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 Posted - January 11 2010 : 4:06:15 PM
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Just curious, guys:
Are you using Homasote or styrofoam as a base to lay tarck on? If so, why did you make that choice? Are you happy with it?
I'm gonna build a couple of 4x2 modules and I'm leaning towards homasote becasue it's quieter to lay track on when running without cork or similar roadbed....
Anyway, i'd like to hear from Y'all about this....
Thanks,
Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 11 2010 : 6:23:40 PM
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on a previous layout we used homasote. At that time I think it was relatively inexpensive. Cutting homasote is messy. Fuzzy fibers all over the place. Also, in some instances when cutting a long curved mainline the leftover pieces of homasote are wasted.
Currently, don't have a layout but, in the planning stages. We are thinking of using mutli-layer strips of brown press board, layed edgewise with cork roadbed glued on top. The main reason for going to this method is ease of construction. I really can't remember for certain but, I think cork will hold rail spikes/ nails better.
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
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Posted - January 11 2010 : 6:34:31 PM
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How is Pressboard different from Homasote?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 11 2010 : 7:15:20 PM
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The dark brown pressboard is more dense than homasote. It cuts more like wood. The thin 1/8" sheets can be curved or flexed to some degree. This would be the support for the roadbed on single track lines, with cork on top. My thinking is that for a yard, where there is a large flat surface, that we may use a sheet of homasote. The blue foam insulation board was considered
but was ruled out. It doesn't hold spikes or nails and homasote is a much more robust material.
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Posted - January 11 2010 : 7:42:06 PM
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What appeals to me about homasote is being able to "temp" a track config. You know lay and "pin it". try and revise.
What aI like about the foam is it's light meaning light frame and also a couple of 1" glued together allowseasy cutting into for rivers, gullies etc. ....
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 17 2010 : 10:00:13 AM
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| i use the blue foam i also think it works best
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Posted - January 17 2010 : 10:50:34 AM
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On one of our 2'X4' N scale modules we used 1/2" plywood with a 1/8" sheet of cork glued on top of it. (it was a module with a yard)
I don't see why you couldn't use foam with the cork sheet glued on top of it.
Then when you get your track plan fine tuned you can cut through the cork and remove sections of it so you can cut down into the foam where you want valleys etc. .
We found the cork sheet at Ace Hardware, it is used as an underlay for linoleum flooring.
Ray
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Posted - January 17 2010 : 11:13:47 AM
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Hey Ray:
That sounds like a good lightweight compromise. How dense was the cork, and what glue to secure the cork to foam... Also are you talking about leaving the cork in place as roadbed and removing all the rest? Or leaving all the cork and removing only where you wanted to sculpt the ground? Finally the cork, did it significantly dampen the sound of the trains running?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
Edited by - romcat on January 17 2010 11:25:47 AM
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Posted - July 18 2010 : 11:05:17 PM
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do a search for Homasote on this forum
It's been discussed quite a bit.
It will pick up moisture in damp areas like basements and eventually deteriorate
I went with 1 inch foam.
now i'm trying to figure the best way to attach the track just to get a feel of the layout before permanent glue down cork bed
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Posted - July 18 2010 : 11:13:39 PM
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| Mine's directly on plywood, but if I was doing it again I'd go with the foam.
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