Roads, streets

I use rolled roofing from home improvement stores.  It is actual asphalt, cut to size.  Works well.

I use roofing shingles purchased at home improvement stores.  Some stores sell single shingles.   I cut the shingles to size. I use the course side up which gives a tar and chip sort of effect since I model the late 1940s - late 1950s.   One could use the reverse side which gives a smooth new asphalt effect.

Here I've used the shingles as part of an unloading/loading area.

Here is one of my main drags.  

Here is a narrow country road.  

I have used black stair tread surface cover material sold at home improvement stores. It has a slightly rough surface, easy to cut with scissors, and has a stick-on back. Woodland Scenics snow stays in place, due to the surface, if you are doing winter scenes.

@trumpettrain posted:

I use roofing shingles purchased at home improvement stores.  Some stores sell single shingles.   I cut the shingles to size. I use the course side up which gives a tar and chip sort of effect since I model the late 1940s - late 1950s.   One could use the reverse side which gives a smooth new asphalt effect.

Here I've used the shingles as part of an unloading/loading area.

Here is one of my main drags.  

Here is a narrow country road.  

Nice looking roads  - how are you able to hide the seams?

Or do you use one long piece?

For fresh asphalt I glue down 220 grit sandpaper.

I used Woodland Scenics Fine Gray Ballast and spray glue:

This is from my On30 logging layout , I use tile grout for dirt roads

I love all the ideas, comments and pics!

Peter

I've used roofing shingles, dirt, tile grout and painted cork.  Pictures below show roads made with thin layer of joint compound, lightly tinted with black paint.

This rural road was made with a mix of real dirt and tile grout.

I used painted Masonite, with painted closed cell foam glued alongside.

I used craft foam for asphalt roads. It’s very easy to work with, cut with scissors. At road crossings, I lay a shed over the tracks and run a freight car over it using the wheel flanges to mark where my cut should be. You can easily cut cracks into it or emboss it to add manhole covers or details.

I also like Sintra. It’s a harder to work with, but has a good texture for concrete and can be embossed easily to rough it up.

The deck on this bridge is Sintra. The roads below are craft foam.

@Sean007 posted:

Nice looking roads  - how are you able to hide the seams?

Or do you use one long piece?

Thanks!  I use as long of piece as possible and hide seems using fine black ballast to seal any gap.

Lots of good ideas.  In the same vein as the stair tread texture is skate board grip tape, it comes in sheets 9" x 33". I got mine at Zumiez in the mall. It's black so it works well for asphalt.