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Offline DaleSchultz  
#1 Posted : 03 March 2015 17:49:51(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
I have three long platforms that I have constructed out of wood for my main station. They are 64mm wide and about 2.1 meters long.
These are exterior platforms.

I am now thinking about how to finish off the upper surface of these top make them look realistic.

For my indoor, S-Bahn station, shiny platform surfaces are fine, but that wont work for exterior platforms.

I am thinking of these options;

  • Paint
  • printed paper
  • other?



I would like to have some sort of 'safety area' painted on the edge as one sees in the prototype.
Some patches of cement and tar. etc.
I think a paved stone finish would be nice.

What do people suggest?



Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
Offline RayF  
#2 Posted : 03 March 2015 18:05:35(UTC)
RayF

Gibraltar   
Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 15,837
Location: Gibraltar, Europe
I've seen some people use fine sandpaper for the platform surface. The edges can be finished with small squares of paper to represent flag stones.
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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Offline Yumgui  
#3 Posted : 03 March 2015 23:03:43(UTC)
Yumgui

United States   
Joined: 20/03/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,660
Location: Paris, France
Dale,

Don't know of many paved stone platforms ... but maybe they exist.

Most in my experience are concrete or tarred surfaces, concrete having saw joints every 6m² to 8m² or so ...

So for concrete, score the wood accordingly and spackle with a very thin coat of fill plaster ... this will give you the white safety edges first ...

Then, tape the white safety edges and do a second round of spackle with a slight grey color added to it, spread it light to get uneven coloration ... the scored cracks will get darker ... can add darker patches also as required.

Once dry, spray a mat fixer on it all, sand if too shiny, and voila !

Don't have examples handy, but will search ... has always worked well for me in model making ^^.

Y Wink
If your M track is rusted ... DON'T throw it out !
Working on: https://studiogang.com/projects/all
My heavy train station renovation: https://youtu.be/QQlyNiq416A
Inspired by: http://www.nakedmarklin.com/... Am not alone in this universe, phew.
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Offline hgk  
#4 Posted : 04 March 2015 03:27:23(UTC)
hgk


Joined: 10/11/2006(UTC)
Posts: 455
Location: Pacific Ocean
I thought this mixture of materials looks interesting.
https://fatherm.files.wo...2/08/20120831-202826.jpg
-George
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Offline ozzman  
#5 Posted : 04 March 2015 04:23:41(UTC)
ozzman

Australia   
Joined: 23/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,828
Location: Sydney, Australia
Thanks George. Was that Southern Cross station?
Gary
Z Scale
"Never let the prototype get in the way of a good layout"
Offline madhu.gn.71  
#6 Posted : 04 March 2015 04:31:53(UTC)
madhu.gn.71

India   
Joined: 16/04/2014(UTC)
Posts: 738
Location: Bangalore, India
Hello Dale,

If at all you intend to go for a stone pavement, I have a suggestion as shown below. I'm using this as pavement on my layout. It is a soft foam board on which I have carved the embossed pavements using a bamboo skewer.

UserPostedImage

And then painting the pavement grey or any other color..

UserPostedImage
Regards,
Madhu
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Offline kimballthurlow  
#7 Posted : 04 March 2015 06:39:43(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,641
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: RayF Go to Quoted Post
I've seen some people use fine sandpaper for the platform surface. The edges can be finished with small squares of paper to represent flag stones.


Like Ray suggested, I use sandpaper ubiquitously on my layout for paved areas.
Many colours from black, grey, to stone are available.
To get the subtle variations that occur in real life I do three things.
Either
1. Spray hardware-store sandpaper lightly with aerosol paint, to get variable effects with different colours
2. Dip sandpaper in coloured water (usually indian inks)
3. Purchase the fine sandpapers packets like Tamiya, from Hobby stores, where they already have variations in colour through the sheets.

I do not worry about matching colours - paved areas in real life tend to exhibit a myriad of colours and textures.
In this picture, white sandpaper is to the left, Tamiya in the middle, hardware-store-grey to the right, and another similar on the station platform.
UserPostedImage

regards
Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
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Offline hgk  
#8 Posted : 04 March 2015 07:42:01(UTC)
hgk


Joined: 10/11/2006(UTC)
Posts: 455
Location: Pacific Ocean
Originally Posted by: ozzman Go to Quoted Post
Thanks George. Was that Southern Cross station?


