Road Building

[mitchelr]

I am getting started trying to build some roads on my very basic toy train layout. Definitely not high rail. I was thinking of using tar paper and I may try building a boulevard median (or a roundabout) somewhat like the one CSXT30-John built using some old street lamps that I have.

Does anybody have any suggestions for making roads that are not permanent?

Mitch[:D][:D]

[jimhaleyscomet]

I just used very thin cardboard and painted it flat black. I used masking tape to connect sections together. Definately not high rail but it does match the "toy" theme on my layout.

Jim H

[Anonymous]

If you need a thin layer of cardboard go to AC Moore . The have in their art supply area sheets of boards that are flat black or any other color. They measure about 20 by 30in in size. cost about $ 1.00 apiece.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

The model railroader forum has a lot of posts on road building, very involved. For my layout I used black foamboard, and took white chalk on it's side and rubbed the chalk on the foamboard. I then took a rag and removed and evened out the chalk residue. Think of erasing a blackboard. Then added and "erased" the chalk till I got what I wanted. Pretty hard to foul up. I also beveled the edges, not paying a lot of attention to keep it "perfectly" straight, put Elmer's glue on the bevel and put fine sand on the glue. Let it dry and vacuum excess. It now looks like a country road with a dirt gravel berm. Easy and cheap.
Jim