road stripes

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have just finished modelling some roads for my HO layout,and not having much luck in decalling with stripes. I have read that Scale Scenics do manufacter these, I can not get them anywhere.Any one with information on the subject appriciated as I live in Australia and model American your line markings are adifferent colour
THANX HEAPS
ADAM

2

I havn’t done this myself, but the most successful road stripes I’ve seen have been spray painted using metal templates or more tediously masked with tape and spray painted. Presently the US standard for striping is yellow broken lane lines dividing traffic traveling in oposite. white broken for traffic traveling in the same direction, solid yellow barrier line (no pasing), solid white edge line. Most lines are 4 inches wide.

Prior to the early sixties the standard in many states was white lane lines and barrier stripes (although I remember seeing some yellow barrier stripes), and no edge lines.

I’ve seen a picture of the first Highway in California to have lane lines (1930’s) There were 6 or possibly 8 lanes. All the lines were soid white. It looked very confusing to me.

3

My road stripes are usually yellow for two way roads and white for same direction.
I have found that using a steel ruler along with paint pens work best and keep those stripes pretty straight. I found these pens in many tip sizes at a craft store.

4

A way I found on smooth roads is the new white out tape. Only works on smooth roads so try it first. It’s also easy to weather. FRED

5

I’ve had success with Pactra trim tape. It comes in various colors and widths. It is self-adhesive. You get 72" of it in 8 widths.

6

I use an “erasing shield” (thin metal sheet with straight and curved slots–used to erase small areas on pencil and paper engineering drawings) and yellow grease pencil (crayon center with peel-off outer wrap to expose the crayon as it is used). Lay the shield on the road with the appropriate slot with lined up with the centerline and color away.

7

For a good look be sure to get the dimensions right on those broken lines. They should be 4" wide and 10’ long. I know that always sounds long, but measure one some time. If you make them too short they will look toy-like.
Ron

8

Good point, Ron

Lettering on pavement (ie’ “STOP” ) is tall and narrow so it looks normal and is readable from a low angle.

9

Try your local art supply store. Most of them carry “rub on” lettering and lines in many sizes. Color, well that may be a problem.

10

The California Dept of Transportation has signing and striping sandards on line.
at
www.dot.ca.gov for striping details type “Traffic Manual” in the search box on the upper right for sign charts search for “Sign Charts”

11

Here’s how I did my HO road lines.

  1. paint masking tape lengths, laid gently sticky side down on glass, the appropriate yellow ( or white, but I didn’t have any need to model the white)
    2)when really dry, cut into scale 4" strips with new #11 exacto blade. A steel rule helps.

  2. cut a suitable length of road stripe. I used about 4-5 inches at a time

  3. lift an end with the tip of the blade, and transfer to the road. Try to not let the tape tangle up on itself, that’s a definite downer.[:(]

  4. lay and cut as required, burnish onto road for good contact and seal

  5. remember, you are working to get an effect your eye, and those of your visitors will instantly recognise as a road with stripes. You don’t have to have everything “true scale”. The veiwing brain will put more detail there than you have to, if the effect is convincing[:D] The thickness of the tape will not even be noticed!

  6. enjoy.