Pavement for streets

I use  drywall mud/joint compound as I had some leftover from a house project.  Added some water-base black paint to dye it, a little at a time, to get the color I was looking for.  Put it on very thin.  Then when dry just dry-brushed some black paint for dirt/grime on roadway.  I haven't put center lines on.

I used 1/8” Masonite, about 5” wide, and painted dark gray. For sidewalks, I used Woodland Scenics track roadbed, cut 1” wide, painted with Polly S concrete, and then lined with pencil.

Thank you Steve,…I could use the ready to go compound like spackling.?

I use Masonite or foam board topped with Durham’s water putty, and either concrete or asphalt top coat.

@Bigboyrich posted:

Thank you Steve,…I could use the ready to go compound like spackling.?

I think it's worth a try.  You could always do a test of it, would help to get the color you are looking for.

I use tar paper. For more realism it can be dusted with chalk.

Once again Rich, I have moved your post/thread to the proper forum.  PLEASE take time to become familiar with the different categories.  You are not talking about 3-rail traditional trains rather the subject is about an element of scenery.

Because my top layout base is foam, I simply paint a 4" wide swath as a street with grey/concrete paint and add 1" white stripes with a paint pen. The texture of the foam gives a worn look to the streets.

@John H posted:

I use Masonite or foam board topped with Durham’s water putty, and either concrete or asphalt top coat.

This looks great

Rich there are lots of different methods, some already described here, a search will yield several posts about this topic and you'll get more ides.  In the past I had some water filter carbon that I spread on black paint while wet.  The paint was a little old so it thickened a bit so it work just like asphalt and the filter carbon was great size for the aggregate in asphalt pavement.  You could also use anti-slip tape for stair treads.  I believe it comes in black and gray.  Whatever you use you'll have to fiddle with the color until you're happy with it.  As for with, highway lanes are 12' wide therefore 3".  Richie C has 4" wide but that's one 8" lane in each direction, about the narrowest you would want.  So between 2" and 4" for each lane of traffic.  Don't forget parking lanes and maybe even turn lanes for downtown.

          I glue down 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper for my streets and 1/8" (6 scale inches high) Masonite for the sidewalks.

I use roofing shingles for roads.

@John H

What do you use to simulate the concrete & asphalt ?

Everyone:

Thanks for sharing your techniques & experiences !!!

@CBQ_Bill, I just use a thin layer of Durham's Water Putty and paint it with Woodland Scenics Asphalt or Concrete topcoat. I usually cut the black with some gray to take out the "blackness. The sidewalks are Masonite scored with a knife and painted with Rustoleum Desert  Bisque, which is textured. The putty sets fast and is very inexpensive.

I'm expermenting with 1/8 inch plastic sheets I bought from the local Habit for Humanity Restore.

Here is what I mentioned earlier: