SUNDAY UPDATE: I started priming the rock and airport runway/tunnel surfaces with grey gesso. For the following coats I will use a more neutral grey to prime everything in the layout. With more primer coats the foam cuts will appear softer and more natural before airbrushing with the appropriate colors and adding turf, etc. I have not glued anything yet - the layout is currently a puzzle.
Tony the consensus best road is black styrene coated with a Ralph Laren gray paint. You can google "The exact shade of gray" this is per DKS.
Road/lane width question: Because I have limited space I am using a lane width of about 10 feet, 0.55 inch per lane, is this a good calculation?
gatorpharmd, Nice little layout you have going! I will be following. I also like the team input, two heads are better than one!
SUNDAY UPDATE: Not many changes from last week. All surfaces are primed with the neutral grey gesso. I will continue priming all the pieces this week with Dervain Matisse gesso background colors, an earth tone (caromello) and lichen grey in preparation for airbrushing and addition of turf. The additional layers of gesso soften the foam cuts.
I had a a wee bit of an issue with my MDF base. Wanting to do a real good job glueing the first foam layer to the base, I ended up using too much glue, even though it was a thin film, the MDF base warped and I learned a glueing lesson. I have been trying to do as much as I can as I wait for a new base, this time made of plywood. I connected most of the track pieces and used temporary power connections for testing. I was successful trimming the double crossover ends to connect it to the turnouts back-to-back; the locomotives are running well. I have not done the cutout for the turntable but so far my measurements have been accurate - all the primed pieces of the puzzle are fitting nicely. I am working on the roundhouse and other structures.
QUICK UPDATE: Construction moving along nicely with the "concrete foundation" for most of the intermodal station in place and the road designs completed. Without the replacement plywood base I cannot move to hide electrical connections, glue track, and start ballasting. I plan to work on the roads this weekend.