Smile,
Stein