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Does anyone have any suggestions for making paved roads without too much hassle/mess? I have some gravel roads which I am about to pave, and I am seriously considering making real pavement. Many years ago on a previous layout I made roads by mixing fine sand with roofing tar, applying a thin coat of tar to the roadway for better adhesion, then spreading the mixture over the area. I then flattened the pavement with a putty knife, cleaning the knife regularly with mineral spirits. This gave me beautiful looking (and very accurate) pavement. The downside is the mess and the stink. I don't remember exactly what I did to get the greyish weathered look to the roads, however. If I knew of a better way to create the same results, I would rather avoid stinking up the basement with curing tar fumes.
Posts: 22 | Registered: Feb 2003
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i used fine sand mixed in water, then a dark gray and/or FLAT finish latex paint. apply with a putty knife or trowel, and that gave good results as well, and depending on the paint, not much smell, either. Posts: 85 | From: owingsmills, md. | Registered: Aug 2002
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I think an outfit called AMI makes a rubber roadbed material that I don't really like for roadbed, but it makes great asphalt roads. It comes in a roll. Just roll it out. It can be made to curve, go straight, or whatever shape you need. It is a little "tacky" feeling when first put down. Make your center stripes if the road will have them, and spray a thin coat of dull coat to kill the stickiness.
Posts: 70 | From: Lakewood, California, U.S.A. | Registered: Mar 2003
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I model traction in HO scale and use plaster to pave my streets. I usually mix black dry tempra paint into the plaster to provide a uniformly colored paving material. This allows for sanding or carving later without having to repaint anything. Motorman Clyde
Posts: 1 | From: Newbury, Ohio 44065 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I know this sounds a bit off...I used black poster board for black top. Roughed it up in spots and used a darker black marker to create the effects of road repair tar on the roadway. Seems to work pretty well. I did find that I had to put the poster board in direct sun light to fade it some before I did this!
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Hello Railers, I am a tradesman in the tile field. One thing I have plenty of is grout. It comes in a lot of differant colors and shades. Mask off the roads with tape. Mix your grout into a thick paste. Apply with a putty knife. Pull the tape while the grout is still a lil wet. This may give you some jaged edges, but thats OK. Real roads are jaged too. When the grout dried.it may crack a little. Paint on a lighter or darker shade on the cracks. It looks likr a real road repair. Grout is mixed with water, it cleans up with water as well, and has no smell to it. Grout can also be mixed very thin and used as a paint with a sand texture. The downside is that it comes in 25# bags. Ask your local tile suppy if thay might have a broken bag. They might just give some to you. A cup or two goes a long way. Happy Rails
Posts: 2 | From: FWB Fla | Registered: May 2003
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Hmmm, good idea. I may try tile grout tommorrow (I have some terra cotta colored grout I used to patch). Would you recommend sanded or unsanded grout?
(Note Home Depot has colored grout, sanded and not, in 5 pound boxes, so you don't have to go the 25 pound route.)
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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Correction ... they are 7 pound boxes and cost $6.25. I was in HD and decided to go with the Butter Cream color rather than the terra cotta as it is more closely the color of real dirt roads (or I can more easily tint it).
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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