ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
For my first quick layout I'm going to experiment with using celotex insulation board on top of a 36" x 80" HC slab door. I've used celotex to build model airplanes on for years. It's cheap, soft, and the perfect density to push and hold pins into it and then easily pull them out when needed. This stuff is the lightweight brown fiberboard....NOT foam nor MDF. I get it at lowes building center.
My idea is to either glue or pin atlas track directly on top of it without the hassle of cork or foam track bed. Then if the noise level is acceptable ballast the track and experiment with some minor landscaping ground cover and just have a beginner flat track scene with a few buildings.
If it's not too noisy I think it will look more realistic and take less time than using a raised railbed. Is anyone else doing it this way?
I'm not sure I'm quite ready to give up on cork rail bed yet, but I'm totally diggin the idea during the design stage when trying to tweak out the track plan before setting it down perminately. I'll keep my eyes open for this stuff.
Good point. Maybe if I paint it and/or use powdered foam ground cover over adhesive it will somewhat stabilize the surface. When I get it perfected I might expand the layout with additional door modules. Going to make a support frame under the door from 1"x4" pine. These slab doors get wavy and droopy without good support.
I had started my layout in accord with the directions in Model Railroad's Step by Step book from Kalmbach in 2007. Followed all the steps for getting risers, mountains, river, lake etc. A lot of cutting and reforming and regluing. Very intense. Then I happened to go to Woodland Secenics web site and reviewed the videos. One on there Sub-terrain system of layout development looked interesting. I had to do some major modifications on my layout (sloops too high for trains to put more than one car) so I attempted the WS Sub-Terrain system and it was fantastic. It was easy, adaptable, and presise. I would highly recommend that everyone review the WS videos on their web site and if you need to do a layout or make modifications go with Woodland Secenics. By the way, I do not work for WS. Have fun....Harlan
Hwy railfan, I'd do like was suggested, paint the celotex prior to laying track, a good coat of latex pain ought to solve the dusting problem. Personally I like a 2" thick sheet of styrofoam, like celotex, it's easy to push pins into, and secondly, it is easy to create lower areas like rivers and lakes, or add pieces for mountains. This is a hobby so have fun and dont let any of us talk you out of it, give it a whirl and let us all know how it turns out.
