How to Build a Realistic Model Highway

In this video I show you how to build a realistic model highway. I am working on the North Texas scene on my layout and needed a two lane model highway. I used some techniques that I have never demonstrated before to build this realistic model highway on my model railroad layout.
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Contents:
0:00 Intro
1:07 Mock Up and Template
1:36 Laying Out the Highway on Styrene
2:05 Cutting Styrene
3:15 Texturing the Highway
5:31 Joining Styrene Sections
6:10 Painting the Highway
6:40 Masking and Painting Highway Stripes
8:55 Applying RR Crossing Decals
10:06 Weathering the Highway
11:33 Modeling Cracks in the Highway
12:00 Completed Highway
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Credits:
🤘 Theme Song: "Extremes" by the Lemming Shepherds
Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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[@RonsTrainsNThings]

See more techniques for building realistic roads and bridges by following this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5CteamsfL90pbs

[@wranglerboi]

Your information has been a time-saver for me. Before I cut the Styrofoam all the way through--and often ended up with a mess. But using the scoring technique is a breeze--even on curved cuts. Thanks for the info.

[@SD45-ET44AC]

I love watching you not only work but you come up with some pretty good finishes.

[@miketate3788]

This is a great video,. Instead of the thin foam board, I used Woodland Scenics paving system… really liked your method for doing the road striping. Thank, Ron!

[@allenwilson8913]

That’s a great job of mimicking a Texas FM road

[@Perfusionist01]

Very interesting! I, too, have been following Boomer Dioramas videos and it has been very interesting to see the use of some of these acrylic media for scenery. I have often seen these at local craft stores and wondered if they might be useful but the prices deter random experimentation. Boomer has been very nice about explaining some of these pastes or mediums, and it helps a lot.

[@darrenlogue9654]

Hey Ron Hey this is Darren from Wisconsin it looks pretty darn good there buddy so I just thought I'd it's nice to see you finally have a video off so I'll talk to you then have a good day and happy rails

[@ADPeguero]

Nice work and thanks for the tips.

[@boomerdiorama]

Great looking road Ron! I like the separate component style of the road over the terrain. Much easier to move around for establishing balance and composition. The Pumice Gel works great for "other" concrete surfaces as well. Cheers.😁

[@PS-jr1yq]

The legend...What a surprise..Someone learning something from the Legend Boomer...,

[@ericcoughlan]

I also learned about the fine pumice gel from Boomer and have already used it in a couple of situations on my club's N scale layout. I used Boomer's water flood method to apply the acrylic paint to give that slightly varied base colour for the tarmac appearance. I also did some playing with the extra coarse pumice gel and found that it is great to simulate a rough rock wall. It does not look so good when first applied, but when dry gives a very good impression of a rock wall. I will now look at getting some of that artist masking tape, as you made it look so easy to apply the road lines using it. I think that we all need to look at some of these artist materials for our scenery - after all, we are really making 3d art, so why not use stuff made for artists.

[@VSLAModelRR]

Nice highway Ron. I used the same medium over hardboard for my I-5 Highway scene. It does a great job of adding subtle texture and tooth, and you are correct, it doesn't show in video but does in real-life. I think I may try it on Styrene as well for my next road. Thanks!

[@HumancityJunction]

Thanks for sharing these techniques.

[@alainaarrhodge5900]

Great job Ron!! Very impressed by your masking job. Hope you and your family are healing well.

[@tommynorwood5184]

Those are some good tips on building realistic roads. Thanks for sharing.

[@ProScaleModels]

Looking good my friend - and glad to see you back in the sadle.

[@joesestito4342]

Looks fantastic, nice job Ron ! Thanks for sharing !!!!!

[@ronec2092]

Looks great.

[@jhoodfysh]

Nicely done Ron. Good to see your post.

[@huongtoituonglai24]

Beautiful sharing very good video thank you 🍨🍨🍨

[@schadowolf]

Excellent video/tutorial!

[@SJ.Qhknmkk]

I’m so happy you made this video! I was thinking about making roads soon

[@steamy1225]

Awesome looking road. Will have to try that myself. Thanks

[@williamflowersrailfannerpr3808]

Great work Ron

[@mikehowey4869]

The road came out looking great! Those are some very good techniques you shared!

[@MMRails]

Looks great Ron! It’s funny, when you finished I asked myself, why use the gel substance and then you answered that question right after, as if you knew I was going to ask that. Thank you.

