Tips for Creating Model Train Roads

Jim Hertzog had no choice but to master concrete model train roads for his Reading Railroad layout as they are typical of Pennsylvania. Concrete can be tricky to recreate as its subject to cracking and breaking over a period of time. Jim has developed a simple method of creating concrete roads by using styrene and Floquil concrete paint. In this segment of the Reading Railroad series, Jim demonstrates how to create a weather worn highway.

Model Train Roads

Jim begins with a piece of styrene and sprays it with a base coat of Floquil concrete. Then, he shows how to divide the styrene into grids. Jim simply estimates when marking the lines, as measurements do not have to be perfect. Using a black pen, Jim creates cracks and imperfections into the roadway. Jim explains that the amount of imperfections is up to your liking depending on if you want to have a fairly new highway or a highly weathered one. For the most realistic look, he suggests focusing the cracks near the joints because they are the most heavily used areas of the road. After, Jim shows how to sand the styrene to blend and eliminate harsh lines. Streaking the styrene with anthracite coal dust is the final step. Jim demonstrates how to apply the product to get a dusty appearance.

Model train roads can complete the overall look of your layout. There’s numerous methods to create roads in a layout and experimenting will only improve your skills. With Jim’s technique, you’ll masterfully recreate your own weather worn anthracite highway in no time.