modeling highways and roads

Robin Matthysen Jun 3, 2000

  1. Robin Matthysen

    Robin Matthysen Passed Away October 17, 2005 In Memoriam

    834
    1
    24
    Sorry if this has already been a topic but I haven't seen it. [​IMG] The help I need is how to paint the white lines down the middle of N scale roads and highways. The same for intersections. [​IMG] The line has to be hair thin to be anywhere close to scale. The thinest stick on tape I can find is 1/8th. inch which is used as trim on cars. It is far to wide and I can't cut it into 1/32 strips.
    Thanks for any help you can give me.
    Robin
     
  2. Maxwell Plant

    Maxwell Plant TrainBoard Member

    1,087
    4
    29
    WOW! This is great Robin. I have just repaved all my roads on my N-Trak Modules and I am ready to stripe the Highway too! I've been told that "drafting tape" (whatever that is...) [​IMG] is the thing to use. I'm going to a large office supply store to see if they have any and if it's thin enough. If not, I'll try "Staples". Whatever I end up using, I'll let you and everyone else know how it turns out! [​IMG]

    ------------------
    RAILROADING-TO-THE-MAX, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Style!
    Brent Tidaback, Member #234

    [This message has been edited by Maxwell Plant (edited 03 June 2000).]
     
  3. Southern Rail Fan

    Southern Rail Fan TrainBoard Member

    255
    0
    20
    When I painted the lines on my roads, I used some painters masking tape. I forget the exact name of this product, but it is the masking tape that you use when painting your house.

    I first measured the width that I wanted the line to be. Then I lightly traced in pencil where the edges of the line would run, making sure that the distance between the two lines was the original width I wanted. I then placed the tape right along the lines so that when looking down, you would have a piece of tape on the left and right, with the "line" in the center.

    Once this was taped, I simply painted over the exposed area. Since the tape was covering the area I didn't want painted, I didn't have to be too delicate. Once the paint dried, I removed the tape and was left with the lines on the roads.
     
  4. friscoluvr

    friscoluvr TrainBoard Member

    37
    0
    22
    I tackled this problem years ago so there might be more info nowdays. Go to a art type store like Hobby Lobby and ask for paint pencils. They are markers that actually have paint in them in different sizes of tips, including very, very small. The nice thing about these is they come in both white and yellow and you can use a ruler for straights and if it doesn't look right use some thinner to clean it up! Hope this helps.
     
  5. eddelozier

    eddelozier TrainBoard Member

    246
    2
    20
    I found some plastic, stick-um backing strips used for model cars/planes that work well. They are 1/16 of a inch in width and come in almost any color. Forgot the brand name but they come in a roll and must be about 6-7 feet long. Check the hobby shop.
    I use Mainline Hobby Supply 'Asphalt' or 'Cement' roadway modeling compound for my roads. The asphalt looks very good and you can vary the color.
    Use the paint pencil markers to paint the step railings on my diesels. The paint markers give you just enough paint with a nice small tip.

    Eddie

    ------------------
    Eddie Delozier
    PRR N-scale
    deloziers.com
    eddelozier@yahoo.com
     
  6. espee2

    espee2 TrainBoard Member

    144
    0
    23
    Thanks to the computer age, our local drafting supply doesn't carry drafting tape anymore [​IMG] I like the idea about the paint pens [​IMG] I used pin-striping for radio-controled airplanes from the hobby store, can't remember the size, but it looks good, I think if you were able to find a scale size, it would actually be too small to see (would look wierd)

    ------------------
    espee2
    Home: www.tunnel13.com

    layout: SP's Newberg Branch in N scale
     
  7. JohnC

    JohnC TrainBoard Member

    66
    0
    19
    Robin,

    If your're interested in drafting tape,
    Check out Charrette's website. Charrette is a graphic arts and architectural supply company. They have a great retail store too in Woburn, MA
    www.charrette.com is their web address.

    Good luck, I was wondering about how to paint the lines too...

    John
     
  8. Gats

    Gats TrainBoard Member

    4,122
    23
    59
    Another possibility may be an adjustable drafting pen. They are like an old ink nib that has a small thumbwheel for adjusting the width of the aperture between the 'jaws'. I guess you can so it looks like a bird's beak.
    You see them in some compass/protractor sets.

    I have seen HO cars lined using these and it was effective.

    Gary.

    ------------------
    Gary A. Rose
    The Unofficial TC&W page
    N to the Nth degree!
     
  9. eddelozier

    eddelozier TrainBoard Member

    246
    2
    20
    Haven't tried it but, maybe a heavy undercoating of white or yellow, then cover with road color. After dry just scratch off the top coating with sharp point to make any shape or size lines show through. ?

    ..Eddie

    ------------------
    Eddie Delozier
    PRR N-scale
    deloziers.com
    eddelozier@yahoo.com
     

Share This Page