How to Model Ultra Realistic Roads

How to make model realistic roads using plaster and paint. It is very easy to come up with realistic results with just a few simple steps. I have struggled with plaster roads in the past as I have never managed to get the plaster right. This time I used the Woodland Scenics' learning kit and the foam tape provided sets the plaster at a perfect height. Once the base is down, painting and weathering bring it to life.
You can see the materials used including links on my website:
www.kathymillatt.co.uk/2021/0...
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[@Chromaz]

To do a UK road you would have to pour the plaster, then smash it to bits and then lightly pour some gravel on

[@RotneybotOfficial]

Sounds like Illinois roads. :(

[@PieAndChips]

Don't forget the obligatory Asda shopping bag and cigarette butts in the gutter and a roadkill pigeon.

[@colossalbigfoot256]

Could be like San Fran and you’d have to add 💩

[@BIM40K]

Oh don't forget to gouge into it and fill with faux water. Mustn't forget those obligatory 2" deep potholes! :)

[@AlleghenyNorthern]

Love the added detail with the road markings. I work in construction as a project manager in the US and we have to call a service prior to starting work to mark out utilities, orange for general construction markings (typically where to start, stop, and how deep when milling or digging), yellow for gas lines, blue for water, purple for telecomm, red for electric, etc. it's so when we dig, we don't interrupt a service or create a hazardous situation. never thought to add that to my model roads but it's an excellent touch!

[@BIM40K]

Just discovered your channel. Your road looks fab! I'm in the process of making a broken up road, for the first time.

[@KathyMillatt]

That sounds fun!

[@johnodonoghue7381]

Another great Job Kathy

[@HighEyeWorkshop]

Really nice video and a great model. I always admire people with clean cutting mats. I don't know how you do it.

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks Merrick. A lot of scrubbing is the answer. And new mats!

[@PieAndChips]

Witchcraft!

[@LucyZart]

Your plaster mixing tip is so useful. Thank you!

[@egyptian316]

Former utility locator here! The most common utility marking codes are red for electric, yellow for gas, orange for communications (telephone and television cable). You will sometimes see blue (for water) - these should always lead from one fire hydrant to the next, or from one water meter to the next. You may also see green (for sewer) - this will almost always be right down the center of the roadway. When something off the road is being marked, you will sometimes see the marks on the roadway itself, with arrows indicating direction and distance, as you showed in the gas marking you painted. This is basically done so the workers don't ruin the marks as they go, and lose the location of the utility. Finally, white will sometimes be used to designate an area for future utility work - usually just drawing a corner with arrows pointing to the other corners of the 'box', so the utility locators know where they need to locate. All utility marks will have letter codes for the utility that the service belongs to. For example Comcast would generally use CCTV. Qwest used to use QLN (Qwest Local Network). Gas will have the letter code (in my area in Washington State it's PSE for Puget Sound Energy), as well as the code for the type of gas line. For example you would see 1-5/8 IP which is the size of the pipe and IP for Intermediate Pressure. Sometimes you will see a run of marks with smaller dashes on each side. This is done for 'high profile' services, like fiber optics, high pressure gas, or high power cables like 750 feeder. Basically, the extra marks show the workers that something REALLY IMPORTANT is buried there and they have to give extra leeway when they dig. When power/gas/communications cross under a road they will sometimes have to cut a trench across the road, which will later be patched with black asphault and tarred at the edges. Something like this may lead to a phone or cable box, a transformer, or a power vault (big steel doors flush with the ground, surrounded by concrete). Gas tends to be run under the edge of the road, where it's unlikely to be dug up. You'll see small round metal covers over the gas valves - anytime a locator comes to one of these they'll usually give it a fresh blast of yellow paint. Thank you for attending my TED Talk.

[@KathyMillatt]

That was a great talk! Very helpful. Thank you.

