Streets and Roads Part 2

In part 1 I talked about the materials I use to create roads on my layout.  I'd like to continue this subject with a it more information.

On the module above, my road climbs 4" to a higher level of the town.  This is a complex module with tunnels for track and for the road, as well as incline for the road.  All of this must be completed before I seal up the hillside.  

I used Woodland Scenics 4% grade foam risers for the base of the road, the cut and glued balsa wood for the road surface. 

I painted the road too early.  I should have waited, but I wanted to verify the color.  Anyway, the next step was to install a metal guide wire I each lane of the road.  This wire will allow me to run a Faller Car System at a later point.  The Faller system is used to animate the cars on the layout, allowing them to drive, stop, turn, etc.  I will write more about this later.  For now, I marked out the center of each lane, used a Xacto knife to cut a groove in the road, then inserted the guide wire.  I used super glue to hold the wire in place, then filled the gap with wood putty.  Once it dried, it was sanded and the road was painted.  

I have to make sure the guide wire is installed correctly.  Once I close up the hill, it will be difficult to access.  

Streets and Roads

Building a model train layout requires many hats to be worn, sometimes more than one hat at a time.  These hats can include:  dreamer, artist, civil engineer, traffic engineer, landscaper, architect, electrician,  financier, and many more that I'm sure I'm missing.  

I think this post falls under the civil engineering hat, the designing and building of streets and roads.  Some train layouts don't leave much room for roads, but I think they are an important part of completing the scene.  

On my previous layout I used 1/16th thick 4"x36" balsa wood for my roads, and with great success. It's easy to cut, easy to paint, and gives a nice texture to the scene.  I received many compliments on my roads, so I'm continuing to use balsa.  Why mess with success.

Once my roads are laid out, I just cut the balsa accordingly and glue to the foam using general purpose wood glue.

Many model railroaders do not add any road materials to their crossings, and I have never understood this.  I think they are afraid it will hinder or obstruct the running of trains through the crossing. If done correctly, trains run just fine and the crossing looks more realistic.  I generally build my own grade crossings, but more and more pre made products are available all the time.

Here is a three way intersection with crossings and a sloped road to the right.  Notice the battery being used to weight down the road until the glue dries.  

I use Ceramcoat paints for my roads.  For this layout I will use dark grey on the main roads.  This will eventually get weathered and road markings.