Road surface material

[ajcooper4]

I am about to start laying roads. What materials do people find most useful for this task? I've read many things from paint to fine ballast and now can't see the wood for the trees....or road.

Advice gratefully received. Thank you.

[Brian]

There are many choices... Fine Emery cloth. Printed sheets of Tarmac roads either purchased ready made or down loaded from the WWW and home printed. Textured spray paint. Fine grade Belt sanding sheets painted once laid. Painted card/wood/MDF surface are just a few examples.
Personally I like the printed Tarmac sheets but it a very personal choice.

[ajcooper4]

That's really helpful, thank you. On some minor pathways I have used very fine grade wet and dry paper which looks quite good because it marks easily - like a normal pathway. Perhaps I should just extend this to the roads.

This is a friendly forum and advice freely given - thank you.

[cheshire lines]

I used printed card from Metcalfe, but Emery paper or wet and dry may be better as it has a bit of texture.
To try to make mine a bit more realistic, I bought a sheet of manhole and drain covers from Sankey Scenics.

[bulleidboy]

I used Redutex self-adhesive road surface. There are various surfaces, but it is textured and has drains and man-holes (can we say that ) incorporated in the surface. Not cheap, but it looks very good. IMG_0627 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr

[teedoubleudee]

Looks good BB.

To the OP, I was going to add that fine wet n dry paper looks just like newly laid tarmac.

[RogerB]

Looks good BB.

To the OP, I was going to add that fine wet n dry paper looks just like newly laid tarmac.

Which is what I have used. Lightly brush some talc into it and you’re good to go.
R-

[glencairn]

Remember once the road is made it is different shades of colour. Everything is not perfect. A 'patchwork quilt' of road repairs (and some repairs not done). Potholes, broken paving. Country lanes with new chippings (Use fine ballast). White line that are different shades of fading. Oil spills. etc. etc.

Glencairn

[footplate]

When I try to produce a road surface I seem to favour good old wet and dry paper. I find it paints and weathers up nicely and you also have the added texture.

[Cliffyg]

I use cardstock and emulsion paint ( tester pots from b&q )