RailRoadFan.com

I have reached a point where I want to start laying down some streets in my HO scale town. I'm kind of leaning towards using drywall joint compound, but would like to hear some other ideas before I get started. I've seen articles in "MR", where they use sheet styrene, but to me, that looks too "perfect". Real streets have dips,potholes, etc.

Thanks,
Todd

Try Woodland Scenic's "Smooth-It". Depending on how well it sets up, and how much sanding you want to do, you can have dips, potholes, etc. to your hearts content. It also paints pretty well, so you can paint it whatever color you want (starts out white). I've used it quite a bit on layouts, and aside from all the sanding I've had to do, it's worked pretty well especially where I've been burying the tracks in "pavement".

Thanks Charles, how does that stuff compare with plaster/hydrocal, or drywall compound? Is it a similar product? BTW, the drywall compound sands VERY easily.

Todd

You can try this product,,,,its called "Real Roads"........here is the link
http://bibaland.com/real-road/
this seems pretty cool and its the way I think I'll go when I get to the point of laying roads

Although thanks to various other commitments i'm just an "armchair" modeler right now, in the past i used thin foam core board with pretty good results. I found it at a Ryders hobby shop, though I've seen it at officemax/officedepot too near where they keep the poster board- its a little thick (somewhere around 1/8" thick I think) but since its foam you can take an xacto and dig potholes in it and such. I found it works really well if your looking for a base to put a building on. I've also used styrene sheet and like the look of it for parking lots (I used it for an intermodal yard-got a can of military modelers Navy Gray spray paint for it and it looked great)

I've used the woodland scenics product when it first came out and it wasnt bad, but definitely does require sanding. The Joint compound sounds like a great idea though-isnt that the stuff that you can smooth out a bit with water after you lay it down?

Another couple things I've used in small stretches (I like HO cars and trucks almost as much as trains so roads for me were always a priority) is that Sticky roadbed (meant as a replacement for cork) it has what i thought was a nice asphalt look too it, but I dont think it was all that cheap and you might have trouble finding it.

Another idea are those black foam toolbox drawer liners that you can get from sears. those dont look bad either and they are easy to cut and shape.

You might be able to find some sort of foam tape from a hardware store that may work as well.

Hope this helps,

Karl

I lay window screen down as wide as I want my paved area to be and then use thin balsa wood as a frame on the edges. Then I make some plaster of paris up a little on the watery side but not to much, just thicker than ranch dressing. Then I use a flat piece of plastic to spread it out over the screen. I found this helps in construction zones as well since the plaster looks like concrete and the screen resembles rebar.

KrazyKarl84 wrote: Another couple things I've used in small stretches (I like HO cars and trucks almost as much as trains so roads for me were always a priority) is that Sticky roadbed (meant as a replacement for cork) it has what i thought was a nice asphalt look too it, but I dont think it was all that cheap and you might have trouble finding it.

That stuff is probably the best for getting a prototypical appearing road with little or no effort. I'm disappointed that I'd forgotten about it until now. I used it for the roads on a past layout and meant to use it again in the future for more roads (unfortunately, by the time I built another layout, I forgot how great it was for roads).

The product is made by AMI. I believe they call it "Instant Roadbed" or something like that. When I used it, I had to order a roll from Hobbyland, in Mishawaka (that was back before they disappeared... ). IIRC, it cost something like 15 or 20 bucks for a roll (might've been a 15 foot roll).

Todd, the Woodland Scenics stuff is probably less desireable than joint compound for this type of work. I'd guess that it's pretty comparable to plaster of paris, given the mess I tend to get into everytime I try to use it...

I used to use extra cork roadbed, and simple paster of paris. A 50 lbs bag can be had at Lowes or Home Depot for relatively cheap. Laydown the cork roadbed in your road pattern. Mix up some plaster of paris, and add some artist colors to it. IIRC it was sold in tubes at craft stores. I used 'black' and it would turn the plaster a nice greyish color like concrete. Keep it somewhat runny, and pour between the cork roadbed. Use some form of a 'screen' (popsicle stick workse well) and smooth between the cork roadbed. Gives you a realistic road for not that much money. Also puts the road at track level for your grade crossings.

Practice Safe CSX

I like using sheets of foam you can get at Hobby Lobby. It comes in a lot of colors so I get gray. it comes in sheets 1/8" x 12" x 18" for only 79 cents.

cut to shape and then put a thin layer of drywall compound on it and after it drys sand it smooth. before you glue it down twist it and bend it. This forms cracks in the drywall that are highighted when you weather it later. The results can be seen in my photo album. http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... 062&pos=10

Man, that looks FANTASTIC Steve!! I'm going to have to give that a try. Those cracks look very realistic. If I may ask, what is your paint formula for that? You have a really good looking tone to that pavement. BTW, I am using some HO scale wood ties to construct my grade crossings, that seems to give a good look. The individual planks are pretty good to simulate a wooden crossing. I use Walthers "Goo" to fasten the ties to the, well, ties... 4,or 5, in the center, and 2 on each outside. Since my layout is set in the 1970's, I can't really put too many "modern" rubber crossings in. Once again, that's the best looking HO street I have ever seen. Thanks a bunch for sharing that with us! I think I'll have to name one of my streets "Hiuzenga St." on my layout..

Todd

Thanks Todd! I just use woodland Scenics "Concrete" paint. I tried Floquil's but there is something about the color I don't like. The lines in the road are painted masking tape (Testors white and yellow). I paint the whole width of the tape and then cut into strips. When you cut it some of the paint flakes off. After I apply it to the road I use a toothpick to touch it back up again. The effect of the flaking paint just adds to the apperance I think. The black is just weathering chalk I apply with my finger....doing it until I like the effect I made.