[@ajkleipass]

I'm a native New Yorker and some of those white pavement markings on Washington St. have me scratching my head. As for the colored pavement markings, those are either indicating where underground utility lines are, or are guidelines for whatever project is planned. And that's about as much as the average person would know - or even care to know. You did an awesome job recreating a most unusual roadway in NYC. ❤

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks a lot.

[@keithkarbel2000]

Colored paint marks the utilities underneath (yellow gas line, blue water line….). Nice work as usual.

[@PaulinhoThompson]

Nothing better on a Friday night than watching one of your brilliant videos. Thanks for the insightful entertainment 👍.

[@peaks4719]

That’s a super job , mixing the plaster nice one didn’t know that , you skimmed that well laying the plaster really good end result 👍🏻

[@mattsmith6514]

I love your use of picture frames as the base for dioramas.

[@johnkelley9877]

I plan on using the Woodland Scenics Road Building System so your advise and tips are very helpful. I will watch this again when I make my diorama. Thanks for sharing this.

[@BoomerKeith1]

I learn something new from every one of your videos! The approach to mixing plaster is brilliant! Love the look of the final piece.

[@4monkeystyle]

Kathy, another awesome video. The road looks great.

[@kenspriggs5687]

Beautiful work! You are a master of small scale dioramas!

[@Boylei]

Some awesome techniques to remember! Great video, Kathy!

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks so much.

[@davidorf3921]

Hi Kathy, 2 little points, 1. Don't use a flexible steel ruler for wide roads, as you drag holding either side over the tape the centre will be dragged by the plaster causing it to curve (usually downwards) leaving a dip along the middle of the road when if anything you want the road higher in the middle to give you a camber so that it drains towards the edges. 2. Most places put modern road markings on using a thermoplastic material that bonds to the surface and lasts much better, this leaves a uniform slightly raised, very hard wearing, really solid surface, (more out of the way places or private roads/parking might use a spray can ) Also it's probably double yellows down the centre of the road not a single white. Finally the different colour road paint is likely to be for different services, gas, water, telecoms, steam etc Each utility will likely be allocated its own distinct colour, this helps when digging up the road so the guys digging up the water don't accidentally also dig up the power Hope this isn't too critical as I really enjoy your excellent scenery videos.

[@2H80vids]

As Kathy mentioned, the road markings/lines will vary from country to country. As one example, you won't get yellow lines down the centre of a UK road. 😁

[@davidorf3921]

@@2H80vids correct, however she also said it was a New York Road, Washington Street, however looking at dear old google whilst one end of Washington Street does have double yellows down the middle, there is a good section as per Kathy's white lines so I'm happy to say I was in error on that

[@richardwilliams232]

Fantastic job and great tips! Thanks!

[@DMRJ]

Super tip on the masking tape. I have always had a problem with the tape sticking. I also alter the 2 to 1 mix a bit to eyesight.

[@hyperian_one]

Truly fine artwork!

[@joannesminis]

Love the video as always and I love the idea of this for a piece of wall art

[@rwh09384abc]

Wonderful job yet again!!!

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Lovley work Kathy a very realistic result when done and it was simple to do also! - Nicholas.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

The yellow and orange lines are located marks. Orange markes communication lines, yellow marks natural gas. You could add red to mark underground hydro, blue to mark water/stormwater and green for sanitation lines.

[@Mapplewell_Park]

Looks like I’ll be investing in some make up brushes!! My road is currently a work in process on my layout and is just a black textured paint road which needs some realism and weathering adding to it. This video was a great reference and help 👌

[@KathyMillatt]

Brilliant! Glad I could help.

[@yootoob7048]

Nicely Done, Kathy.

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Kathy, It took a lot, but what a fantastic finish, it looks like a photo, All the Best Brian 🤗

[@awblenko]

Excellent tutorial - thank you!

[@CHESEABUN]

That is an excellent method Kathy. Not gone down this route ( pardon the pun) creating road surfaces. I have used the Woodland scenic asphalt black which is ok for fresh laid roads but roads are mainly grey in reality. Really like what you have done here. The foundation brush really seems to work with the distressing of the surface. I have used a pastry brush before. Cheers Richard.