Yes as far as I know, which isn't a lot, it's the Melbourne southern cross train station.
-George
Offline michelvr  
#9 Posted : 04 March 2015 15:58:37(UTC)
michelvr

Canada   
Joined: 06/07/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,287
Hello Dale,

I was in you predicament last year when I was trying to figure out how to build realistic looking platforms. The Eureka moment came when I went to the Barrie Model Train show in Ontario, Canada and I found a cardboard Platform kit from Metcalfe, which is made in England. The price; $12.00 and it is easy to find here in Canada.

Metcalfe P0235 OO/HO Stone Platform Kit.

I created the platform by buying a MDF board from Home Depot. The board is 8 feet long and the width is 2 1/2 inches and the height is 3/4 inch. I sloped the sides by cutting them. I even made a water stain which looks like a rain puddle! It fits perfectly in between the tracks and the height is just right! Please note the platforms have not been attached to the layout.



UserPostedImage

UserPostedImage

As the package states:

An extremely versatile platform kit that can be built to virtually an shape.

You can make any of the following from the kit:

Straight platform
Curved platform
Island platform
Bay platform

Best Regards,

Michel
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Offline hgk  
#10 Posted : 04 March 2015 18:43:29(UTC)
hgk


Joined: 10/11/2006(UTC)
Posts: 455
Location: Pacific Ocean
Originally Posted by: michelvr Go to Quoted Post
Hello Dale,

...
UserPostedImage

...
Best Regards,

Michel


Nice looking solution. If I can offer a small modeling tip, use a gray marker pen on the edge of the paper before gluing.
-George
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Offline MikeK  
#11 Posted : 04 March 2015 22:15:23(UTC)
MikeK

Denmark   
Joined: 15/09/2009(UTC)
Posts: 176
Originally Posted by: DaleSchultz Go to Quoted Post
I have three long platforms that I have constructed out of wood for my main station. They are 64mm wide and about 2.1 meters long.
These are exterior platforms.

...

I am thinking of these options;

  • Paint
  • printed paper
  • other?


...


Hi,

I have been using sand/gravel mixed with a varnish/glue/medium mix on my platform:
Platform

You can see the process in this post

I guess you can cut holes in it, and fill them up again with different mixes of colored sand to get patches, actually I might take your idea and try that, it could be a nice touch :)

I also tried just gluing sand to the surface and then painting it (or was it in reverse order, I can't remember...):
Painted sand

I'm not sure how you could get a sharp edge on the "safty area" with any of the sand solutions thou...

A single track on the floor is better than no track at all...
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Offline DaleSchultz  
#12 Posted : 21 March 2015 16:01:41(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
thanks for all the suggestions!
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
Offline DaleSchultz  
#13 Posted : 21 March 2015 16:08:44(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
This looks very interesting... do the card surfaces happen to be exactly 2-1/2" wide or are they wider and have to but cut down?
are the safety margins separate and attached over the main surface?

How much platform comes in one kit?

I bought maple wood instead of MDF and have had them planed down to about 16mm height.

I also see that Metaclfe also has the subway underpass which I am looking for (but I do prefer plastic for structures)

Dale


Originally Posted by: michelvr Go to Quoted Post
Hello Dale,

I was in you predicament last year when I was trying to figure out how to build realistic looking platforms. The Eureka moment came when I went to the Barrie Model Train show in Ontario, Canada and I found a cardboard Platform kit from Metcalfe, which is made in England. The price; $12.00 and it is easy to find here in Canada.

Metcalfe P0235 OO/HO Stone Platform Kit.

I created the platform by buying a MDF board from Home Depot. The board is 8 feet long and the width is 2 1/2 inches and the height is 3/4 inch. I sloped the sides by cutting them. I even made a water stain which looks like a rain puddle! It fits perfectly in between the tracks and the height is just right! Please note the platforms have not been attached to the layout.


As the package states:

An extremely versatile platform kit that can be built to virtually an shape.

You can make any of the following from the kit:

Straight platform
Curved platform
Island platform
Bay platform

Best Regards,

Michel


Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
Offline DaleSchultz  
#14 Posted : 21 March 2015 16:14:05(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
It looks like the PO235 kits may contain buildings and the P0216 kits says it can do 7' of platform but not how wide....
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
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