laying track?

[CircusFreakGritz]

Hey!

When you guys lay your track and cork, do you glue it or use nails? Will the nails stay inside the cork or is the cork too soft and the nails just come undone?

ALSO, I'm thinking of using that heavy-duty foam material as the base for my layout, not plywood. Do those black track nails come undone easily if nailed into that type of foam base? I'm going to build bench work using plywood then use a foam base. I also plan on using some flex-track for a tight trolley loop and don't want the tension from the track to pull it off the table!

Thanks!
Scott

 

[jdetray]

Many people, including me, use inexpensive latex caulk to glue cork to the sub-roadbed and to glue track to the cork. The caulk works with both plywood and foam sub-roadbed.

I use the cheapest latex caulk I can find at my local discount store. Works great with both sectional track and flex track.

- Jeff

 

[LoudMusic]

I don't think the foam is structurally sound. I've only seen it used for scenery - shaping hills and such.
________
Michigan dispensaries

 

[jdetray]

I don't think the foam is structurally sound. I've only seen it used for scenery - shaping hills and such.

I disagree. There may be particular instances where foam is not appropriate, but for many layouts, extruded polystyrene foam -- 2" thickness is most often used -- is an excellent alternative to plywood sub-roadbed.

All you have to do is follow the build threads in this forum to see foam being widely and successfully used, including on my own layout.

- Jeff

 

[RW&C]

Foam dents. Plywood doesn't. You certainly can lay track directly on foam, but I'd rather not.

Then again, at least the foam doesn't change size with humidity and air temp.

 

[log0008]

i lay my track on to cork which is on top of foam see photo below!

you can also what it looks like after its ballasted!

 

[Selector]

Two inch thick extruded foam insulation board is very stiff. It can be scoured with a wire brush, carved, and sanded to create relief and natural terrain. It would probably be best to support it halfway along its major axis if you can get a 4' X 8' sheet of it. I would use a single joist of 1 X 4 on edge inset into a box frame or over L-girders.

Track laid directly on foam is likely to be noisy. A thin layer of acrylic latex caulk, and I do mean thin, as in 1/64th inch, will help to keep it quiet, but it would be better on cork.

You can use nails as you go along to keep the curves firm as the caulk dries, but pull them up after the caulk has set.