roads

[h2w]

whats the best way to make roads? would corrugated cardboard with a thin layer of wallboard mud spread over it work any ideas would be helpful
thanks
Mark

[nkalanaga]

It probably would work, but the cardboard could be a problem.  Someone leaning on it, or a sharp corner of an object poking it, could leave a very noticeable hole. 

[Philip H]

Mark,
We have a lot of road discussions over on the n scale forum. Work there seems to favor sheet styrene painted and weathered or black styrene sanded and weathered, as well as craft foam, and tinted light weight spackle.

[davefoxx]

Mark,

I made at least four attempts at my streets, before coming up with something acceptable.  I tried joint compound, but it didn't work well for me, i.e., messy and a lot of work to get smooth enough for N scale roads.  You might not have to get it as smooth for HO scale, though.  I have used Woodland Scenics' Smooth-It in the past successfully, but I don't really enjoy mixing plaster and the clean-up necessary thereafter.

So, at the suggestion of DKS and Chris333, I went with 0.060" black styrene.  The use of black styrene is in the event that the road ever gets scratched or chipped, it won't be bright white underneath.  A little bit of paint, road striping with colored pencils, and weathering with powders resulted in this:



You can see the progress in this photo.  The street up close is practically finished but on the other side of the tracks shows the unpainted street, sidewalks, and curbs.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[sirenwerks]

whats the best way to make roads? would corrugated cardboard with a thin layer of wallboard mud spread over it work any ideas would be helpful
thanks
Mark

Mark,

I'd defintiely experiment if you use corrugated cardboard as a base.  I would think it has too much flex and, with compression and expansion, would promote the cracking of the spackle.  Of course, that 'road in need of repair' look may be what you're going after, but the mud material will likely flake off, not just crack.  One thing you do want to consider is coloring whatever spackle you use so when it does flake it won't be as obvious.

[Miles]

  Don't you dare use corrugated cardboard. It warps with moisture after a couple of years, and it looks awful. Also it takes paint poorly.

Plywood base + sculptamold is what I use. You can smooth out the sculptamold nicely and make a crown to the road.

[nkalanaga]

If you want cardboard, solid "pressed paper" would probably work.  Homasote is basically the same thing, but years ago, working for a bank, I found similar material about 5/32 inch thick.  That stuff works fine for foundations, roads, etc, and hasn't warped yet.  It was even a neutral gray, so looked reasonable for concrete unpainted.

On the other hand, it was protective backing for bank forms, and I have no idea where you'd find anything similar today.  Anybody have any ideas??

[Philip H]

While you all ponder possible substances, here are some color shots I took on my daily lunch walk. First up fresh ashphalt - about a week old and just striped:

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And here's an intersection where that road meets one about two years old:

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[wazzou]

Were you lying down while taking those images Philip?   

[Philip H]

Were you lying down while taking those images Philip?   

I probably should have been - iPhone shots uploaded from said iPhone don't rotate apparently.   

Paging  Paging  Please report to Upload Image Repair . . . .

[nkalanaga]

Maybe hold the phone sideways when taking the pictures?  They might look funny on the phone, but should be upright when posted.

[h2w]

thank you for the replies well appreciated! the road sections i needed were 16 inch straight so i used hardboard cut 16 inches by 40 scale feet ( used a ho scale 40' boxcar} spray painted a primer gray and glued down later i will go back to the details