I posted this over on our Sister Site AutoModeler, and I received some interesting answers (from sandpaper to coffee grounds). I figured I'd post it here too (ok, bad form, I know) because there are a lot of great diorama guys here that might not get over to AutoModeler. So, here goes.

What is the best way to simulate an asphalt (aka: asphalt-concrete & bitumen) road surface in 1/25 scale? I'd like to make a base to display & photograph my truck models on. How about concrete for sidewalks or concrete roadways?

Thanks,

Jim

how about cobbles? much more aesthetically pleasing than the ole mac
otherwise sandpaper i suppose, or mr surfacer

I suppose cobbles might be prettier than asphalt, but there aren't many cobble stone streets in the US anymore outside of maybe Boston, or some walking districts in some of the big cities. Interesting idea, though. I am working on a LN8000 delivery truck, and they do allow delivery vehicles down those walking districts in the early AM for delivery. Well, some places they do.

Jim

I once saw a great article once about using ground cat litter, plaster mixed with glue and black (or dark gray) paint, and a rolling pin to simulate asphalt in 1/35th scale.

hmm, where did i see that? FSM?

Jim
Maybe try this. Put down a thick layer of Ehlmers, then sprinkle on a thick layer of coffee grounds. Let it dry throughly and tip the base over to let the loose stuff fall off. Then put on a layer of Cell-u-clay and press if flat and very thin with your finger so you see the texture.
I did this base

Using this method. Except I used clay cat litter and rolled it with a rolling pin, like vance mentioned. This pic is supposed to be a packed dirt road but I did do a regular road surface using the coffee grounds (unfortunately I don't have pics of it) and it came out fine.

Hope you find a solution.
Bill

Edit: if you copy the picture to another program where you can zoom in, you'll be able to see the road surface better. Sorry about the pic.

Bill,

That dio looks really nice. Looks just like a packed dirt road.

The problem I'm having is with the texture. It seems to me that highways would be generally smoother than secondary roads or parking lots, due to higher speeds. One would hope your not driving at highway speeds in the parking lot! This is just an assumption because I've never actually gotten out of my car on the highway to look at the road surface. Is there really texture to asphalt? Would you see it when you scale it down to 1/25? I would think it would be pretty smooth.

That coffee grounds idea is intreaguing, though. I might have to try that.

What about concrete? How do you simulate that?

Jim

Woodland Scenics make something for the model railroaders to simulate asphalt roads, and I would imagine it is suitable for all scales, IIRC it goes on like spackle compuond.

Woodland Scenics? Really? I'll have to take a look at that. Might look a little small in 1/25, but then again the Evergreen 1/100 diamond plate is just right for 1/25 trucks, so you never know!

Jim

Jim
Liquitex makes a product called "ceramic Stucco Texture Gel" It is a paste that has very very find sand in it. A thin layer of that might work.
Also, as you mentioned in your opening post, sandpaper might work. Particulary 60 grit after it has been used for a little bit, so it isn't too rough.

As far as concrete, I actually used the back covers from legal pads. Usually they are already an acceptable color so I just lightly cut small gooves in it and weather it. If it needs some texture I'll throw some spakle on and stipple it with an acid brush.

Here is an example of that:

youc clould use bricks as in a driveway, but i dotn think it would be suitable, if you are doing a highway will you try and represent those shiny black sections (worn away road?) and cracks along the edges?

Jimmy, The plan is to do something like this, but not on such a grand scale:

http://timstrucks.web.aplus.net/fourlaneroad.htm

I posted this question on a truck modeling forum, and Tim responded that he just painted the plywood with white, black, & gray spray cans. Looks pretty good too, and it's probably a little "toughter" than some of the applications discussed here because of what he uses it for. And his road is big (2' x 8').

Biil, you use the back cover from legal pads for concrete? Are the cardboard?

Jim

Jim
Your right Tim's road does look good! Are those1/25th?
And yes the back of legal pads are cardboard, about a milimeter and a half thick.

I have a ral simple and effective method, you just need some mounting card (from good art shops) and some games workshop rough coat undercoat which comes in a spray can.

cut the mounting card to size, then spray with the rough coat (which is grey), the paint has a fine sand in it so produces a very fine texture to the card, which looks just like asphalt.

easy

HTH

Keith Forsyth

Bill,

Tim works exclusively in 1/25. He has about 250 trucks in his truck room (mostly Peterbilts), which he had to add onto his house! Browse his site, his work is quite amazing. He's actually done some box art work for Lindberg.

Jim