What do you use for ready made streets?

[Anonymous]

Wow, that's so cool! There's a lot going on there.[:)]

[jonadel]

Robert--
I just noticed your signature line and reference to beer so I thought I'd take a couple of quick pic's since we are talking about D. 56. This is what my wife calls fun row, lots of bars, dance club, casino, bike shop, etc. This is our trolley route and everyone that rides seems to be happy.

Fun row


Irish pub--pouring a beer just for you


and finally, Wintergarden cafe with even more beer


Jon---------hopefully in two weeks my photo's will become radically better, I'm buying a Nikon D70s, it's a DSLR, this point and shoot is driving me crazy.

[FJ and G]

I've used a wide variety of materials.

I found that making your own scale asphalt is most convincing to both touch and sight. I've used sand mixed with wood glue, soap and alcohol, with black gloss paint added once dry makes the most convincing asphalt roads. Visitors have agreed.

For my outdoor layout (indoor would also work, I will be making gravel roads out of quarter fines held in place with diluted concrete adhesives.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jonadel

The blacktop asphalt streets are also D.56 and come in a roll/tube. There are probably less expensive ways to do streets but when something like this is available we tend to take the easy way out and spend our time building mountains instead or working on ground cover or water falls or more mountain backgrounds.

Jon

Yea, I know what you mean. My problem is time also, and this seems like it'll be a good timesaver. Until I have a place to setup a good size layout, I'm going to use the smaller layout to experiment with what I learn here. I have picked up a lot on these forums. The different options of buildings, scenery, people, vehicles, etc... is incredible! Thank you and to all for the help!

[jonadel]

The blacktop asphalt streets are also D.56 and come in a roll/tube. There are probably less expensive ways to do streets but when something like this is available we tend to take the easy way out and spend our time building mountains instead or working on ground cover or water falls or more mountain backgrounds.

Jon

[Anonymous]

That's great, thanks! I love your setup and I too like the looks of the Dept 56 buildings and accessories. How about the black asphault type streets with the white lines that you used? They look really good and are exactly what my new small layout will need. There seems to be some very nice stuff out there and I could also make it but that looks good and hopefully it's ready made.

Thanks!

[jonadel]

Hi Robert--

Sorry it's taken me awhile to answer your question, too many projects going on right now. I never realized that when I retired that I would be this busy and I've got another offer on the table right now that will be hard to refuse.

I just checked with the boss (my wonderful wife) and she says that those brick and cobble streets/walk ways are Dept. 56 and they come in a roll and are very easy to cut with good weight to them. We really like the D.56 buildings and accessories, especially the detail and whimsical sense of humor they have.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions--I am home for the night.

Jon

[Anonymous]

Thanks Guys! Some good stuff. Still kinda hoping Jonadel will chime in.

[Dr. John]

Here's a link to some adhesive streets and intersections offered from Scenic Express. Enter the word streets into the search window. Scroll down on the search page and you'll find them:

http://www.sceneryexpress.com

[cnw1995]

Richard was right - I used roof shingles that I cut with a pair of 'tin-snips' - I experimented with black, red and tan colors. I also used a few plastic 'streets' that my son had gotten in a cheap set for Hot-Wheels-sized cars.

[Dave Farquhar]

Around the holidays a lot of stores sell a rubbery plastic brick sheet in rolls that makes a good-looking brick sidewalk. It's made by Lemax. It wouldn't surprise me if that's what he used.

[thor]

Wet and dry paper (emery cloth) that black abrasive makes great streets. Depending on how 'scale' you want to be. Because molding a street in plaster and then tinting it gives a better much more realistic surface finish and often you'll get prototypical cracks too, especially if you 'crown' it properly, make it so its higher in the middle. Wet plaster is also excellent for scribing in brick lines and cobblestones but it takes a lot of patience. Water color washes will tint the plaster in a way that just looks more realistic than anything else. BTW if modelling a street scene (in 'scale') don't forget the kerbs and drains and manhole covers, its the little things that make a scene convincing.

[Anonymous]

Ive used pieces of roofing tile cut to fit my streets. They look like blacktop.
They do sell roadway you can by pieces i belive Moon Dog products advertised roads and such in CTT mag a few times
good luck[#welcome]

[Anonymous]

I am new to this hobby and am building a small O-gauge layout(5'x9') and was wondering who makes ready made streets and sidewalks? I was reading some of the posts and followed a link by (edit) Jonadel to a layout of his and liked the streets and brick sidewalks that he used. It looks like a ready made thing, possibly comes in a roll. Any ideas? Thanks guys!