Street - Roman Cobblestones, N Scale

A cobbled street in N scale

Cobbled paving gives a scene age faster than anything else. In N scale, though, it would be hard to imitate by hand, because the individual stones are smaller than the head of a pin and the irregularity of the pattern cannot be scribed at that size. A ready-made strip gets round that problem and brings a continuous paved area.

Where it fits

In the old center of a town, on a square, between terraced houses, in a courtyard and on the approach to a station building. It also works well as a contrast: a cobbled street next to an asphalt road shows at once which part of a scene is older. N scale, that is 1:160, belongs to layouts where long runs through country are planned for and less room is left for a town.

Laying and finishing off

Level the surface, dry it and remove the dust, because in a small scale every unevenness shows on the surface. First lay the strip in dry, check the direction of the pattern and the joins to the areas around it, and only then fix it according to the manufacturer's instructions. You adjust the shape and the length with a sharp knife against a steel ruler; make the cut in two passes, so that the edge stays clean.

Color fine-tuning

A thin dark deposit runs into the joints and separates the stones, while a dry brush draws out their tops. At the edges of the street suggest dust and moss, and in the middle, on the contrary, a worn, smoother trace.

Terms of supply

The package holds the strip with paving. A surface, the paints, curbstones and the other accessories of scenery are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.