[:I] Road traffic lines have a width of 5 inches, at least in the Montreal area. I’ve seen them very often in articles in Model Railroader and in a recent How-to article, but it is never mentionned how they are painted on the roads. There used to be a company by the name of Lettraset that used to have a sheet of lines (product # 4274) which were very very close to 5 inches. Their web site does not mention that product anymore. I’m all out of product 4274, so what do I use now???[?]
How about automotive pin striping kits. I would even bet that Radio Shack would have something. Just some thoughts. Good luck. P.S. You could even make them yourself on your computer if your’e willing to try.
Archie
Thank you for your prompt reply camarokid. The striping kits at Radio Shack or those for airplanes or race car kits are too thick to be realistic for a road traffic line, I’ve tried a few brands. The Lettraset was a rub-on type of line, so it really looks like its been painted on the road, just like the real thing. There must be other brands of rub-on lines. Someone out there will come up with one, hopefully. Thanks again.
Masking tape and marker might work. I still prefer pin striping.
Hi,
Ive done some considerations about road striping as well and tried to build “stripe roller” It actually works and I find it easier to do than pinstriping as the direction of the stripe is better controlled than with a brush. Im sure all you skilled people out there can copy it if interested. Have a look at it here:
http://www.123hjemmeside.dk/modelbanen look under scratchbuild.
where the stripe is to end, I simply tape a piece of styrene plate to the roadsurface. This lifts the roller off the road.
have fun!
Draftsmen used to use very fine tape at times that might still be available at a store that still sells drafting supplies. You could also paint your street yellow or white down the center then mask the stripes and repaint with gray or black. peel off the tape and you have stripes.
I used ChartPak tape for lines on my roads. I can be hard to find, but the mat finished yellow and white work well for road lines.
As mentioned in another response, it can be found at art supply or drafting supply stores.
1/16" converts to 5.43" in HO.
Here’s an example of the finished result.
Here’s an intersection on the layout.
http://www.woodlandscenics.com/
Go to accessories and then dry transfer decals. WS makes rub on stripe sheets in Black, red, white and yellow in different widths. (don’t know about curving them?)
The Woodland Scenics stuff is the right width but too short. Great for parking lots and small areas but painful for lengthy runs.
Scale Scenics used to offer great striping. They had yellow and white in both solid and broken. They even had double yellow. Of course, like so many model railroad products, it is sold out at Walthers and unlikely to ever return. Real shame as this striping was not only great for HO roads, the solid white was perfect for G scale locomotive running board striping.
From what I recall, Circuitron owns Scale Scenics. Maybe if we all send enough emails and letters they would bring these stripes back.
Photos of these stripes (solid white and broken white) on my HO layout can be seen here: Layout Photos
And here is a photo that sort of shows the solid white striping on the side of my LGB moguls: Striping on Moguls
I don’t think Scale Scenics makes that striping anymore - Walthers has been “sold out” for a very long time - so I gave up. I used Kwik Stripe Model Striping Tape made by Great Planes - I think its used on model cars - that I found at a local HobbyTownUSA - it comes in various colors and 1/16" 1/8" and 1/4" widths - looks pretty good on my HO layout
I recommend the method ndbprr suggested - paint the stripe color first (yellow or white), then use 1/16th inch Chartpak tape to mark off the stripes. Use a straight edge to put the tape down. Paint the road and then peel off the tape. The nice thing with this method is that you don’t need to worry about the tape lifting off.
jktrains