Woodland Scenics Road System or styrene?

[Roadtrp]

What is your preferred way to make roads... Woodland Scenics Road System, styrene (as shown in a recent MR) or something else?

I originally put down some very unrealistic roads using Noch road tape just to get something down while I was starting on my scenery. Now I want to replace it with something more realistic. I tried the Woodland Scenics system today, and though I am reasonably happy with the result considering it was my first try, it was a whole lot of work for a much less than perfect end product.

Have any of you used the WS system? Styrene? Something else?

What do you see as the advantages of what you are using?

Thanks!!

[:)]

[ac4400fan]

To Help you with your question ,i started doing almost the same ,but i was using ,constuction paper,look real good except.hehe getting it damp,,it buckles,,i went to 0.40 styrene,you have to paint it ,but its very flexibal and easy to work with ,so far so good




also pick up mrr april ussue on pg 36 theres ,a good artical on styrene
works great!!

carl

[Eriediamond]

I use extra,extra fine grit sand paper for paved or concrete roads or streerts and a coarse grit for dirt or gravel roads. Once painted, it looks really nice. Ken

[Anonymous]

It sounds like Ken has the best idea. On my second layout (I'm on my third) I used styrene for a parking lot and it got bubbles, bumps etc. I guess it was the glue I used underneath.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Eriediamond

I use extra,extra fine grit sand paper for paved or concrete roads or streerts and a coarse grit for dirt or gravel roads. Once painted, it looks really nice. Ken

Eriediamond is using an old model railroaders trick that works real well. I personally use posterboard that I cut out like I want, then spray paint it either flat gray, flat black or dirt tan for surface color. You can also use what I call lamp spray which is a type of texture spray paint for HO and larger scales.

trainluver1

[tcf511]

I really like the sandpaper idea. Do you have any recommendations on painting it in terms of water based, etc. I don't have an airbrush yet but assume painting with spray cans would work as well?

[AntonioFP45]

I will be using sheets of styrene as they not overwhelmingly expensive.

Not too long ago, a poster stated that there is another material that modelers are starting to use that's suppposedly easy to install and weather.

Anyone remember what that was?

[pcarrell]

Personally, I think this is hard to beat;

http://home.cablerocket.com/~crowley/ashphalt_roads.htm

[jecorbett]

QUOTE: Originally posted by WVHagan

It sounds like Ken has the best idea. On my second layout (I'm on my third) I used styrene for a parking lot and it got bubbles, bumps etc. I guess it was the glue I used underneath.

I could see this as a positive in that it could allow you to create pot holes which could either be patched or made to look unrepaired. Either way it would give added realism to a paved surface. After all, this is not too unlike how real pot holes get created. Water seeps under the pavement, freezes and pushes up the pavement. When the water thaws and seeps into the subsurface, it leaves a bubble of unsupported pavement which collapses, leaving a pothole.

[CNJ831]

I think a lot depends on what you are trying to represent and where it's located. In the rural portions of my layout I've used the WS concrete road-building material with pleasing result (I'd strongly advise mixing your own paints for coloring). For my high density urban scenes, I'm using sheet styrene, scribing in expansion joints, cracks, and so on. It's far easier than attempting to create long, broad runs, with a very level surface with the WS product.

CNJ831

[jon grant]

I used fine grade sandpaper, glued onto 30 thou plastic sheet







I fashioned road repairs by tearing off pieces of sandpaper and attaching seperately.





I also used sheet styrene with Walthers sidewalks








Jon

[Anonymous]

I've discovered that I'm spending as much (or more) time modeling roads than I spent laying track on my new HO layout. So far I've been using cablerocket's method (described in a link above) I've had generally good results, but the technique is kinda messy. The good thing is that you can create all sorts of 'realistic' effects on the asphalt roads -- potholes, cracks, etc. I'm planning to fini***he effect with a little airbrushing.

But Jon Grant's results above look so good, I think I'll give it a try,

One more thing...The Walthers sidewalks are definitely the way to go.....

[beegle55]

I have to pick Stryene for sidewalks, but roads...well I haven't found a really good thing yet. I've plaster, spackeled, pasted, and next I'm going to try black rubber roadbed and see how that pans out. Good luck!