Making road sections

[Centurio Marcus T]

Gday all Just wondering if anybody had tips on how to make dirt road sections that would be suitable for WW2 games.Any help would be very appreciated

Cheers Marcus T

[Colonel White]

Oddly enough I was thinking on similar lines to get a 20mm WW2( Normandy) gaming board ready. The thing I was thinking of was using either plasticard (expensive) or card coated in PVA glue (to make it more robust) and then "painting" it with a Pumice gel mix (sand and PVA will also probably work) and finally paint up the normal way. The key thing here would be to make all your road ends a standard size so they would marry up correctly when laying the roadway out on the board. Just my thoughts so far.

[Centurio Marcus T]

Cheers Colonel I was thinking maybe thin MDF board cut into straight sections about 3-4 inches wide and 8 inches long. For the surface perhaps plaster of paris but think PVA glue and sand as you have suggested may be a better option.Thanks for your help

[mikeland]

You could try running track lines (using a blunt pencil or match stick) down the pumice gel or sand/pva mix in the direction the road is going. This would simulate the multiple vehicle tracks and churned up dirt if you want to create a more dirt road/ muddied road look.

I wouldn't advise using card unless it is very thick because it tends to warp with the PVA/paint.

[Centurio Marcus T]

Thanks Mike i was wondering how to simulate tracks good suggestion I will use MDF or maybe vinyl tiles cut into sections this will be this weekends project and i will let you know how i go

[Colonel White]

I am not sure about vinyl tiles . I would imagine the surface could be too shiny for paint or pva glue to be applied direct. If using these tiles you would need to rough them up with glass paper first. Otherwise I would be tempted to use cork tiles.Another material I am currently looking at ,going back to my railway modelling days is using cork or the new Woodland Scenics HO track bed.Both these tend to come in rolls and would need flattening . Both could have potential .

[Big Al]

One of the tips I remember from Military Modelling 20 odd years ago was to take a couple of jeep or lorry wheels in the appropriate scale and temporarily glue them to an axle made from a tooth pick or similar. Then run this back and forth over the wet 'roadway' a few times. Naturally you would have to make the axle to a similar width to the vehicle and you will need to clean the wheels occassionally, but the tracks that are engraved into those wheels will show up on the roadway. It obviously works better with the larger scale vehicles as they are more likely to have deeper tread patterns on the wheels. The same thing can be done with a piece of spare tank track and use it as a stamp.

[Cubster]

I've used a toy car before to make cart tracks in wet milliput.

[Centurio Marcus T]

I have some cork tiles i picked up for making buildings so will try them to see how absorbant they are Great tips for wheel/tracks i have some of my sons toytanks and cars.Will give it a go on the weekend thanks chaps

[Colonel White]

In theory you should be able to seal cork tiles with PVA glue .When dried then apply your sand,pva mix or pumice gel.