Woodland Scenics "Smooth it"

[bbussey]

... As for the texture people are looking for, if you reduce real concrete down 160 times, you end up with something about as smooth as flat paint on styrene. Unless it's crumbling and decayed, of course, but even then the texture will be more subtle than you might think ...

That is true.  But if we applied that rule to everything, there are a lot of details that we wouldn't see -- such as brick definition on buildings, individual cobblestones in streets, grab irons and rivets on railroad equipment, etcetera.

...I've been able to get Portland Cement in fairly small (a gallon?) buckets at Home Depot. The price, for this Yankee, is a bit ludicrous, but I guess the disposal problem goes away. When I did buy an 80-lb bag (including stucco) I usually had an outside project, so considered it "free" for my model railroad...

You can buy a 20-pound pail of Quickrete anchoring cement at Home Depot for under $15, and that will last you quite a long time.  You can buy the 6-pound pail elsewhere for under $10.

[DKS]

But if we applied that rule to everything, there are a lot of details that we wouldn't see -- such as brick definition on buildings, individual cobblestones in streets, grab irons and rivets on railroad equipment, etcetera.

Absolutely correct. We need to make compromises all over the place. It's all a matter of where each of us draws the line.

[Chris333]

Well after all this hullabaloo. I just ordered two 2x4' sheets of .100" styrene.

Did another styrene test with a lighter color:

[DKS]

Looks like it should work fine.

[pnolan48]

Well after all this hullabaloo. I just ordered two 2x4' sheets of .100" styrene.

That's pretty heavy stuff! Hope it doesn't have a curl set into it. If it does, just spray the convex side with a light coat of primer.

[diezmon]

I love threads like this.     For me though, I'm sticking with spackle.   

[Dave V]

The road Dave Vollmer did on his Enola extension is another example of a great road done using painted styrene.

Styrene:



Spackle:

[MichaelWinicki]

Dave, I know you took some ribbing about the size of the Caboose Industry ground throws, but adding the scenery made them less noticeable.

[rogergperkins]

Polystyrene sheet strips are an excellent option for paved streets.  I have also recycled some Holgate brick sheeting cut for streets on several version of my various home layouts.  I recycled the polystyrene sheet strip streets and highways.

I am still trying to master the art of creating a nice grade crossing with polystyrene sheet material.
It can be painted repeatedly with Polly S concrete or aged concrete.

[MichaelWinicki]

I think getting the right look of your roads and such is not so much the medium you use, "Smooth It", joint compound, cement, styrene, but how you weather it.

I thought the cover image of the Oct MR, showing an urban scene by Paul Dolkos was excellent... except he didn't weather the road.   The road surface is much too pristine IMO.   

[Dave V]

If you look at that Oct cover you'll also see missing ballast...  The scene isn't complete.  It's not like MR to put an incomplete scene on its cover unless it's a special on construction.  But Paul Dolkos can do whatever he wants!

[rogergperkins]

DAP Light weight spackling compound applied on edge of Funky Foam roadway.
Spackling was painted about 10 minutes later with Polly S Tarnished Black.
Brand name of spacking used in Fast'NFinal which is prompted as no cracking, no sanding and fast drying.

[MichaelWinicki]

Here are two images showing several different road building materials that "meet" in one area of my layout:




The second image is the same as the first except I've labeled each of the road building materials that were used:

[M.C. Fujiwara]

What's the best way to weather thinned & tinted lightweight spackle roads?
I've been doing a few test sections, and powders seems to stick to harshly to the surface, and washes just tint the surface darker without any weathering action.
Anyone know some tricks?

[Chris333]

I would try good old dry brushing. If you don't like a certain area you can dry brush the base color over it.

BTW I got most of my styrene cut and some curbs glued on. I'm workin' on it.