I recently purchased TM Videos How to Build an O Gauge Layout DVD. I am building an O-Gauge layout in my basement, and have found this video to be very helpful. In the video they recommend using Homosote to cover the plywood table top. I was at the Home Depot today, and could not find Homosote anywhere. Is it possible to use the 1" thick pink Owens Corning panel insulation on top of the table top or not? If this won't work, what should I use to cover the table top? Any help will be appreciated.
SK
Can't tell you about anything else, but I like homasote and always get it from Home depot here on Long Island. They all seem to have it here.
YOu could try a lumberyard as I've seen it at several in my area too.
Use the Homasote dealer finder:
http://homasote.com/where.html
mike s.
I've always used homosote too & still do, but if you have to go with the foam, it will work out very well. You can't tell once you get started with scenery what is underneath & all the scenery materials adhere well to the foam. Very nice stuff to work with also.
Thanks, John
The foam panels will work fine. That's what I have on my layout.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Here is an ealier thread that shows examples of layouts using pink or blue foamboard (Cornings panel insulation)...
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/747348/ShowPost.aspx
I guess the "in" thing is now foam but I'm a "dyed-in-the-wool'' Homosote guy. If your local Home Depot does not have it, ask them or try a lumber yard. The cost should be about the same and they probably will cut it, if necessary, as a courtesy with no charge. (I think it would be worth the trip) All the best.
Our layour has 2" foam under the FasTrack. The track is screwed down to the foam and let me tell you, the foam hold the screws very securely.
I am also using 2" of pink foam underneath my track. In my opinion, the foam is very loud. Whereas homosote does an excellent job of deadening sound. In my case, I purchased a product called Vinylbed to lay under my Atlas track. The Vinylbed creates a nice road base and does an excellent job absorbing sound. The results have been outstanding. As Jim above points out, I was pleasantly surprised how well tacks and nails are held by the foam.
While I have not begun any scenery work, I chose foam because it is easy to carve it out to create lower elevations. It is also easy to stack it up to create higher elevations.
Good Luck,
John O
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
I have homosote too and works great. I heard GIZ say that if you put homosote on top of plywood you should use liquid nails or glue to hold it down. If you nail or screw it down, it will transfer noise to the plywood?
laz57
My layout is track on vinyalbed on OSB, I wish I had foam or something to help with the noise. When talking about screw holding, the density of the material and the coursness of the screw make a huge difference in holding power.
Yes, I never nail or screw homasote down permanently. I use a paint roller and coat both surfaces using carpenter's glue. I then posiition it and use screw into the plywood to bring the surfaces together around various points on the surface. When dry, I take out the screws.
When mounting track I use small screw that don't go into the plywood and stay in the homasote. This supposedly doesn't transfer noise. But I will tell you my trains at medium and high speeds make a lot of noise on tubular, but I love it.
Also you have to be careful on homasote. You can strip the track screws if you overtighten and then you will have a problem.
Mike S.
Here's an update on my progress.
I was able to track down Homasote at my other Home Depot in the area. I have put the plywood top on the table, and am getting ready to put the Homasote down. I have a few questions if anyone has some suggestions.
1. Is there any benefit to using both Homasote and the 2" pink Owens Corning foam board? From reading other threads in the forums it seems universally recommended that the FasTrack not be screwed directly into the plywood of the table. Several people have stated that the foam board hold screws very well, while homasote is rather thin, and the screws can work loose over time. I am thinking about putting the foam board on the plywood, and then the Homasote on top of that. I am assuming that I can attach the track through the Homasote and into the foam board without getting to the plywood.
2. I am planning on using Liquid Nails to attach the foam board to the plywood, and the Homasote to the foam board. Is this the best way to attach the underlayments, or is there a better way?
I appreciate all of the help you guys have already provided.
Thanks,
SK : wonder what track system you will be using ?
John,
I will be using Lionel FasTrack for my layout.
Good SK !! Just wanted to get that established for others who will be able to help too. I'm only familiar with Gargraves on my homosote, & am hoping we can hear from someone with Fastrak on homosote !! I'd think if the screws only go into the foam & homosote, or just into the homosote, would quiet it down as much as possible. Let's see what others say now !!
Instead of using liquid nail, which is fine, I would like to suggest something that is easier.
Buy ordinary carpenters glue, you can get it in bottles of up to a gallon at home depot, then also buy a glue speader, which is just a soft plastic scraper. Simply pour some glue on your work area and spread it around then lay the 2nd layer of material down. This is easy and very cheap holds as well or better then liquid nails. I also like it to build layers of foam to create hills as this seems to form a thinner glue layer then liquid nails. The glue goes a very long way and last in the bottle for a very long time and the spreader can be cleaned with soap and water and reused.
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