Actually the foam does work, my mistake. The thickness actually looks pretty close to scale. I plan on purchasing neutral white or gray and paintingi it concrete colors then cutting it to fit. Since I've got so many alleys cutting foam and sticking in place is a heck of a lot easier than plastering.
Many Thanks,
I would leave the cracks but it's more like chunks are missing due to the WS paving tape sticking and making a mess out of the borders. I read the article a while back on the foam board but it's more for paved roads, I'd use it but it's way too thick (I have some of this from another project). Maybe I'll just stick with styrene.
Thanks,
Maybe you should leave the cracks!
Most of the alleys I traversed in Nashville, TN, had very uneven, cracked, potholed asphalt-and-dirt pavement, liberally adorned with trash and scraggly-looking clumps of weeds. I doubt that there are many places where the alleys are much better, unless they adjoin brand-new construction where the contractor was required (by city code or similar) to re-finish them to a high standard. Even then, the pavement is usually the thinnest skim coat of asphalt - which will crack the first time somebody drives anything heavier than a pickup on it. Since most cities collect "disposable solid waste and recyclables" in the alleys, and since the typical garbage truck is a lot heavier than a pickup...
Just my opinion. Others will differ.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Steve,
I've used DAP Lightweight Spackle for this purpose with success. It has a texture lighter than joint compound but heavier than the balsa-wood grain filler material that aircraft modelers used. It has not cracked even when applied 1/4" thick. I like it because it has a bit of grit that is appropriate for road texture. I apply it with a putty knife, let dry overnight, and paint with acrylics. I use 0.30" square styrene to form "dams" around it if I want a finished edge--not because it is runny, but to give me something to drag the putty knife against to get a smooth surface. I tack these strips down with Walthers Goo, let dry for about 30 min, then trowel in the spackle.
0.30" styrene is also fine, but more expensive and has no texture.
Chris
I've used "Small Town USA" sidewalks to line the main street of a town that I'm modeling. Between each building I want to put an alley in as well as a few parking lots around. These areas are mostly level with sidewalks (i.e. turning into an alley you go up a driveway partition into the alley). Now since these areas are not actually sidewalks, I'd like to know what others have used to fill in these areas. I tried WS plaster along with WS paving tape and either cracked (mixture thin, heavier mixture was too thick to spread w/o problems) or the WS tape stuck to the surface and cracked everything just trying to get the WS paving adhesive off. Can I just use .030" styrene or something similiar? Or, is there an adhesive backed thin foam or something easy to cut?....any help would be appreciated.