Modelling road surfaces

[rynd2it]

All good ideas, thanks

[bulleidboy]

You could try Metcalfe Tarmac Road sheets?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R18GfeqUlv8

[rynd2it]

You could try Metcalfe Tarmac Road sheets?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R18GfeqUlv8

I have, they just don't look right somehow

[bulleidboy]

Even after watching the video clip - I agree with you - to smooth a surface. I haven't used it yet, but I recently bought some Redutex Road Surface sheets, there textured with manhole covers - but expensive if you have a large area to cover.

[Bandit Mick]

I like WTD's solution - gives a nice cameo and as others have said, deals with the age old problem of trying to get roads to look real. I don't want to be rude but some roads on exhibition layouts are a bit cringy.

[rynd2it]

I use the old fashion emery paper for tarmac and for dusty roads, the dust from the dust collector on my orbital sander, glued with PVA

I did look at using 1200 grit wet & dry but it was too dark for what I wanted. I need contrasting colours and there is enough black in the tracks around the carriage shed and engineering works.

[Steve M]

I have always used a mix of playpit sand (it’s very fine) and plaster powder - applied in the same way as ballast - then painted with acrylic paint.

[IanLMS]

I would say a sheet or roll of dark grey wet n dry emery paper, fairly fine grit dusted with talcum powder or grey weathering powders would do the trick.

I used 240 grit on a roll, covered in polyfilla, painted greyish/buff and dusted over with ash/weathering powders. However, my roads are set in the 1930's and I don't think tarmac was used much in rural parts back then.

I like the idea of the road work scenario!

[rynd2it]

Well, the final decision was to paint the surface with satin black and then sprinkle Woodland Scenics Fine Light Grey (B1374) ballast while the paint was wet. Vacuum up the surplus and I have a road surface that looks like the modern top dressing that councils seem to like. It needs a bit of fettling and I'll post a picture of the result soon.

Cheers

David

[IanLMS]

sounds good - any chance of seeing a pic - of course, now you need to make sure all of your Oxford vehicles have chipped windscreens, cracked headlights and stone chippings on the paintwork