The Triple Whammy! O-Scale Track + Street + Scenery How-To 

It took a LONG time to put this together and I worked really hard to explain every step thoroughly, so please watch the entire video before asking any questions. Links to the various material websites are in the video description above. Thanks and enjoy!

That was an outstanding "how to" tutorial! I learned a lot that will add to my growing repertoire of scenery building techniques. Thanks so much for the obvious time and effort you unselfishly put into sharing your creative skills with all of us. It's podcasters like you, Chris, and Norm who so enrich this wonderful hobby!

Eric Siegel: the Bob Ross it model Railroading

@ERIC'S TRAINS - you fix the STREET better than the Construction crews fix the STREETS in NYC. LOL! Big compliment coming from a NEW YORKER born and raised in NYC. LOL!

This is such a major help! Also thank you for getting back to me on Facebook! I do appreciate it greatly. Taking notes from this.

Eric, many many thx for sharing this incredible method, you used your brain to come up with this method of blacktop roads. I just finished my demo and waiting to dry, but so far I'm more than impressed. Last night I was thinking, this looks messy but it wasn't and it goes further than you would think. I put down black sandpaper for my streets and parking lots. So last night I glued down a strip of sandpaper on a sheet of wood I had and this morning ran to the hobby shop to grab some ballast. So I just put it down right over the top of the sandpaper on the demo piece. So later on today, I plan to start laying asphalt lol.....Outstanding!!

Looks like I’ll be redoing some of my roads! Thank you!

I want to add a note at 7:00 - unless you plan on buying a certain color, you do not need to spend much money on paint. Many places like your local home depot will have a corner shelf of "oops" paint where it is made with a color for someone and it was rejected whether it was by an accident, wrong order or color . This would often lead the paint to be sold at about $5 a gallon which is normally a fraction of the price. There is a good chance there could be "earthly or natural" colors made up from coffee brown, mud, dirt, to forest or grassy greens, even blues for the skies. Just ask a local store employee for "oops" paint and see if there is a color you like before picking.

Eric, the Bob Ross of model railroading!

15:34 water is wet, confirmed the Eric himself!

I'll be watching this video OVER & OVER & OVER whenever I get to this phase/stage. THANKS PROFESOR ERIC!

Eric, you NEVER cease to amaze, thank you. I learned quite a lot from this...again and will be using some of these techniques for my National Capital Trackers (NCT) 2' x 4' train modules. Great job of slowly explaining each step. As an almost 60 and retired US Air Force dude, I really appreciated.

at 31:35 the glue/cinders combo looks like blended up oreos.

Eric, I've watched your videos for years and always wanted to know how you made your roads. This how to was excellent. Thanks for making it

Wonderful video. Very thorough and provides countless ideas and techniques.

Thank you Eric! I have been waiting forever for this video!

A clock overlay of some sort would be a great addition to your outstanding videos. Something to ground my expectations on how long the work takes an expert to do. Still my go to channel for all things O. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

Great video Eric! Your system really looks realistic! Thanks for sharing!

Awsome. Great video. Lots of useful information. You are like the Bob Ross of model railroading. Cant wait for next how to or product review video.

Eric, well done. We've all crossed this road many times. Thanks for the short cuts........

I dont have space for a layout so i live vicariously through you . However I do do wargaming as a hobby so I like to watch for scenery tutorials because that is helpful for me.

Great video! This was extremely helpful!!

I am brand new to your channel and I selected this video mainly because I figured it was a great way to learn/see what you were all about and to find out what kind of modeler you are... Well, you are a top-notch modeler that's for sure. My hats off to you... You also have a new total fan right here. I'll be viewing as many of your other videos over the next few days/weeks as I can.. Awesome stuff and thanks SO much... I'm in modeler/train heaven!!!!

Outstanding tutorial, that is some great modeling! I watched the whole thing in one sitting! I will probably use this method of making roads on my next layout. Yes, it is also very nice working on model railroads during a thunderstorm or rainstorm. Keep up the good work!

Thank you very much Eric. I am one of those who has been waiting for this video. I love how realistic it looks and how versatile it is.

Eric you have helped me build my 18 by 6 layout with all your expertise thank you!

Nice video!

