I guess this is the 3rd in my series of postings in this group on "How I made my..." projects. This one shows how I used a roofing shingle to make the roads on my layout. I invite you to take a look and let me know what you think.
How I Made My Asphalt Roads
Thanks,
Hi RandyVery, very nice visual effect especially the color and weathering. (Something to aim for.) My general feeling is that the granularity/texture of the shingles is a bit large for HO scale. As the photos don't allow for this determination, what is your impression (and that of visitors to the layout)?Alan
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
Doc in CT Hi RandyVery, very nice visual effect especially the color and weathering. (Something to aim for.) My general feeling is that the granularity/texture of the shingles is a bit large for HO scale. As the photos don't allow for this determination, what is your impression (and that of visitors to the layout)?Alan
This layout is N Scale. I used the back of the shingle b/c it has the appearance of a less granular surface compared to the top-side of a shingle. Even with that, I did feel that the back side of the shingle was also too granular for N scale but decided to accept that as a trade off for the other benefits the material/process allowed. Upon completion I realized that it was not that bad. I think the gray paint helped to fill in the low spots and soften the out-of-scale roughness. If I do this again one thing I will do differently is to airbrush the black ''oil trails" instead of drybrushing. At the time drybrushing was the only option I had so, going into it, I knew it would not be ideal. Here's the problem - drybrushing only highlights the raised part of the rough surface and leaves the lower parts (in my case) light gray color still in the bottom of the trails. This is not what a real oil trail would look like. On my test piece I found that regular painting would apply to much paint and it just didn't look right (even if I went really really easy with it). Aribrushing, however should apply a light coat of paint on the raised surfaces *and* the lower groves and the result will be that of a better looking oil trail.
Randy
At one time the Three Brothers firm -- the folks who reintroduced the old Holgate & Reynolds double deck commuter car kits in HO - also offered sheets of what was really just roofing material as roadway or building roof material. I picked up a package cheaply, but at list price it was really just a rediculously expensive way to sell what was probably factory second roofing material!
The above poster is correct that as it comes, the texture is rather rough for HO (and N) -- this would be quite a bumpy ride if you can imagine what it would be like to be a scale sized driver or pedestrian. Yet using plastic sheet seems too smooth, even though fresh asphalt is smoother than fresh concrete; in person the material looks good because it absorbs the light in a "realistic" way -- by which I mean our 12" to the foot eyeballs find it realistic.
What I ended up doing was using one of those foam rubber based sanding blocks to smooth out the texture a bit. That helped and I would recommend it. I also weathered the surface with colored chalks because I wanted it to look more like macadam (pebbles steam-rollered into hot tar) than asphalt per se.
Dave Nelson
Very nice Randy. I really enjoy all your tutorials! Keep 'em coming I say!
Matt
Great article and work. I remember using roofing for roads when I was about 10 (1951) and my dad got us an American Flyer set for Christmas. He had some roll roofing that we used for roads but didn't paint them. Your roads look great and I may try this on my layout that I am just building in HO. Keep up the good work and keep posting your articles, they are great and should be in Model Railroader.Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Nice! I have a whole roll of roofing material in my shed. I think the back side like you used would probably look pretty good in HO - not sure that it would be too coarse - the back is pretty smooth. I think I may try this!
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Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.
I got a Walther's Catalog in the mail yesterday that had asphalt road for sale. Has anyone bought that and is it any good?
Pretty neat scenery, and with a 3'x6' layout to boot! In a way, it is reminiscent of what Dave Vollmer has done on his 36"x80" Juniata Division.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Very nice project, It could look nice on my O scale layout.
Randy, I must admit, the first time I read this thread.. it was mana from heaven. Nearly brought a tear to my eyes.. at last some useful information. Thanks for sharing.
Keith
Blazzin Randy, I must admit, the first time I read this thread.. it was mana from heaven. Nearly brought a tear to my eyes.. at last some useful information. Thanks for sharing. Keith
Thanks Keith! Mana huh...tears you say? wow... now I am tearing up...awwww the bond that model railroads have.... :)
Seriously though, I am glad you found it helpful. I have posted several articles on things I made and I tried to keep them limited to projects which I found little help/reference when I was doing my research (e.g. at the time I found little in the way of 'how to make roads' tutorials so I decided to contribute in that area with what I had done).
Looks pretty good! The wood puttty was a great idea too!
pcarrellLooks pretty good! The wood puttty was a great idea too!
Thanks. The reason I chose wood putty over handy drywall mud was because drywall mud, I felt, because of its watery consistency would leave a ghostly white coloration on the top of the road and that was NOT what I wanted. I knew I could have the wood putty on the road tops and the move it and it would not leave a discoloration. It worked great too. Were I to do it again I would spend more time forming/shaping the filled area.
Randy, truly. When one spends an enourmous amount of time.. looking.. reading.. searching threads.. its always nice to come across some thing nice.. and totally different.. with many applications and uses.
Even though I have chosen another avenue for roads.. doesn't mean I won't at least try it out and see how well your method works. For my particular needs .. your choice seem fine for me... later on.
I am at that point where I am looking for small details in movies.. and stuff, and noticed.. that in the trainyard there are small paths for people or workman to cross the yard.. without having to step on rails or ties. I am considering your idea.. for small paths. I'm the type.. thats "just gotta see it~"
On a small note Randy, when reading your thread..
Did you consider using a 'Heavy Duty Hair Blower' to slightly melt the roads.. to take away the 'stiffness'?
Thanks ahead of time.
Blazzin I am at that point where I am looking for small details in movies.. and stuff, and noticed.. that in the trainyard there are small paths for people or workman to cross the yard.. without having to step on rails or ties. I am considering your idea.. for small paths. I'm the type.. thats "just gotta see it~"
Can't say that I've seen such paths. Is it a like a wooded boardwalk or an elevated platform that goes above train level?
Blazzin On a small note Randy, when reading your thread.. Did you consider using a 'Heavy Duty Hair Blower' to slightly melt the roads.. to take away the 'stiffness'?
For my slight variations any stiffness of the shingle was not a problem. It pretty much just laid where I put it...I didn't have to force it to stay down with push pins or anything like that.