roads in ho scale

[mechanic]

Hi all.I have a quick but probably dumb question.
My daughter and I have started a 4x6 H.O. layout and we need to know, what width should roadways(for cars) be in h.o. scale?
I think my neighbours would think me kind of wierd if I run outside with a tape measure[:)]
Thanks for any input.
Eric

[orsonroy]

Generally, I've found that lanes are between eight to twelve feet wide, depending on their age and location. I think there are a few that are wider (like 15') and I've been on gravel section roads that are only seven feet wide!

Don't worry too much about modeling the road width exactly though. I once built a two lane road with parking for a small town scene, and the roadway looked way overscale. I've found that it's better visually to make the roads only a scale foot or two wider than two cars or trucks, especially on a smaller layout. The road won't dominate the area that way.

And I've taken a tape measure to lots of roads; who cares what non-modelers think of you!

[Anonymous]

A normal two lane roadway is 12' each way from the center. I made my roads 2 1/2". Roads with parking I added an addition 1" per side.

[tstage]

Your neighbors are probably going to think you're weird just for being in MRR. Grab a tape measure, mearsure the street width, and don't worry about it. You may want to wait till the traffic clears first though...[:)].

Tom

[Anonymous]

Use 10' or 12' as the lane size depending on what kind of road it is. By kind, I mean main highway, country blacktop, residential, etc. Since HO is roughly 1/87, a 10' wide lane would be 1.37" and a 12' lane would be 1.66" wide. Add a 10' lane for each side if you want parallel parking or 20' for head in (diagonal) parking.

[Anonymous]

There was a thread on here a few months ago asking the same question but in N Scale. I think the best way to go is to get a couple scale cars, trucks and buildings and play with them on your proposed roadway until you get a width that looks right. The reason I include buildings is that nearly all MRR structures are somewhat compressed and a scale width road might end up making the building look dinky.

[Anonymous]

Well, I measured a country road near my dad's house and it was 16 ft from edge to edge, making it have a 8ft. lane. I can't remember if this was before or after they widened the road to allow semi's to travel down it easier. There was a lot of logging around us, so we had lots of logging trucks.
Reed

[Anonymous]

I did the "put 2 vehicles next to each other" going in oposite directions & came up w/the roads at 3" wide. Sometimes that measurement is too narrow. In your cities where you have parking next to the sidewalks & across the road, I made them 5 & 6" wide.
I make all my roads out of drywall mud. The material cracks when drying & makes the perfect roadway. I bought a quart of asphalt gray at Walmart & painted all the roads & painted the lines w/a roller pin striper.

Larry

[mikebonellisr]

Larry66
What's a roller pin striper,how do you use it and where do you get it?I've been doing my lines freehand and I'd like to find a better way.

[Anonymous]

A Roller Pin Striper is made by Beugler & you can get one on the web at; Beugler.com
Mine isn't up to date like the new ones, but will do the job very nice. I bought mine about
30 years ago. I have about 10 diff. widths of rollers, & about 3 diff. sizes of guides & you can make your own guides to fit the pin striper.

Larry

[bsteel4065]

Hey guys, did you miss the starter on this? It's from mechanic who is building his layout with his DAUGHTER. Well done sir for bringing your daughter into the hobby! Great stuff!

[Anonymous]

I have also started a layout with my 4-year old DAUGHTER. She's the one that got me into it! My daughter is also into street-rods as I am building a few them too!

BTW. I had my daughter hold the tape measure when I measured our road. Not for my MRR, but a different drafting project I had on the go. I don't care what my neighbors think. I do burn outs infornt of there house with an 800hp race car. They don't like me to begin with. :o)

Matt

[Anonymous]

I applaud those that are bringing their daughters into the hobby. There's a vast untapped pool of people that can be the future of our hobby!!

[Anonymous]

Secondary county roads are usually 8' lanes. The increments in width are usually 2' intervals so the next levels ares 10', 12' and some cases 14'. As most cars are less than 7' wide with 6' being the width of mini-vans and mid-size sedans. As you don't normally realize this when you are driving it will look odd to you. Most modelers will make a road that looks right, not what is right. Strips are 4" wide and typical length is 10' with 15' spacing. A car traveling 60mph is going 66'/sec. Now you got the basic for speed estimation as well. Again, on your layout you'll probably feel better at what looks right and not what is right.

[bsteel4065]

Hey, Matt
Great getting your daughter into street rods. I know this is not the forum but great hobby, man!