I posted this in the HO forum, but as the questions could well be answered by other gauge modellers, I repeat it here I need to get my main street done on the layout. I understand that each lane is 10-12 feet, plus say, 5-6 feet for each sidewalk? In the east, say Maryland, Pennsylvania, etc. in late steam era (1951), would the road likely be concrete or ashphalt? If concrete, what is the easiest way to produce it, and what is the spacing for the gaps in each section of concrete. Maybe concrete would be easiest to reproduce, so I hope this is the most likely one Any info. would be great, including things like kerbs, drains, inspection covers, etc. Pictures of modelled roads would be good TIA.
Alan, Standard Right of Way was 60 feet for new construction, but could be less for existing structures. Standard lane was 12 feet--plus 6 feet (more or less) on either side for shoulders and drainage. In many cases 40 feet was the existing right of way. In 1951 in USA, you would see more asphalt than concrete.I'd guess that concrete was the preferred material from the 1930s through 1942; then asphalt from 1945 onward.
Thanks Pete. As I am limited for space, I will only have shops along one side of the road, I think, and trees along the other side. This will allow me to have a wider, more realistic road.
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you can get more out of mainstreet if you shoot for Small Town, which will allow you to have narrower streets...unless there is horses, those need their space...
Thanks Gary and Benny. I may not call it main street, but probably Station Street, this way does not hint at a main thoroughfare, so could be a bit narrower. I am assuming I am modelling a smallish town, but evan so, American small towns still have wide roads, compared to here in the UK! (You have much more space to spread out)! Do all roads have a wide shoulder in addition to the actual paved lanes? This adds quite a bit to the width. Will do some experimenting with the buildings I have so far, and strips of card to get a feel of things. May post pics of the results, before embarking on modelling the road. Any suggestions on how to make an HO asphalt road?
Thanks Darren, I had looked at RailImages "how to" but didn't see the option for full size and thumbnail it refered to as being above each image. But then I'm not the most skilled computer guy around! Alan, I'm at work now so can't take the time to mess around trying to post other photos here, but they are in my Rail Image account. I like to use styrene for my roads, both asphalt and concrete. In one of the photos you can see the strip styrene I use to create the crown in the road. I use .020 for the road, on top of a wider strip of styrene which serves as the shoulder. Sidewalks and curbs are styrene sheet and strip as well. If you view the pics fullsize you'll see it better. I've also used spackle for roads, take a piece of styrene sheet and cut/file an indented arc on one side, use this to scrape off excess spackle and leave a crown. This method allows potholes and such more easily than styrene. Gary
