I used .060" sheet styrene for the area shown below. Most of it is glued directly to the top of the benchwork, which, in this area, is plywood. I used contact cement. Where the "pavement" runs right up to the track (which is laid directly atop the plywood), I placed the styrene on top of the moulded-on spike heads, then added strip styrene shims atop the tie ends and strips cut from more .060" sheet as the distance from the track increased. The lot appears level, but is raised slightly around the tracks.
For the areas between the rails, I used a piece of paper over the rails, rubbing it with the side of the lead of a soft pencil. This gave me the outline of the inside edges of the rails. I then subtracted the width of the spike heads from the inside edges of both lines, drawing new lines parallel to the original ones. This was then cut out and used to trace the shape onto some .060" sheet styrene. Since my track is Atlas code 83 flex, I cemented .020" strip styrene to the tie tops, butting the edge against the spike heads, then cemented the cut-out .060" sheet atop the strips. Lacquer thinner worked well with the Atlas ties, but contact cement would be required if you're using Micro Engineering track, the ties of which are not styrene. The .060" sheet atop the .020" strips gave me pavement .003" below the tops of the rails, so couplers set to specs clear it easily.
The nearby street crossing was done in the same manner:
Wayne
One thing to consider if you are going to use styrene as Richard suggested is that you don't want the styrene flush with the tops of the rails. If the styrene is flush you might damage the paint when you clean your tracks depending on the cleaning method you use.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Use styrene, just as if you were making a road or sidewalk. Shim it to track level, both between the rails and beside them. Poured concrete or ashphault would be the color you want to color it. Just be sure to leave sufficient clearance for your wheel flanges to go between the track and styrene on the inside of the rails.
Have fun,
Richard
I'm working on creating an intermodal yard and love the look of having nothing but rails showing - anyone have any suggestions on how to come up with this look ? Thanks in advance.