[@stephan4ever64]

It looks like a photo. Very good work.

[@MikeThomasRailRoadOverhaul]

That looks fantastic.

[@Vman7757]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I think I would add a couple rubbish cans. I think you call them. We call them Trash cans. With a little trash on the ground around them. This looks real. Thanks again.

[@ThePeejRR]

Very nice! Some good tips here, thanks.

[@cub60]

Awesome video ! ! Thanks for sharing your process and tips. For the strange road markings you described - they are most likely Police Accident markings. When there is an accident, especially one where there is a fatality, a police accident reconstruction team will come to the scene and completely mark(with different color paints) where the cars were located, direction of travel, initial impact of the accident, and many more details. All of this will be used to determine facts of the accident in case there is litigation from the accident. Some of the markings you drew out appear to be the type of accident investigation markings I have seen. Thanks for sharing all your modeling skills with those of us learning.

[@ronm6585]

Thank you Kathy.

[@chrisroeben1085]

Love the tip about using the masking tape before the foam tape. A tip back at you. When leveling the plaster, don't drag it, screed it. Use a back and forth side to side motion as you work from one end to the other. This is the same motion that you'll see concrete workers with use with a board before using a bull float to finish the surface on smaller projects. Highway projects is a whole different animal with its own unique equipment. And the different color lines are for underground utility marking prior to someone coming along and digging in that area. Red=Electricity Orange=Communications (Phone, Cable TV, Fiber Optic cable) Blue=Water Green=Sewer Yellow=Natural Gas Interestingly if you decide in the future to model a work site where underground utilities are being installed. Plastic water pipes are a light blue, sewer pipes are a light green, and natural gas lines are yellow. Always Enjoy your videos. Chris Roeben

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks. All really useful but I love that back and fore tip!

[@crazyfvck]

Excellent! :)

[@DeickFranfan]

Fantástic super genial 👍🏆👌

[@robertjensen1438]

Hair dryer works really well to get the insulating foam off.

[@KathyMillatt]

Good to know that. Thank you.

[@dougsundseth6904]

For details like manhole covers, you might consider resin 3D printing. They would be really fast to print and a cursory search brings up STLs for a wide variety of sanitation districts.

[@KathyMillatt]

I have bags of them... somewhere... but if I was starting again, I’d 3D print them.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

Good video keep posting videos up lee

[@nkiey]

If you superglued a bright red sports car on there it would fit your wall perfectly...

[@KathyMillatt]

I like it!

[@wargamesgeek1334]

Just found your channel, really informative and great content. New subscriber 👍

[@rujv200]

You are going Duncan Rhodes there with your "two thin coats" antics.

[@KathyMillatt]

I had to Google him but what a great channel, thanks!

[@2H80vids]

Some neat techniques there Kathy and a very effective result. A copy of "The Highway Code" might be useful for copying road markings etc and, I seem to remember, there's an online version too. Not criticising you, but I always feel these kits are a bit of a rip-off. As soon as a manufacturer prints "Model Railway" on a product, it's an excuse the add a couple of 0s to the price. I'd guess that all the components could be found in a hardware store. They will be in larger containers, for way less money. 😁 That's one of the great things about videos like this: you show us what's in the kit. It's up to us then to find the various products. A bit of research could save quite a bit of cash. Of course, it's quite possible that I'm just tight-fisted and miserable.😂 Cheers for now, Dougie.

[@KathyMillatt]

You can certainly get the foam tape. I bought a big reel on Amazon. Just needs to be 1.5mm foam tape. It’s usually used for draught excluders.

[@RichardHartness]

Wow, that's an awesome job. This actually looks better than Luke's!

[@KathyMillatt]

His look amazing! Thankfully it’s not a competition.

[@normanrowe2831]

Hello Kathy. The finished piece looks like a framed photo of a road section. Wonderful. Thanks.

