Making Roads

[platypus1217]

I have been putting this off for a long time on my layout and was hoping I would get some inspiration from you guys! I want to have asphalt roads probably. It is for an industrial area.

What type of material to do you use to model roads? Any tricks, etc. that you use when modeling them?

Thanks!

 

[logicman]

I cannot recommend this fantastic free resource too highly:

Beginners Guide to Model Railway Goods Services

In appendix 1 you will find so much about road building that you will believe that you can smell the tar!

 

[Nomad]

Hello
For asphalt roads I use the real thing. 3 tab asphalt shingles.
I got the idea from a post by Shaygetz. Here's a little pic.

Loren

 

[Ralph]

The current issue of Model Railroader mentions using shingles for roads on page 61....a tried and true idea that yields nice results as members have shown!

The MR article mentions sanding down the shingles to remove as many of the granules as possible before gluing it down with construction adhesive.

Ralph

 

[jbaakko]

Every time I see the roads posts (about once every 3 months), I post this one:
Ashphalt roads

 

[shaygetz]

Thank you for the plug, Loren. I do use plain asphalt shingles turned colored side down for my roads...

Seems to work well for my LPBs...

 

[Nomad]

Nice photo's Shaygetz, I see you like smokey and the bandit too:thumb:.
As for the plug, your threads are great and deserve it.

Loren

 

[platypus1217]

The plaster and flex foam looks good Josh, I like the easy cracks. For you other guys that use shingles, what scale do you model in? I am in N and I am not sure if it would scale down as well.

Thanks for your input

 

[shaygetz]

I do HO, the flex foam looks to be the route you'd want to take. I'm using that on my portable N scale one and find the joints a bit of a challenge.

 

[Denyons]

I have been putting this off for a long time on my layout and was hoping I would get some inspiration from you guys! I want to have asphalt roads probably. It is for an industrial area.

What type of material to do you use to model roads? Any tricks, etc. that you use when modeling them?

I printed my N Scale roads on to Avery Label sheets and stuck them down on to a fairly smooth surface. I then Printed some yellow lines on to the same road background and it was easy to slice the lines out and stick them down the centre of the roads.
If you are interested I can email the design for you.
Would just need your E address.
Dennis

 

[DeckRoid]

I have a whole roll of tar paper from a small sheep shed I put up. I had to buy a whole roll, even when I only used 16 feet of the stuff.

Would that work?

 

[Herc Driver]

Fine grit grey sandpaper also makes a convincing road and you can weather it with chalks.