Jump to content
 

How long is a piece of sandpaper?


Recommended Posts

I'm thinking of using sandpaper or glass paper as a road surface in 'n' gauge.

 

I've made a couple of test pieces, and with a bit of grey primer and weathering, the results are pretty good!

 

I wondered if anybody has had any success with this method and has any tips on how to effectively hide the joins in the sandpaper sections?

 

The street I am working on is about 3' long by around 2" in width, and although I realise that it's wishful thinking that anyone manufactures sandpaper in strips this length, does anyone know what the largest size sheet commonly available is and where possible to find it??

 

Thanks!

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

Try builders merchants, you used to be able to buy it by the roll.

 

 

Edit: A quick Google found this at Toolstation

 

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p23914?r=googleshopping&rr=marin&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4tWq07eJ3wIVSrvtCh37fgymEAQYAiABE

 

And Screwfix

 

https://www.screwfix.com/c/tools/sanding-rolls/cat6970001

Edited by grandadbob
Link to post
Share on other sites

Depending on era/area I would think that joins could be disguised quite effectively with poorly repaired potholes, inadequately backfilled trenches, tarsnake "repairs" etc. After all, how often do you see an uninterrupted stretch of perfect bitumen in real life?

 

Something else to consider for authentic looking roads is the camber which all real roads have but almost no models do. Whilst you might think that so infinitesimal a curve (when scaled) would be unnoticed, IMHO it does make a difference. Consider laying your road surface on top of a foundation of strips of paper of decreasing width to avoid that dead flat look.

 

Incidentally, I don't know about the UK, but here in Oz it's possible to buy sandpaper in long rolls about 4-6" wide, thus avoiding joints on a 3' length.

Edited by PatB
Link to post
Share on other sites

Depending on era/area I would think that joins could be disguised quite effectively with poorly repaired potholes, inadequately backfilled trenches, tarsnake "repairs" etc. After all, how often do you see an uninterrupted stretch of perfect bitumen in real life?

 

Something else to consider for authentic looking roads is the camber which all real roads have but almost no models do. Whilst you might think that so infinitesimal a curve (when scaled) would be unnoticed, IMHO it does make a difference. Consider laying your road surface on top of a foundation of strips of paper of decreasing width to avoid that dead flat look.

 

Incidentally, I don't know about the UK, but here in Oz it's possible to buy sandpaper in long rolls about 4-6" wide, thus avoiding joints on a 3' length.

Absolutely, once you really start looking at roads - or anything you want to recreate to scale, you begin to notice things that you were previously unaware of. I think if you recreated some of these in model form, people would think you'd gone OTT!!

 

Have a look today, there are wonky railings, leaning street lamps, rooves with green tiles, cars of the same model parked together and strips of pavement too narrow to walk on. All things in the real world that if seen on a layout would hint at an innebriated modeller!

 

I digress. With regards to camber, I was looking at the slats from Venetian blinds, if looked at end on many of these have a slight curve to them, and if thin enough could serve as a base? I was also thinking of cutting patches from the road surface strip, and painting them slightly darker before glueing back in place and then covering the whole in a darkish wash.

 

Ps, if anyone is modelling present-day era and wants to recreate a pavement after Virgin Media have had a go at it, I would just get a black marker, close your eyes and see where the pen takes you!!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

i used sandpaper by the roll for a road on my OO layout and it worked a treat - 240 grit I beleive.  When you finished painting it (I used a thick grey/brown acrylic type paint using tubes from The Works), rub patches down smoother using more sandpaper, add weathering powders and the coarseness soon goes away.

 

If you are modelling a later era, wet n dry superfine grit might be better to represent tarmac. I used the coarser grit to represent roads in rural 1930's which were probably less tarmac and more crushed stone/ash/dirt.

 

https://redstoneabrasives.co.uk/categories/6-wet-and-dry-rolls/12/ does all grades of paper in 1 meter rolls.

post-21193-0-59466100-1544107375_thumb.jpg

Edited by ianLMS
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

I would say so. If you are replicating tarmac, try to get the really dark grey paper. All it needs then is a slight dusting with talc powder to tone it down. You can also cut small chunks out for pot holes, which if you are modelling modern day, would be must!!!

 

Even if you buy the paper in A4 sheets, joins can be masked to look like recent road repairs/pipe laying etc. Staggered joins might look better than a straight across join. 

 

You can get a variety pack of wet n dry with different grades. 1200 might be too fine, wheras 800, 1000 might be better. Go to the local DIY and see what they have.

 

Good luck and look forward to seeing the results!

Edited by ianLMS
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...