[@ErzgebirgsMoBaHO]

That looks very nice. However, I would have kept the paintings on the street a little more subtle. Thanks for the video. Greetings Tino

[@sjaakmcd1804]

So where are the pot holes and cracks every couple of feet, and where have you seen white and yellow lines as ours vanished yers ago? Another great video as usual.

[@pepleatherlab3872]

Another really great diorama Kathy. Thanks for the content.

[@eBiCrafter]

its beautiful road... really realistic road

[@AzraelThanatos]

I've largely done modern roads with a finer grit sandpaper rather than plaster. It tends to work quite well and is extremely quick to do.

[@stephencameron4032]

Hi Kathy, thanks for another lovely video, the finished results are stunning as always, in the past, if I have made plaster road surfaces I have mixed in black powder paint, so that it doesn't show white if it chips, also, I'm a road worker by profession, and the ceiling strip of bitumen is called overbanding, but these days we are not encouraged to do it, as, if the overbanding is too wide it can be a skid hazard for motorcyclists. Many years ago, we'd just finished re-surfacing the main street in a nearby town, and literally, as we were loading our equipment onto the trucks, the gas board, the electricity company, and the water boards were digging trenches on the stretch of road we'd just finished, you couldn't make it up, anyway, stay safe, all the best from Scotland, Stephen

[@KathyMillatt]

It always amazed me how quickly they dig new roads up.

[@stephencameron4032]

It must come down to communication, or the lack thereof.

[@stephencameron4032]

Hi again, Kathy, just me filling up your comment section again (sorry), I've just noticed that the gulley grating you used is actually two in one etched fret, I'm not criticising, just saying you have the option of having two gullies for the price of one, although you do see them doubled up, and I'm not sure what they're like in America, so, no big deal, like I said, I'm not criticising (I wouldn't do that), stay safe, all the best from Scotland, Stephen.

[@KathyMillatt]

I like the look of the double and they’re supposed to be that way, it’s not a grey to be divided.

[@stephencameron4032]

@@KathyMillatt Agreed, it does look kinda cool.

[@IainHamilton]

Fantastic as always and learned a lot. BTW- do you have any videos on a) Painting stone such as stone stairs! b) Painting fur such as on a Werewolf? Got a brill 1/6 kit of Oleana the Werewolf Queen and stuck on her fur and the ancient stone staircase base. Not asking much in the end🤔 Thanks for any pointers.

[@KathyMillatt]

I don’t have anything on fur but any of my rock techniques would work on stone stairs.

[@KathyMillatt]

How to Paint Stone or Stucco Buildings

[@KathyMillatt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpCrd2NnlM9ngaM

[@IainHamilton]

Thanks for the help - very much appreciated.

[@SimonLivertonCentral]

Hi Kathy, another excellent video. I will be building a town scene that will be about 10ft long, with a road going the full length and small sideroads. I think this kit may be too expensive, is there a cheaper way of producing the same results? Simon

[@KathyMillatt]

Definitely, use foam tape 1.5mm thick. It’s generally sold for draught excluders. You may have to experiment with plasters but you could definitely use normal plaster too.

[@cuebj]

Moisture Resistant MDF probably better. You can get 3mm thick but usual minimum is 6mm. Don't model but been caught out by hardboard swelling when used as packing on some diy and I grabbed whatever I had

[@KathyMillatt]

I normally seal both sides which eliminates a lot of the issues.

[@JAFKARNAT]

Superb as always. What is the type of ruler with the squares and metal edge ?? Keep up the good work, and keep posting.

[@KathyMillatt]

Acrylic ruler with metal edge from Amazon.

[@JAFKARNAT]

@@KathyMillatt thanks Kathy, time to go shopping. 😃😃👍

[@KathyMillatt]

I love mine!

[@tipi8340]

It looks like a road photo. Wow! 👍

[@glen9651]

Another brilliant tutorial many thanks Kathy

[@colossalbigfoot256]

I still think the method you showed previously is better. Albeit more work.. but I understand showcasing these new products I seen showing up in hobby shops. I’ll continue using your previous road techniques.

