Road and Concrete Material?

[Hansel]

I would like to model pavement in and around an industrial building, paper mill, from the 1950's.  What would you recommend to make the pavement?  Could they have used gravel back then?

Thanks, Hansel

[MisterBeasley]

I like Durham's Water Putty for pavement.  You can use it for concrete or asphalt, depending on how you paint it.  I get it at the True Value hardware store.  I mix it up with some vinegar to slow setting time, and then I use a foam brush and a container of water to keep smoothing it while it sets up.

I paint my asphalt with a wash of gray acrylic paint.  I don't have a suggestion for a good concrete color, but I'm sure someone else will.

What part of the country are you modelling?

[pcarrell]

Here's another method that works well: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/crowley/ashphalt_roads.htm

Change the color and add cuts for the expansion lines, and it's concrete.  Cut it in strips and it's a sidewalk.

And they still make dirt roads today, so you could go that way too.  The dirt raods don't hold up as well though, especially with trucks.

[hwolf]

I am in the concrete business.  Most industrial companies use concrete especially around where the trucks would be working. Asphalt would mostly be used in parking lots that would not get heavy traffic. Don't forget the cuts in the concrete. All concrete will have them to reduce cracking.

[BCSJ]

You might also try sheet styrene for the relatively flat concrete paying surface. Scribe it to simulate scratches and expansion joints.

Regards,

Charlie Comstock 

[Hansel]

Thanks for the ideas.  I think I might try the fun foam approach.

Hansel