Scratch-Built Roads?

[Anonymous]

I build my roads by cutting a strip of wire mesh (hardware cloth) the size of the roadway and spreading mortar cement over this. For black-top roads paint the mortar "road" with a dirty gray LATEX house paint. For a gravel road sift sand onto the wet paint.

May all your weeds be wild flowers......OLD DAD

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Capt. C.,
That's an interesting idea you have there. It's meant to be used as shingles so it should take the weather. From what I recall it is not that expensive either. One cause for concern would be getting it to lay flat on the ground. It would have to be smooth underneath or else I could see it acting like a bridge leaving gaps. Joints could be made by nailing it to a piece of cedar or other treated wood. Use a permanent marker to hide the nail head and away you go. How about trying this as an experiment in your yard? Then you can see if it is worth doing on a larger scale. Later eh...Brian.

Give me a few weeks and I'll see what I can do. I have to wait until school lets out. I, however, got the idea from my grandfather who had a large section of it thrown on the ground follwing our last major hurricane. I think it came off a shead or storage building about two years ago and there it has remained relatively untounched by nature.

[bman36]

Capt. C.,
That's an interesting idea you have there. It's meant to be used as shingles so it should take the weather. From what I recall it is not that expensive either. One cause for concern would be getting it to lay flat on the ground. It would have to be smooth underneath or else I could see it acting like a bridge leaving gaps. Joints could be made by nailing it to a piece of cedar or other treated wood. Use a permanent marker to hide the nail head and away you go. How about trying this as an experiment in your yard? Then you can see if it is worth doing on a larger scale. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bluebonnet - 71

Capt.

I have seen a man use 1/2 cut brick and some type of glue to lay down a piece of shingle (black) then he had gone to a printers supply with a sized drawing of the strips and long non-striped lines and they cut it on a clear plastic sheet.
So, if you know a roofer you in business.

I may try using a product called "roll roof." It is a roofing product, kind of like shigles, this can be laid like paper.

[Anonymous]

Capt.

I have seen a man use 1/2 cut brick and some type of glue to lay down a piece of shingle (black) then he had gone to a printers supply with a sized drawing of the strips and long non-striped lines and they cut it on a clear plastic sheet.
So, if you know a roofer you in business.

[Rene Schweitzer]

The article John is talking about was in the August 2003 issue. The author included a followup in the October issue about repairing cracks (easy to do, just fill and reglue).

[Anonymous]

Hi capt Carrales
There was an artical in GR on this basicaly what was done was the road was built up out of crusher dust and then sprayed with the normal indoor 50/50 dilute PVA glueand drip of dishwashing liquid. the road was sloped to promote drainage off the road.
With white lines painted on with a stencile of some sort
Me if I decide to have roads will just cobble up a roller set that mimicks cart wheels
and use that to create roads that's all I need.
regards John

[bman36]

Capt. C.,
Haven't built any yet. Let's see what others are doing. Perhaps I'll build some here when I find out how. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

How did you all simulate roads (highways) on your outdoor layouts? I'm thinking, black roofing paper as a start.