I’m starting the process of building roads – for automobiles instead of trains – and I was hoping to find a consensus from you guys about the best way to do it. It seems like an awful lot is written on the subject, but no end-all solution that I can find.
Oh…if you use “plaster” can u be more specific about what kind of plaster. There are about 1000 kinds on the market these days.
Thanks much in advance,
JoeC
There is about that many ways to make roads too. Here’s a picture of two different ways. The top is matte board cut and glued down. It’s then painted crosswise with acrylic bottled paints to give is a broomed concrete look, cracked and grooved with a ball point pen, and weathered with gray paint and ink/alcohol. The bottom road is black craft sand (for bottle art) glued like ballast/groundcover and misted with gray paint later. Some pot holes were dug while the glue was wet and filled with black sand after misting with gray. There are lots of other ways and you ain’t gonna get no consensus. Fred
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I thought this was great, but I haven’t tried it yet myself;
I don’t think there is an “end-all solution” to road construction. There are many different methods. Everyone has their favourite, and some work better for some people and not so good for others. Try a few different methods and see what you like and what works for you.
For myself, I’ve tried a few. Plastic roads don’t work for me, but others build great roads with plastic. I use plaster. I’ve used both ordinary patching plaster or Plaster of Paris as well as drywall joint compound. I find that I can get a slight crown on the roads with plaster (in N scale a road crown is barely noticeable) and a damp sponge makes it nice and smooth.
The Woodland Scenics kit is actually pretty decent if you’re a beginner.
I have bought posterboard from walmart. It comes in black or white and it is a very simple way of buildings roads. You can make it any width or any way all you have to do is cut it with a ultilty knife. I also used car pin striping for the lines and it turned out great.
Mark
I use 1/8" tempered masonite for roads. I spray them asphalt color, misting the final coat on them from a distance of about 30" so they dry with a slight matte texture. BTW, before painting, I rout a slight bevel on the top edges [on a router table with a safe jig to protect fingers]. For secondary roads, I use Sculptamold and fine ballast tamped to get a semi-smooth surface.
I used the black foamboard and it was too “black” so I took white chalk and using the side lightly colored the road then took a rag and removed the chalk marks till I was satisfied with the shade of grey was left.