Model Railway Forum

What do people use for the hardstanding for steam engine sheds? I am going to build a 2 lane shed most likely from the Metcalfe range. How am I best to replicate the concrete that it sits on and how do i replicate concrete between the rails without causing fouling? Finally, how far in front of the shed should the concrete come out to, should it be one locomotive length, or more?

You can infill with mounting board card or balsa but on my latest effort I covered my shed floor with DAS air drying clay. Pressed it in flush with the sleeper tops between the rails and smoothed out everywhere else with a wet artists knife - just below the rail tops.
It can be scribed with concrete joints and cracks and takes paint well.

Consider installing Peco inspection pits... https://peco-uk.com/products/inspection-pit2

I used balsa.

I used plasticard together with the Peco inspection pits.

IMG_1095 by Barry Clayton, on Flickr