CzarBLood | 25 Jul 2014 10:27 p.m. PST |
hi does anyone know of a maker of interlocking plastic roads? Cheers |
McWong73 | 26 Jul 2014 2:39 a.m. PST |
There's a Tomica set that was done for toy train sets, and John Treadway has used them to fantastic effect for his Hammers Slammers work, as well as inspired several other folks. However they're cardboard. link |
Etranger | 26 Jul 2014 3:26 a.m. PST |
I've picked some up modular plastic roadsets cheaply at the local newsagent. Designed as a kids playset, they're gradually progressing through the works department. Sadly I can't remember the brand name, but they weren't any one of the 'name' brands. |
AVAMANGO | 26 Jul 2014 5:24 a.m. PST |
I own a interlocking plastic road set which i bought off E-Bay a few years ago, i thought it was the same Tommica road system that John Treadway uses for his great Hammers Slammers scenic battle reports the only difference being the sets that he uses are thick card and the ones that i have are plastic. Well not so long ago i had a good look at my set and noticed that on the underside of one of the road section 'TESCO' was embossed on it, so after going a quick google search Tesco's did actually produce a promotional plastic toy road system which is indeed the same as the one i own. The lanes are 1.5" wide and they are about 5mm thick making them very durable perfect for wargaming. :) Zac
And as im such a nice guy i also done a search on E-Bay last night and as luck would have it i located another set with free postage to the UK i would imagine, see the link below and happy bidding… auction |
John Treadaway | 26 Jul 2014 5:32 a.m. PST |
Avamango I just waded in and bought that plastic set. Thanks very much for pointing it out :) I do like the Tomica cardboard ones. I've had a couple of bends over the years (mostly the tabs) that I've been using them but – to be honest – they get thrown into a soft bag with a gaming cloth so I'll undubtedly pick up a little damage. It's not becasue they're not robust becasue they are pretty daarned stiff and abut 3mm or so thick They do need weathering but so would any item and at least I didn't have to paint 'em! Anyway, it was half an hour with spray cans and spray varnish. John T |
AVAMANGO | 26 Jul 2014 5:36 a.m. PST |
I just waded in and bought tht plastic set. Thanks very much for pointing it out :) Damn John there are no flies on you… |
CzarBLood | 26 Jul 2014 10:02 a.m. PST |
there is a saying in england…you git ;) actually , thats the set I saw this week and played on and inspired me to look. least I can track it down now, John enjoy it. |
John Treadaway | 26 Jul 2014 10:25 a.m. PST |
Sorry guys. I feel bad now :( I will put it to good use :) John T |
John Treadaway | 26 Jul 2014 1:28 p.m. PST |
I'll tell you what, though: I have some review samples in of ready painted MDF roads from Sally 4th that are very nice. Dark grey main tarmac areas with outlined road markings and a slightly lighter grey pavement (ok, sidewalk for the Americans…) which you stick in position to cover the tabbed connectors. I used a white Pilot Supercolour pen to ink in the road markings and: voila – finished city roads (aside from a little weathering) with raised edges/pavements/sidewalks.
link Good kit, if just a little pricey* :) John T * 130mm wide x 150mm long times 4 for £13.75 GBP plus postage. Leaving aside the freight that is almost 60p an inch. It could soon add up! |
AVAMANGO | 26 Jul 2014 2:24 p.m. PST |
JT don't forget to post up a tutorial on weathering up that road system when it arrives, it's always good to see how to's with loads of photos, modeling tips and ideas. |
John Treadaway | 04 Aug 2014 11:06 a.m. PST |
I've given them quick dusting of stuff (paint and so forth). I'll take some pictures and update as soon as I can. John T |
John Treadaway | 04 Aug 2014 12:48 p.m. PST |
OK – this is what I did The ebay delivery was quick and painless and they were well wrapped (which is good). They fit together well and have no missing lugs (also good!). Firstly, I laid them all out on the garage floor and darkened them down with a misting of matt black primer. Then I sprayed patches of matt brown/dark earth (PSC spray can) to vary the tone slightly. I then sprayed a few areas with a mist of the PSC weathering spray, again just to break things up a little, knowing that I'd now need to matt varnish them as that stuff comes off on your fingers unless it's sealed. Then I cut two parallel slots in a piece of cardboard with my trusty Leatherman and two more in a curve shape (again parallel to each other) at about what I judged to be a lorry's axle width apart. I then sprayed skid marks using both the PSC weathering fluid and some more matt black primer through those two slots with the card being held slightly off the surface to allow for some feathered edges. I then sprayed them all with some Army Painter matt varnish (that I wouldn't use on figures…) Job done! This is the set laid out on a (not very useful for photographic purposes…) glass table.
This is a close up of skid marks and stains
A junction with more skid marks
Brake skids
More junction shots
The set is useful for narrower roads rather than the card ones I have. If anthing they are slightly thicker than the card ones (being 'hollow' underneath) but they clip together well. My only gripe is that there are only two junctions – both 'Tee junctions' – in the set I recieved which limits them a little but they should still prove scenic in use. Next time I do a game I'll shoot some in context with some vehicles: the Slammers blowers are going to cover the entire road! John T |
John Treadaway | 04 Aug 2014 1:11 p.m. PST |
Just noticed – in the pics (after the spraying) they look a little obvious where they join: in the real world not so much. John T |
AVAMANGO | 04 Aug 2014 5:19 p.m. PST |
They look fine i like the darker shade and skid marks, i really need to weather mine up at some stage. I was also planning to use a T-junction section as a stencil to make a couple more junctions by useing the same thickness of MDF and simply drawing around it and then taking them down to my local DIY store who would cut them out on their band saw. Zac PS: please don't tell me that you have a red Dalek kitchen unit… |
John Treadaway | 05 Aug 2014 6:54 a.m. PST |
No but I do have a red Dalek in my conservatory.
This one, in fact..
Albeit with my niece and an alien planet in the background. A legacy of a live role playig game we did in the 'Secret Nuclear bunker' just outside of London about ten years ago – my mate built three of them with plans from the Dalek Builder's Guild website dalekcity.co.uk On road sections, I hadn't thought of the MDF stencil option: that's actually a really good plan. I'd thought of butt sticking some pieces (a long and two shorts) into a crossroads but not that. John T |
Patrick Sexton | 05 Aug 2014 7:03 a.m. PST |
John, That is frak'n sweet. |
John Treadaway | 05 Aug 2014 8:49 a.m. PST |
Thanks Patrick. It'd a tight squeeze across the hips (!) but it's very worth it. Well – for those looking in anyway! John T |