Hi all. I laid the street, foam core sheet, on my HO mid 50’s Frisco layout set in Springfield, Mo. I am looking for a suitable concrete road surface, curbs and sidewalk. I have searched Walther’s site and my LHS. The LHS has Busch, nbr 7086, pavement but it has an outside stripe marking the edge of the road which is not like the proto type street. Walthers has several others but of course I cannot touch and feel. Plastruct looks the best to me. I need your help. Who is the best supplier for a concrete street, curbs and sidewalk. Thanks for your help!!
You could scratchbuild it out of either styrene or mat board. You can get mat board at any arts and crafts store, and styrene is about 2.50 at Lowe’s, just get a “for sale” sign, it’s actually styrene! It comes in a big sheet and you can cut it then paint it. I have worked with it before, it’s really easy to use. (Plus, it’s really cheap!)
I used 1/8 masonite for sidewalk. Make it wide enough that the buildings can set on it. Using a sharp knife, scribe the joints & paint it a concrete color. I used styrene strips for the curbs ( don’t remember the size ) probably 1/8 x .080. Cut them about 8 scale feet long & slightly round the ends so the joints will show. Use a hair dryer to apply heat & bend them around a pipe or bottle to go around the corners at intersections .If you want pictures email me…haven’t figured how to send pictures yet.
Here’s a couple sidewalk products.
http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/Sheets.htm#Sidewalk
http://www.rixproducts.com/city_sidewalks.htm
I just bought some sidewalks for my Downtown Deco buildings and they are really neat. They are make by Frenchman River Kit # oo4 and they look a little rundown with cracks and and chunks missing. They are made of a dark grey like resin and the detail is really good. There is two pieces of regular straight ,and one piece that is for a driveway and two corner pieces. I think there is enought to do about 12" of sidewalk. I think that they are just the thing I need for the buildings as they are kind of rundown. Jim
This is just a piece of sheet styrene, cut around the building so the the structure actually sits down inside the sidewalk rim. (This keeps light from leaking out from under the building, which is illuminated.) I painted it gray, a bit lighter shade than the street, and then drew the lines and cracks on with #2 pencil. Details like the fire hydrant add a lot to the scene.
The streets are “asphalt,” but you could just as easily paint them for concrete. I used Durhams Water Putty for my roads.
I used an inexpensive 3/4" two-sided foam tape. I cut it to length and rounded the intersection curb corners, and also scribed the expansion joints. I then mixed a batch of concrete colour mix using my best guess and acrylic paints mixed with a bit of plaster of Paris to make it more durable and to neutralize and bond with the sticky upper surface. I think it turned out passably well.
You can see the overall effect in the close village…I hope.
For the sidewalks, how about balsa, or basswood? Cut it to size, scribe it for the “cracks,” and paint it a concrete color?
Downtown Deco makes hydrocal (plaster) sidewalks.
Durams water putty makes great concrete streets and sidewalks, texture looks like concrete, better than other materals, most of which I have tried, including styrene. You can make forms out of balsa wood, pour it, then strike it level. You can also pour it free hand and then shave it to shape before it dries. When hard, sand with a sanding block to remove high spots and scribe expansion joints, then paint your favorite shade of concrete. Then stain with indian ink dilitued in rubbing alcohol. Durhams is best for worn, craked streets. One container will do hundreds of feet of street very cheaply.
Thank you all. Your ideas are great!!! I am going to experiment. I appreciate your time and effort and those pictures were terrific.
Also look at Arizona Rock & Mineral. He sells apshalt and concrete miz material that you can pour just like concrete into forms. It looks very realistic.