1:35 Urban Concrete Barriers

Concrete barriers for an urban scene 1:35

A concrete crash barrier block is one of the few features that sets a scene in a city and in the present day at once. This set from Vallejo contains such barriers in 1:35 scale for dioramas with checkpoints, closed streets and secured entrances. It is not a kit and not a finished model — it is a scenic feature that is painted, weathered and settled onto a base.

Working with concrete

The key to credible concrete is that concrete is never uniformly gray. Start from a light shade with a hint of beige and break the surface up with several thin filters in both cooler and warmer grays. Only then comes the dirt. In a city it runs from the top down: dark marks below the upper edge, lightened edges, and dust from the roadway toward the bottom.

Placing and weathering

• Do not set the barriers in a perfect row; a slight rotation and different gaps between blocks look more real than a ruler.
• Let the lower edge sink into the surface — filler or pigment applied in the gap removes the impression of being laid flat.
• Suggest edges worn by vehicle impacts with a lighter dry brush and a few sharp chips, not over the whole area.
• Work with pigment from the bottom upward and only in layers; concrete buried in it loses the legibility of its shape.
• If you want a wet surface after rain, seal the barriers with a matte clear coat and add gloss only in spots in the recesses.

Who the barriers are for

For builders of urban and contemporary scenes in 1:35 scale, for dioramas with military and police subjects and for anyone who needs to bound the space of a scene legibly. They also serve as a natural backdrop that covers the edge of a base.

The feature is intended to be painted and set into a scene; it is not supplied as a finished tableau. Paints, pigments and a base are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.