I am considering using premixed gray tile grout to make asphalt roads on my n- scale layout. Seems it would saving mixing and the color would be the same. Has anyone tried this? Can it be sanded?
I haven't, but it seems like a good idea and very doable.
Tile grout comes in 2 varieties, sanded, which means it has a very fine sand mixed in, usually used on floors for durablitity, and non-sanded, meaning it's just plain grout with no sand added.
I'm not sure which would work best for you. Either one I suppose.
I would think it would be sandable, to a point, as I don't know why you'd want to sand it.
Spread out as a road, depending on how thick you lay it, you might even get some shrinkage cracks, just like real black top roads get.
I used drywall mud for mine, and painted it after, along with weathering.
I'd be anxious to see how this grout works.
Mike.
My You Tube
Pax 1 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
Pax 1
Grout works about the same regardless if it's pre-mixed or you mix it yourself. To some extent it can be sanded if you need to address surface irregularities, but doing so changes the texture. All of my asphalt (in HO) is sanded grout.
Rob Spangler
You can get pogments for grout so you can vary the color tone. That should work well in texture and color of asphalt.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
I did a test section with grout once on a plank of wood, just to see how it would turn out. The colour I used was a light grey and then I experimented changing the colour with the airbrush, India ink and acrylic paint washes. It turned out great and like painting rocky terrain the more shades and colours you use the better it will look.
I also practised road lines while I was at it.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Rob: That looks fantastic. Great job on the road modelling.
.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
wp8thsub Pax 1 by wp8thsub, on Flickr Grout works about the same regardless if it's pre-mixed or you mix it yourself. To some extent it can be sanded if you need to address surface irregularities, but doing so changes the texture. All of my asphalt (in HO) is sanded grout.
by wp8thsub, on Flickr
Rich
Alton Junction
I've used sanded and unsanded grout in my scenery for years, since I was a Kid.
Roads and rocks mainly. And Barren un-grown areas with a few Tufts.
It's real interesting when you use sanded grout to create a gravel road and depress grooves in it while it's still drying. Then use unsanded grout in a slightly different tone or two for the wheel depressions. It adds natural shadowing and creates the seeing is believing effect on your layout
And the thing I liked about grout, ... it dries flat as all get-out.
Nice!
P.S. Those are some of the best looking asphalt roads I've ever seen Rob. I never have tried that before. Very impressive!
TF
richhotrainRob, I sent you a PM. Rich
PM answered!