[@542643131]

Great looking road Ron! I like it and I Love Midwest model railroading

[@mikrofreak2898]

Hey Ron just sitting at home trying to get over Covid-19.. seen your video and it was what I needed to get back on to my layout to finish some little projects that needed buttoned up...You are my favorite N scaler! Thanks again for another great video!

[@TheNorthwestWind]

amazing work

[@codyrapp7253]

Nice I use construction paper for my micro layout looking good can't wait to see it when it's done.

[@andrewsegers7942]

This looks fantastic! Your videos are so informative and inspiring. Keep them coming!

[@TriGogglin]

Thank you Ron. This was a very informative video, im a long way off from doing any roads but I will definitely keep this as a reference. Thank you..

[@gncascadedivision]

Great how-to, thanks for sharing! The road turned out great and ends up looking clean yet used, not simply like it was freshly poured. Iain

[@Pauley_in_GP]

Great video. Fantastic technique. I'm going to steal it. ;)

[@chrisscott8934]

Hi Ron there a lot of highways to choose from like Big City highway and round about highways and there also county and the signal highway like your doing is much better and sometimes its easy

[@AbelG8781]

Love the early videos! I'll stick to smooth it since styrene costs an arm and a leg these days but the gel is definitely amazing!

[@gerlandkent6377]

[thank, you for youre video]👍

[@kennedygauger4680]

Another great video. Some very practical and helpful suggestions. Instead of putting spent hobby blades in soda bottles, put them in a sharps container, designed for this. These can be purchased at Costco or other pharmacies for a nominal price. When full, most pharmacies will see to there proper disposal, usually at no cost.

[@vincenthuying98]

Cool highway Ron, yep Golden products like the coarse pumice gel really make a difference.

[@gvet47]

It all came out real nice abd wish it was possible to see the surface texture more. I just have not seen such an angled rail crossing.

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Wow! Excellent job & video as usual. I tried a similar project, thinking it was great, until I realized I did the reverse side. I may try building a road on the layout, if that doesn’t work then I’ll try this way. If you have bleed under or other imperfections, it looks like the real world. Thanks!!

[@jeffharbin3221]

Bullwinkle Really enjoyed the video. Learned a lot. Have you discontinued your coffee mugs?

[@jcltnc459]

Thanks Ron for another how-to video. Just wish you paid attention to your Patreon community - nothing new in over a year.

[@jasonOfTheHills]

Shout out to Boomer Diorama! Same - have learned SO much about artist tools and materials from him.

[@kylewalker2160]

Great video as always Ron. Can you share where you get those large pieces of styrene?

[@IMRROcom]

Maybe something like the The Wondercutter S Ultrasonic Cutter (Item #: 88195) from Micro-Mark might of improved your experience.

[@katherinemorey6517]

Hi Ron, I love your work on the layout. I'm a new subscriber to the channel on this account and I have been a subscriber to the channel in my aunt's account. Her name is Cynthia. I call her Cindy. I can't tell you her last name for her privacy.

[@CSXEK]

I made my HO scale road with just black duck tape or grey duck tape and got metallic marker from Walmart and boom you got a road and I love roads I’m adhd and autistic

[@trainfan92756]

Hi Ron how have you been doing

[@Bs_Railroad]

Could you do a road video in a city scape. I'm modeling ho and can't figure out how to do the road and install sidewalks and buildings.

[@Makitaization]

I've been checking roads around me and none of them have a streak down the middle. Just all the same color.

[@mzyvettecrenshaw9670]

Your realistic highway is far different from mine. I give you a A+ for effort, but I'm a big time fan of the Faller car system. A road for me can never be realistic when you have vehicles sitting idol on the road doing nothing. I can't see how people put so much imphases on a layout, but can't or won't make it more "realistic" by having moving vehicles.

[@NyGreggUSA]

Would have been way easier and faster to lay down the yellow stripe wide first. cover it with one of the size tapes. paint the gray, pull the tape off....waaalah

[@donaldshroyer8633]

The result looks great. But since the center line looks almost half the width of the vehicles, calling it "ultra" realistic is a little too generous.

[@denisestevens6492]

Hi Ron. Well I have been watching yr videos and loving them. As I am new in this train scene/dioramas etc. I seek yr assistance as what do you recommend I view to learn from and get techniques as a new starter. Thankz heaps Ron. Do dig yr channel and all yr tips etc. Best of wishes to you. Cheerz Denise W.A.