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I am new to the site and starting to build a N-Scale model train in my basement. I have looked over the site and you guys have some awesome setups. I hope to pick your brains for info! One of the 1st questions I have is this, on your benchwork do you use plywood (and what thickness), foam (again, thickness) or a combo of both?
As for me, my benchwork has 3/4-inch plywood, topped with 2-inch extruded foam insulation (a.k.a. "Dow board") - except for two industrial modules from my previous layout, those are homasote [also on 3/4" plywood]. Half-inch plywood would probably be OK, but I wanted something especially warp-resistant since my trainroom is a converted two-car garage.
Hi teamanglerx and welcome to the forum. A good question and I'm fairly sure there won't be two answers the same
What did I use? Well the cheapest I could find. Frame work is 1" x 4" boards (strapping) with 2" x 4" for the legs all this wood was the cheapest and it dried for 2 years in my garage. Next was the plywood 3/4 inch stuff at no cost, was dumped almost in my back yard. They were building a new highway with overpasses and the smaller pieces (parts of sheets) used for cement forms were discarded after use. There was a lot of cleaning off cement to do but the price couldn't be beat, Anyway that's my story on materials except for the screws and glue I purchased new.
My last layout was 1/2" plywood with 1" foam on top. This layout I'm going with 2" foam by its lonesome. Turns out I like working with foam. It's quieter, when I want it to be.
Welcome teamanglerx, My 4x15 layout is 3/4 playwood with 3/4 inch Homosote on top of a heavy wooden table with 2by4 legs for added support , A bit of overkill but I can lay on top of the layout and get a lot of work done till I finish landscaping !!!!
My open-grid layout is framed with plenty of screws, 2x4 legs, 1x4 joists @ 16" centers, with 1/2" plywood top. I could dance on it. (I have fallen to sleep on it a time or two )