[@KathyMillatt]

I’ve shown about 10-15 methods so which one do you prefer?

[@colossalbigfoot256]

@@KathyMillatt HOw To Model Tarmac using Grit is the most realistic in my opinion. Like I say it is the most work but I think it yields best result. I didn’t realize all the Tarmac vids you had till I went and looked for the title 😂

[@KathyMillatt]

Thanks. Good to know which ones people like best.

[@craziej2k1]

Why do you dab the white on for the road markings instead of using strokes? - Also where do you store all your pieces? You must have created loads over the years!

[@KathyMillatt]

I dab to not drive the paint under the masking tape. I have bookshelves full of them. 😁

[@maxbrandt6]

This would make for a nice display base for car models, I'm guessing this is about 1/25 scale.

[@KathyMillatt]

It’s 1/87 which is HO but would easily scale up.

[@robertmccornet]

Just what I needed, I want to do some roads, perfect timing!

[@andrewstevenson5449]

Can't help but think the video could have been called "Kathy overcomes the Woodland Scenics road building kit to produce an ultra realistic road. :D

[@KathyMillatt]

That made me laugh!

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Enjoyed the new update today.Hope there more to come soon.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Do you use buttons for man holes

[@KathyMillatt]

I’ve never done that. I’m not aware of any that have a manhole pattern on them.

[@fasold2164]

Why not use fine grit sanding paper?

[@KathyMillatt]

I don’t like the joins between pieces of paper but otherwise it’s a great technique.

[@cjh7234]

How the hell are there dislikes? Anyways great video and got new sub :)

[@KathyMillatt]

Thank you. There are always dislikes. That’s just life.

[@cjh7234]

@@KathyMillatt yw and very true ,thanks for sharing your content and ideas :)

[@wulfricstormcloak21]

Where can i find a round manhole cover?

[@KathyMillatt]

These were etched brass but I’ve had them for decades. Langley Models perhaps?

[@wulfricstormcloak21]

@@KathyMillatt thank you Kathy for the info!much appreciated

[@wulfricstormcloak21]

Found them!thank you Kathy

[@mtb0519]

Have you not seen the trick for masking you put it down paint the colour that's under then the white an it's ment to leave a lovely neat line not tryed it yet only seen it the other day on Instagram reels lol

[@KathyMillatt]

I don’t find it bleeds that much and I’m too impatient to paint the extra coat! I use Tamiya masking tape on important stuff and that’s brilliant.

[@jeffholt9437]

Heavy Metal ruler causing problems? Try a Soft Jazz one instead?! Sparkling comedy aside, some great tips here and looking at actual streets on Google Earth - genius!!!!

[@KathyMillatt]

Thank you!

[@keithhorning7753]

Nice but kind of a shame to not make it a part of a diorama.

[@jimmynuetronrblx8628]

I dont understand why the white line on the right of the hatching is broken, it makes no sense. There typically solid, so thats weird.

[@KathyMillatt]

It’s copied exactly off the road…

[@jimmynuetronrblx8628]

@@KathyMillatt im not saying you did anything wrong, you did a great job, im just wondering why they made it like that in the first place.

[@gregy797]

Brilliant job again ! if this road is based on a main road outside of London it should be full of potholes.

[@KathyMillatt]

It’s New York but no potholes in this stretch.

[@gregy797]

@@KathyMillatt if anyone is doing a diorama set in the UK its a good tip for a more geographically realistic touch , streight away you go 'ahh' that's in London or visa versa.

[@KathyMillatt]

I don’t think London is the only place in the U.K. with potholes.

[@moctezumavargas3360]

Turtle..

[@stocktonjunction]

Ive got room on my walls in the new model railway shed if u don't have room lol 😉

[@alanritchie9781]

I love a girl that's a modeler? Hard to find women in the hobby. Building stuff in miniature.

[@KathyMillatt]

Sadly, you’re right. It’s a great hobby and I do wish it appealed more.

[@markkershaw5747]

Genius idea to use masking tape under that stupid white tape.