I really like doing scenes of downtown areas on the railroad. I think it adds life to the scenes and adds a bit of realism as well. I know that many modelers like open spaces on their layouts and some don't like it when towns are crowded together. Well, I love building structures, the more the better which goes against the grain somewhat with the approach to modeling today.
I acturally enjoy the detail that can be had in a town or city. Look at Rod Stewart's railroad or George Sellio's Franklin and Manchester, or Howard Zane's, lots of city stuff, some would say over detailed but I like that. With cities you have streets, both concrete and asphalt. The streets seem to always be bland, so add too them.
Pavement changes color, developes cracks due to weather, and wear and tear.
So, street repairs are in order, sometimes you even need the police there for traffic control.
Now I know there are many products to make streets from, plaster, sheet rock mudd, smooth it and all of the rest. This time I decided to make my streets and side walks out of Gator Board. The side walks are a little out of scale, but from my angle looks o.k., especially after I paint them. I use an old concrete paint already mixed to do the streets and side walks. For asphalt, I use asphalt paint.
The road stripes are from a stationary store, on a roll in a package with red, yellow, white, and black and blue. I used this Gator Board technique because it was fast and neat, no mess. When the concrete dries I use a Sharpie to create the cracks in the roads.
Not all of the streets are concrete, I paint some with asphalt paint to give a variety when it comes to the streets and roadways on the layout.
Thanks,
Robert Sylvester,Newberry-Columbia, SC
Nice scenes. I, too, am a fan of small urban modeling. I was lucky enough to have enough space for three small mini-cities, along with some open space between them. Yes, the caboose is still in Mooseport when the engine pulls into downtown Moose Bay, but that's the nature of room-sized model railroading.
I like the opportunities to detail towns like this, with small three and four story structures. Clusters of illuminated buildings create a nice image, and streetlights and traffic signals add to that. At this point, there are more streets with sidewalks than without. Mailboxes, fire hydrants and even parking meters are there to complete the scene, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Nice.
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I am also determined to have an urban scene on my layout. I blame Peter (HO-Velo) for this. His scenes are more inspiring to me than the people you mentioned.
I love the opportunities for great detail work that urban scenery provides.
-Kevin
Living the dream.