Heya, Folks,

I'm thinking about a project with an utterly destroyed asphalt blacktop...

Any ideas as to how to recreate it? Of course, plaster comes to mind, maybe laying it out on a baking sheet then beating it up with a hammer or screwdriver...

I'm just worried about the white of the plaster absorbing a hundred coats of black paint...

Anyone got any better ideas?

Many thanks in advance, Folks!

With Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

Check out this dio blog should help a bit
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/170525&page=1

Hey Johnny - I just added a short segment of pretty beaten up asphalt to a build I'm currently working on (1/35 truck fab shop in the dio section).

I'm sure I didn't invent the method but here's what I did - picked up a roll of 1/8" thick cork shelf liner(? I guess that's what it is?). Get a marker pen and draw out your desired pattern of "abuse" on the cork sheet. I kept at least some of the sheet intact. Carve out the little chunks of "asphalt" with a knife. When you're done you'll have a pretty carved up base - and keep all the little cut out chunks!


I then primed and painted all of it (main sheet and little chunks) with acrylics (airbrush) - for ease while painting, I taped the little chunks onto a box - too keep them from blowing away -

Next - glue your "big" sheet down to your base - add tufts of grass and some of the little chunks into a few if the holes you've carved out. Finally, brush model railroad track ballast (I used HO scale) - you'll glue the ballast in with a blend of white glue and water - the grass makes for a country lane, not urban street.

If you want more depth in the ground you could either get thicker, or double up the cork....

If you decide to go with plaster, you can hit the surface with a primer or sealer coat first - that will reduce at least some of the absorption of your paint. Once you get it painted you might want to hit all of it with some modeling powders (Bragdon? I think) versus pigments. While I'm sure you can do this with plaster (especially for non-destroyed asphalt) this could become a bit tricky for both carving out sections and illustrating depth - usually 2-4" asphalt, some base aggregate, then dirt) That said, I'm sure somebody here has nailed it before -

I'm sure there are lots of ways to do this, but the cork worked out for me - about 2 weeks ago!

Cheers
Nick

Do a search for potholes in the UK and you can get all the reference you need.

Hi Johhny,
Do a search for Adam Lehmann"that ussie in Iraq"post.
Like all of his dio,he does a great job on the road using floral foam and plaster.

Tom

Thanks, Guys!

I really appreciate the help!! Of course, I phone up the local Michael's craft store for some cork, and the clerk says, "We just sold the last two pieces of cork..."

No doubt, a fellow modeler who read your helpful tips! Will definitely get my hands on some cork this weekend (maybe I'll just start right now by pulling some out of a bottle of cheap wine... )

Thanks again, amigos!

Johnny B.