FLAT INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL ROOF TOPS

rockstars1989 posted:

I know these roofs have a layer of stone on them. What should I use for o scale scratch building?

Sand from craft store? Ballast? Thanks in advance. Nick

Sandpaper glued onto something that wont warp.

You can use HO or N scale ballast.

I have used black or gray construction paper (which has a texture) glued to a piece of basswood. Then paint and weather. Another possibility is a textured material named "taskboard."

MELGAR

Nick, 

I did this first building with Woodland Scenics Medium Ballast Cinders.

I did this second building with swept up stones from the street.  I got the idea from Rich Battista.  I swept up material from the street into a 5 gallon pail.  Ran a hose through the pail to clean it all.  Then sifted it using 2 different size strainers from the dollar store to get three different sizes of material.  I ballast my tracks with the medium and use the fine for roof tops and parking lots.   All for Free.

Have Fun!

Ron

Nick, 

I wanted to add this idea too since I brought up the dollar store.  They sell colored sand for, well uhm, a dollar.  We purchased the black sand and used it as a coal load on these hoppers.  I would assume a nice grey or black would work well on a rooftop as well.

Have Fun!

Ron

Ron045 posted:

 

At first I thought that was your cat's litterbox!

PRRMP54 posted:

Ron045 posted:

 

At first I thought that was your cat's litterbox!

Yeah... Because liter boxes say "Greyhound" and are often found next to 3 rail track.🙄

Ron045 posted:

Nick, 

I wanted to add this idea too since I brought up the dollar store.  They sell colored sand for, well uhm, a dollar.  We purchased the black sand and used it as a coal load on these hoppers.  I would assume a nice grey or black would work well on a rooftop as well.

Have Fun!

Ron

Looks good Ron Thanks Nick

When you cover the roof, don't make it look as it had just been done. I sold flat roofing for a few months after I was discharged. One never sees an older flat roof without thin spots or the tar slopped around or even the tar paper showing through.

Dick

On my engine house I went a different way. I put on a modern vinyl membrane roof similar to a Durolast roof that is used in lots of big installations. I simulated this using white Duct tape. The tape width is just about the same as the Durolast sheeting. These roofs are heat welded so the overlap seams of the tape also looked right. The roof was so big, I really didn't want to deal with stones of any kind. And the roof is removable and having it really tight and clean made that easier to do too. I probably should do something with the parapets...

I recently completed a background "flat" with a stone roof. I used a Woodland Scenics fine grey ballast.

The fine ballast works well, but you can use fine sand blasting medium as well for less money.  You can buy it at tractor supply in a large bag for under $10 and have plenty for you entire layout.

This approach is what I did when I owned Korber Models for the roof on the roundhouse.

The aquarium department of a good pet store will have gravel in many sizes and colors for little money.

Matthew Jones posted:

I recently completed a background "flat" with a stone roof. I used a Woodland Scenics fine grey ballast.

WOW! I love this kitbash, positioning of Walthers/Atlas O flats! Great Job!

I prefer the sand paper method for gravel roofing.  I use a wet-sand paper with a very course grit around 100.  This type of paper actually has a cloth backing and the grit side is black.  I attach it to the roof with spray glue.  A light color dry-brushing makes the texture stand out.

For rolled paper roofing, my go-to is masking tape.  After applying it, I spray or brush paint it a black or dark grey color and finish with dry brushing.

Both of these methods are very inexpensive, fast, clean, and easily do-able.  Using an actual granule material can be very convincing, but I worry about gluing it.  If it is glued like scenery, I worry about the potential for leaking adhesives spreading beyond the roof and damaging the structure base materials or interior details.

Here is a scratch built styrene structure with both of my methods on the same roof.  The front section is masking tape, and the rear section is sandpaper.  A detail I missed is water drains.  An enclosed gravel roof needs a way to drain rain water so the roof doesn't turn into a pool!

Rick Bacon posted:

I prefer the sand paper method for gravel roofing.  I use a wet-sand paper with a very course grit around 100.  This type of paper actually has a cloth backing and the grit side is black.  I attach it to the roof with spray glue.  A light color dry-brushing makes the texture stand out.

For rolled paper roofing, my go-to is masking tape.  After applying it, I spray or brush paint it a black or dark grey color and finish with dry brushing.

Both of these methods are very inexpensive, fast, clean, and easily do-able.  Using an actual granule material can be very convincing, but I worry about gluing it.  If it is glued like scenery, I worry about the potential for leaking adhesives spreading beyond the roof and damaging the structure base materials or interior details.

Here is a scratch built styrene structure with both of my methods on the same roof.  The front section is masking tape, and the rear section is sandpaper.  A detail I missed is water drains.  An enclosed gravel roof needs a way to drain rain water so the roof doesn't turn into a pool!

 

That really looks good, I like the walkways and your correct on the drains I've been on a lot of industrial roofs and the do have drains. Funny thing though there's always water anyway they don't pitch them right or repairs cause high spots.