Good job it turned out nice

Great Ideas!!! Thanks Eric!

Outstanding ! Thank you this segment huge help .

Great work Eric! This has given me some great tips for my layout.

Ericsntrains - The GOAT!

Definitely pretty neat how you make the roads. I cant believe how far your layout has came Eric! Seems like you still ballast the same way you did 10years ago or so. One of the first videos I watch was how to do ballast. Amazing! Keep up the good work.

My Home Depot (Delaware) carries homasote board. That's where I got mine. As far as paint goes, check the 'oops' section where paint was not mixed/colored correctly and they sell it at a greatly reduced price. I got a gallon of a quality latex paint for $10.

Great explanation on this road construction!!! Looks very realistic!!!! Great job Eric !!!

Another great tutorial...just like your past tutorials on mountains, tunnels, track and switch installation, and more.

Thanks for showing, when I build a layout in my bedroom ima make roads like this

Thx for the video Eric. I don’t have a full layout yet, but I can already tell that this will help me with making a good layout.

Thank you so much for these how to videos!

This is fantastic! Thank you, Eric.

Great video I plan on doing some of my roads like this in a bit. I remember you showing this method on a live stream years ago.

Love the construction scene. Great video. Hope your staying safe.

Websites for the materials used (flexxtrack, ballast, etc.) would be good to put in the video description vs. scrolling through the video. Thanks for the great how-to!!!

Excellent model work! Cool!

Thanks for the tutorial eric! Finally applied this to make a parking lot for my model cars, and it looks great!

Thanks for the video Eric! I tried this technique immediately after you showed your newly done roads a few years ago. The only thing I didn't do is put the foam road bed under the cinder/glue material but applied it directly to the tabletop. The one thing I felt was missing was the "lip" on the edges of the road, which you said you really liked on your roads. I too, really thought it looked great. Now I know that is where the height of the road bed comes in so that you can put some of the mix on the edges as well. I will use the roadbed the next time I do "new" roads.

Thank You Eric

You might say you are not an expert but you created some pretty good strategies for the scenery

I enjoy your videos, they are very detailed and you take your time to explain what you are doing also you must plan the video out thoroughly well in advance because you speak very clearly and you are easy to understand so a novice like me can follow along. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

Hi, Eric. I'd like to truely thank you for this video. (Just so you know I have zero experience in Model railroading my layout right now is bachmann E-Z track (with a digitrax controler that has yet to come in to my local dealer) on a desk for testing until I join my local club) I found it very helpful!

Ive gotta try this on the S&S layout to replace all old painted roads i think the layout would look amazing with modern roads like these.

I started model railroading January 2020, and deciding which technique for road building has been a big obstacle. After watching dozens of videos, I felt this method you developed, Eric, would give the best results with relatively little cost. Last night I finally pulled the trigger and gave it a try. If I have learned anything this year in MR is "trust the process" and that was especially true here. It was terrifying! Is this the right consistency? Oh my god, if it going to stay this color? Will it solidify? Is it ok to pull the border tape now? Well, in the end it turned out great! I am so thankful for your video and sharing this awesome technique. One aspect I appreciated was the apparent self leveling of the mixture. It starts a light grey color, but dries as black as you would want your asphalt to be. I left overnight and it dried perfectly. To others...trust the process! Eric, thank you again for your hard work.

Great Video. Thanks for sharing your ideas Eric. I tried this out. Instead of WS Cynders I used black sand from the dollar store. I also mixed some sand colors to get a look of old paving that turns light grey. Pics are on the OGR forum under Erics entry of the same topic.

Great I did something like that but I did ask you several years ago at York. Thanks for the video. O I like your way of doing street and will try to improve the street of my layout. Be safe

So many great ideas! Thank you

I live on a country road in my state of Louisana and our rr crossings some don't have asplalt we have the old school wooden crossing .The wood you used were used for grade between the tracks glue them to railroad ties .Make them look like they are old stressed wood the trucks will clear them. Most are used for private driveways when they are called for off main hyws LA.Ricky

Love the layout hope u are doing well

Great method, I might even use a trowel to smooth the whole road width when I do mine just to see how it works. Thanks again.

why do i feel like Eric had a fun time destroying the road to make that little patch

Thankyou for sharing your knowledge Eric.

