Getting roads to just ruddy lay flat
Cobbled Roads - the messy option
As mentioned in the last update, I wasn’t overly convinced with the ‘gaps’ between the cobbles. I’m looking to improve the look slightly and need a flexible filler that will continue to allow the road to flex while doing the job of a filler. I’ve turned to acrylic decorator’s caulk. I’ve even managed to find one that comes in brown – I’ve no idea why it comes in brown and I can’t think why anyone would want a brown caulk used in their decorating but then perhaps I’m just very set in my ways.
Regardless, it should do the job nicely. It is however incredibly messy and sticks to everything, so make sure you have some paper towel handy before you start otherwise you’ll be wiping caulk from every surface you touch (this is the voice of experience talking!)
The wallpaper is fairly robust but spreading the caulk using a traditional metal decorating tool is likely to be too harsh, so as you can see in the picture, I’ve used cardboard. This seemed to work well.
The next steps were the same as the un-caulked version – a heavy wash and then, when dry, a dry brush with a grey. You can see the steps below.
This to me looks a lot better as an approach. While it is not quite as flexible, it is a lot more robust and should help protect the wallpaper from any damage. The ‘stones’ also look as if they are set into the road as well with much less pronounced gaps. So this is the way forward and I’ll get cracking on producing a lot more to enable a table top of roads.
Great work weeding out the problems off flexible roadways @redvers
Thanks @Zorg. I think I’m just about there with a solution that works for me and easy cheap and easy to produce!
The brown caulk is used to blend in with wooden window frames.
Ah, another of life’s mysteries solved!