My friend had bought many nice road and river pieces a few years ago at conventions from a gentleman who unfortunately passed away. We were sadly short a few important pieces.
I decided to try to duplicate them.
They were made from one eighth inch Masonite.
We had our guy with the power tools run off a bunch of blanks.
For the river sections, I first painted them in riverish colors and put on several coats of Future floor polish to give it a glossy sheen.
I used cheap craft paints., pouring several different colors and then smearing with a foam brush. Smear in the current direction.
To make the banks, I laid down some beads of Gorilla Glue foaming urethane glue, smearing it with Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. Don't get it on your hands. I poured a mixture of sand, gravel and model railroad ballast on it and left the glue to foam up and entrap the … stuff. Paint the banks with the usual cheapo craft paints, diluted and add flock.
I added a dribble of glue going across the river on a few pieces to indicate fords.
I am doing the roads now. They are 4" wide pieces, straight, curved, intersections, etc.
I ran beads of white glue all over and again smeared into an even coat with tongue depressors. Pour medium ballast from Woodland Scenics over it. No larger chunks, since I wanted the road to have an even look. Spray with Rustoleum or other Camouflage Flat Dark Brown.
I am then going to drybrush with Americana Mississippi Mud or other drab brown color.
I am thinking of running some 2" strips of masking tape down the middle and then spraying the edges lightly with a flat green, or just drybrushing green and flocking. I want to match what I am trying to duplicate, so that will determine what I do.
I may add a second layer to the road sides to indicate slightly sunken roads, but haven't decided yet.
These are naturally flat roads, so will not work all that well on hills.