An awesome how to do video, love your layout and all the videos you do, I am just starting to collect MTH, Lionel O Gauge but it is slim pickings over here across the pond in England.

Wow I’ve always wondered how to do this. Truthfully I thought in was real asphalt I love the construction scenery. Keep it up Eric thanks for that awesome video thanks 😊

GREAT VIDEO ... love to see the different techniques ... this one seems a little labor intensive ... I find that these days I don't have the patience to labor through it ... however, it does give a realistic look ... great texture ... I have used 3/16" cork and textured finish card stock (matte board) ... loose lay or glued down ... painted as appropriate ... the last word as YOU have suggested: EXPERIMENT

Hi

This is actually quite relaxing to watch. Nice work.

What a great job, very well done and explained, thank you.

I live near Menard's (Illinois) carry's foam wood and I don't know about homasote though

Awesome awesome video. I'm definitely doing this to my Railroad. Thank you very much sir.

Very informative video. Thanks

Gotta give it to ya nice work that construction scene was pretty cool.

Glad to finally know how you do your balest

Homasote is a fantastic product as Eric notes it’s in the $30+ price range. It is produced to be sound deadening product. I found a similar pressed paper product when I searched for Homasote called soundboard. It works as well, at least in my opinion, as Homasote at about $9+ a 4’x8’ sheet. It has a smooth side and a “not so smooth” side. I put the not so smooth side facing up which gives a nice “bare ground” look you can work with and has all the other properties of Homasote. As with Homasote it soaks up fluid so I painted it with an inexpensive shade of brown latex paint. Just another option if cost is an issue as it was for me. And Eric, thanks for the tips. I can use them.

Thanks for the video, excellent as always!

Wow, nice video👍🏾👍🏾

I figured you used ballast to make your roads. I do the same but normally use mixed grey which I also use for gravel roads. I paint the roads black which hides some of the mistakes. I thought I was the only person to make roads this way.

you had did a great job

Would love to see a video about crossing gate. Would be a great implement to signals video you made few times a go

Excellent review Eric!!!

A clear and concise video. Very clear instructions. A nicely made "how to" video. Thank you, very much appreciated. Think it will work on matboard or foam core?

these tutorials are great

Great Video👍

Is the background music also some EricsTrains originals? It's pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Fantastic

Would you consider slightly banking curves to assist trains from tipping off when flying through a curve.

Excellent video demo....thanks for sharing ...Could you have used 4 binder clips to hold your wooden spacers in place w/o using the glue?

Sad to see the sharpie marks go! I think they were from one of your, how to install Atlas Signals series. Lol not sure why I remember that.

This video was so helpful thank you Eric I'm moving right now so this gave me ideas on how I will do the layout thank you. And one question how should I do it with classic lionel tubler track?

That's awesome work Eric. Your asphalt mix is spot on. Any suggestions on an alternative my son and I can use for the under bedding? Thanks in advance!

Where do you get the in/out beveled road bed? P/n?” This looks AWESOME!

Eric, This is an excellent video! Thanks so much for producing it. Do you have any hacks for renumbering Lionel postwar engines? I know you don't run them but I could use the ideas. Thanks again.

Eric have question?. Which would be better for some what beginner.. Legacy or just the lionel regular remote.. I want to get back into the trains.. Its been awhile.. And you are very knowledgeable... And i like the way you explain stuff.

Hi Eric.Awesome video. I have a question about the roadbed. Could you please let me know both of the part numbers you ordered for the roadbed, as the ordering form is a bit confusing and I want to make sure I order the same ones you used in video. Thanks and keep up the great work.

Thank you for the info!!

Eric you should review some n scale stuff

First! Love your how to’s!

Woodland scenics also has roadbed like that

I've used ceiling tile. You can even get them for free with a store remodel

Was that a heisler locomotive on that bridge behind you in the beginning of the video I can but can’t tell at the same time

When is the next layout update?

Once again, you hit this video "out of the park"! I know this has been asked for all the time by our club members and talking about it doesn't do justice unless you can see the entire process! Thank you for sharing and if anyone wants to see my train layout and projects, check out my channel. I will be releasing new content soon!