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Streets and Roads, Part 2 of 4: Storm Drains

Storm drains might be considered trivial by some, but they're more than just a detail: they not only add realism but also help establish the scale of a scene. I made nearly a dozen of them for Naughtright (limited by the etched brass details I had on hand—which weren't even storm drains, but spare parts from a European porta-potty kit), so I had to find a way to mass-produce them, since I couldn't finish them in my lifetime using my prior technique.

One also needs to consider the placement of drains. Being logical about this heightens realism because, while the viewer might not consciously notice, subconsciously they'll accept them better if they appear to serve their purpose most efficiently. In towns, they're usually located at regular intervals; however, in places where there may be extra runoff, such as at the bottom of a slope or where streets intersect, there may be extra drains.

Also note that the drains I made closely match the size and style typically found in the northeast, particularly in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. While there are plenty of variations, most of them measure roughly six feet long by three feet wide. However, drains vary considerably in size and shape according to region, so it's best to do a little field research before breaking out the X-Acto knife.

Storm drains consist of three main parts: the drain box, the curb inlet, and the grate. Yet one may wonder, why go to so much trouble to make such a complicated assembly; why not just glue the grate into a recess right on the street? It's not a matter of being a purist about modeling; the reason is that, from certain angles, one can actually see through the grate, and when it's just glued to a solid surface, it looks hokey. The solution is to make a box, much like the real thing, the inside of which is painted before adding the grate, as one can also see inside the box!

The drain boxes were made by fabricating a custom piece of styrene channel stock, which I cut to length using a Northwest Shortline Chopper. The channel consists of five pieces bonded together with liquid cement: the outer sides (.020 x .060 strip), the inner sides to support the grates (.020 x .040 strip), and the bottom (.010 x .125 strip). After cutting the boxes, front and back pieces (.020 x .060) were bonded in place.

The curb inlets were made in the same manner as the boxes, consisting of three pieces of strip styrene: .020 x .040 sides and a .020 x .125 top. These were sliced into .030-inch-wide pieces to match the curb width, then bonded to the tops of the drain boxes.

Next came the initial painting. The assembled boxes and grates were brush-painted with Floquil Grimy Black. When this was dry, I bonded the grates onto the boxes with CA, then applied a liberal coat of Doctor Ben's Weathered Rust. Because this rust patina easily rubs off, the drains were sealed with Testors Dull Cote.

The final step was my "secret ingredient." To give the grates the look of old worn metal, I rubbed graphite powder onto them with a small, stiff brush. At that point, the drains were ready to install on the layout in slots I'd pre-cut when making the streets. Being off with the installation didn't matter; indeed, occasionally I was deliberately a little "sloppy," as real storm drains often tilt and sink with age, and the road surface around it becomes uneven. With the drains installed, I cut and fitted sections of curb in between.

It all sounds much more involved than it actually was; I finished all ten drains in two evenings' time. The final effect was well worth that investment!

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Here's a typical 1:1 northeastern-style street storm drain for reference.

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A length of custom styrene channel is bonded together.

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The channel is cut into pieces to make the drain boxes.

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Strip styrene pieces are added to make the fronts and backs of the drain boxes.

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Another styrene channel is sliced into thin pieces to make curb inlets.

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The curb inlets are bonded to the drain boxes.

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The boxes and grates are painted separately, then bonded together.

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Finished storm drains are installed into notches cut in the styrene streets.

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Storm drains and curbs add realism and help establish the scale of a scene.

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