Concrete sidewalk size

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm planning on picking up some Evergreen sheet for creating sidewalks in York tomorrow, and I'm not sure what the best option is.

I was thinking the 1/4" stuff, but I also see a 3/16".

Any words of wisdom?

[Chris333]

Think I used 3/8". It is 0.375", that would be 5' squares in N scale.

[pdx1955]

It depends on the age of the sidewalk you are representing. For example, at this moment, I'm cutting sidewalk for the viaduct I am building and I'm using 3/16" as the smaller squares were common in the teens and twenties. I noted that as this pattern had the year built stamped in them as well from my walks in older neighborhoods. If you are representing newer sidewalks then a 5' grid pattern with the 3/8" would be best. Residential sidewalks will be 5' and urban downtown sections typically run at least 10' wide (so there is at least 5' clear space - this allows for street furniture/planters, poles, meters, etc).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think 5' squares might be too big for what I'm looking at: https://goo.gl/maps/8gSHPGxfdLS2

[Chris333]

I think 5' squares might be too big for what I'm looking at: https://goo.gl/maps/8gSHPGxfdLS2

I bet those are around 4x5', but close enough. You can always scribe your own. Draw it out following I pic like your link.

Some of these say 5' min, 6' preferred (probably modern):
http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/cross_sectional_elements.htm#BGBIEJHH

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Narrowest sidewalks allowed by law currently are 36" I believe. You will find these most often in suburbia where there is a small grass strip between the walkway and curbing. 4' is the minimum generally used abutting curbing. Factor in 6" additional for the curbing itself.

For cities, the width of the walkways are (or should be) determined by the amount of foot traffic. This is why avenues in new York are 15-20 feet wide while streets are more like 10'.

I think there is also best practices concerning street level entrances, but I doubt know what they are. I know modern buildings here in the Boston area are required the entrance to be inset more. This often results in a pillared  secondary walkway behind the building supports but instinct in front of the entrance.

We a actually had to redesign the house in Thailand because the city suddenly wanted sidewalks on the streets. The result is our house is inset from the rest of the block by 1.2 meters. Ironically, there is no regulations regarding the gate and walls that surround every Thai house. So while the building is inset, the gate/fence lines up right to the edge of the street, totally negating the new sidewalk regulations.

[mmyers]

Our guys shoot for 4 to 5 feet between control joints. 4 feet normally for a standard path parallel to the curb. 3 feet for entry paths to the house. Your link shows numerous patches which could be just about any size. solid sheet and scribe the joints might be your best because it really does vary by site conditions. There are many more rules for ADA like control joint maximum width is 3/4 inch. We had to buy new tools when they added that one a few years ago.

Martin Myers

[casmmr]

It depends upon the type of sidewalk you are going to model, in a commercial district, 10-15' deep with expansion joints every 4-5' would be common, in residential, 3' deep with expansion joints every 3-4'.  Don't forget driveways to residences, usually about 10' for a single, 20' for a double, or alley access in commerical areas.  Measure existing driveways and I would expect alleys to have about 20-24' width in most business areas.  Look to what exists in your town and see what the sizes are and then model that size.

[davefoxx]

Ed,

To match what is seen in your pictures, you will need to scribe the joints.  That will allow you to get the irregularity that is not seen on the commercial styrene sheets.  I think I used 3/8" on the Seaboard Central for scale 5' squares.  Be aware, the grooves in the styrene sheets are too large.  This is less apparent on the 3/8" sheets and, to me, waaaaaaay too apparent in the 3/16" sheets.  @peteski might have reason to complain about the gaps between your concrete pads, if you use the 3/16". 

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, I think I'll be getting some 1/4" and some 3/16" and won't worry about consistency.

[wcfn100]

Ok, I think I'll be getting some 1/4" and some 3/16" and won't worry about consistency.

But if you go to the other end of the block, it's very consistent.

That patchwork is mostly that corner.  I agree with Chris that the panels closest to the street are probably 4' x 5'.  If you go to the right towards the parking lot, it looks like just standard 5' squares.

I'd just scribe it so it's correct.  3/16" and 1/4" are both way too small.


Jason

[ncbqguy]

Look in used bookstores / online for Architectural Graphic Standards or Timesaver Standards.   
Try to get one published approximately around the same timeframe that you modeling in as standards changed over time
Besides dimensions of sidewalks and roads thet give all sorts of built environment information useful for layouts.
Charlie Vlk

[seusscaboose]

I sense an irregularity in The Force....

is there a "push" coming ???



I think "yes"

[peteski]

Ed,

 Be aware, the grooves in the styrene sheets are too large.  This is less apparent on the 3/8" sheets and, to me, waaaaaaay too apparent in the 3/16" sheets.  @peteski might have reason to complain about the gaps between your concrete pads, if you use the 3/16". 

DFF

You damn right I'll complain! Keep the groves close to scale. We don't want any N scale people's feet getting stuck in the grooves and suing the town for broken ankles!  That is the last thing anybody would want on their layout!

[randgust]

Yeah, he's right.   Even if you do have the right number of rivets, they can still be too large.   

Fear the Pete.