Norm,
I have the OG mag with photos of your old layout, have seen your vids and posts here. Love the realism. I'm about to start building my cityscape. How do you make your sidewalks? Thanks!
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Norm is a great modeler, I'm also hoping i can make my layout scene's look as real as his.
Alex
Originally Posted by PJB:
How do you make your sidewalks? Thanks!
I asked Norm this same question several years ago. Here is his response...
"Most of the streets and sidewalks are 1/8" and 1/4" masonite. Hopefully the images give you an idea how the pieces are cut and laid out. Painting is done with all latex paints and washes".
Jeff Davis
Trainman713 pretty much explains the materials. I mostly use 1/8" Masonite now, just layered up. I cut expansion joints with a straight edge and a razor saw or a utility knife dragged sideways. Cracks and spalls are done with a utility knife. I mostly paint with Krylon khaki now, since it goes faster and when doing the wash, there's less chance of pulling wet paint out of the cracks and making a repaint necessary. Hope this helps, thanks for the kind words..
Originally Posted by Norm Charbonneau:
Trainman713 pretty much explains the materials. I mostly use 1/8" Masonite now, just layered up. I cut expansion joints with a straight edge and a razor saw or a utility knife dragged sideways. Cracks and spalls are done with a utility knife. I mostly paint with Krylon khaki now, since it goes faster and when doing the wash, there's less chance of pulling wet paint out of the cracks and making a repaint necessary. Hope this helps, thanks for the kind words..
Norm,
thanks for the response. Curious, you say you uses washes - do you recall the actual colors and if/how you measure where to put the expansion joints? I looked closely at the photos and the sidewalks are very realistic. From proportions (line placements to shape to height) to color. Thanks again.
I use thinned flat black latex mostly, bought by the gallon at Home Depot. They carry pre-mixed flat black made by Glidden. I sometimes use cheap artist acrylics thinned with water if I have a tube already open. I find it's easier to use a smaller brush to apply the wash to the cracks and expansion joints, then go over it with a rag right away. This will pull enough of the wash over the rest of the surfaces to give a nice balance. Repeat until it looks right.
As for spacing of expansion joints, I just go by eye. I tend to make my streets and sidewalks a bit on the narrow side as it looks more in balance with the overall look of my layout.
Norm - thanks very much for the detailed answer. Feel like I will be on the right track now. Peter.
