Concrete sidewalks

[Anonymous]

Can anyone explain the best way and material to make concrete sidewalks/paths etc. I have been working on my HO layout for 5 1/2 years now and I am ready to learn to detail it. I want to start in the classification yard first. Any suggestions or articles I can read about this would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

[trainboyH16-44]

Styrene might be good. Those thin sheets could be cut into squares, and scribed with a hooby knife to simulate cracks, and painted with Polly Scale Aged concrete. This is just a thought, though.
If you do do it this way, tell me how it worked.
Trainboy

[joeyegarner]

I have a suggestion, not an easy one but I done it and it worked out ok. I layed forms with balsa wood and then used plaster to make the sidewalks. it took some working of the plaster with a small putty knife and then I came back with a hobby knife and made lines across them. I'm sure you could use the same process to make cracks in it. It takes a little practice to do it but you may be very pleased the out come. Hope at least to give you an idea. Joey

[loathar]

I'm interested in this thread too.I have a lot of IHC buildings that have great looking sidewalks in front of them. I would love to just get some more of this material to fini***he scene. Any thoughts on where to get it or a similar product?

[Anonymous]

That's real close to what I've alwasy done. I use hydrocal and build frames out of strip wood.

QUOTE: Originally posted by joeyegarner

I have a suggestion, not an easy one but I done it and it worked out ok. I layed forms with balsa wood and then used plaster to make the sidewalks. it took some working of the plaster with a small putty knife and then I came back with a hobby knife and made lines across them. I'm sure you could use the same process to make cracks in it. It takes a little practice to do it but you may be very pleased the out come. Hope at least to give you an idea. Joey

[Anonymous]

I would also suggest using sheet styrene. That is what I used to make the "sidewalk" surrounding my Shell station. You just cut it to size, then use a hobby knife to score the cracks. Here's a pic.

[davekelly]

Kevin,

Love that building!! Fill us in on some construction details!

[Tracklayer]

I always just used poster board that I cut out and painted either flat white or primer gray, but then, I model N scale.

Tracklayer

[AntonioFP45]

Kevin,

Very nice work!

Trainman 150,

If I'm not mistaken, Walthers already has pre-made styrene streets and sidewalks available.

[tommyr]

trainman150;
I used thin styrene painted concrete colour. I scored in the cracks then glued it to a foundation of balsa. I kept the balsa flu***o thedge & glued very thin styrene to it for the curb, I used carbon paper to weather it. I used a toothpick to make lines with white glue & then sprinkled on ground foam Hope this helps. (see pics)
Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Kevin,

Love that building!! Fill us in on some construction details!

Well, not a whole lot to tell, really. It's a Walthers kit that I painted and decaled as a Shell station. The sidewalk is sheet styrene ( .060" to simulate a sidewalk 5.25" high )with cracks that were scored with a hobby knife. I used Polly Scale "Concrete" color on the sidewalk, but it looked a little too dark to me, so I "dusted" it with a little white to lighten it up a bit. The black and silver thread will be the electric utility feed. It goes into a meter/breaker box that I custom made, on the outside of the building. I have just got it tucked under the roof of the "car wash" section right now to keep it out of the way.

[Seamonster]

Evergreen makes styrene sidewalks by the sheet.

[dknelson]

I believe Plastruct also makes plastic sidewalks by the sheet. And there are sidewalks as part of the Walthers plastic street system. A bit of weathering makes them look pretty good
Dave Nelson

[trainboyH16-44]

here's another idea.
What about making them out of that wall filler putty stuff? It's fine, and you can make it smooth. Just another idea.
Trainboy

[MisterBeasley]

Evergreen makes "sidewalk" and "tile" sheets, which are about 6x10 inches. I bought 1 of each, and then made a latex mold from them. I then made castings of hydrocal. I used the big squares for the floor and the small ones for the walls of my subway station. I'll probably use the big ones again for sidewalks when I finally climb up out of the tunnels and start scenicing the surface.

This is the large size, sprayed with flat gray primer and brushed with very dilute India Ink:

[nbrodar]

Whatever strikes your fancy. I've used posterboard, styrene, and plaster. Posterboard is easy to cut and finish, but cracks and stuff need to be drawn on. Styrene is also easy to cut and finish. It comes in many thicknesses, making it easy to layer streets, curbs, and sidewalk. Cracks and joints can be carved in. Plaster is the most true to life, but requires more work, and can be messy.

Nick Brodar