Cork? Homosote? or Woodland Scenics Track Bed?

[Anonymous]

Well the Plastic Lizard Railroad and adjoining Folsum Prison are finally taking shape. (Pictures on Sunday!)

My Benchwork is almost complete, and I'm half way through cutting and fitting my Gargraves track.

My main prison building is done, the razor wire has been stretched, and 1/2 of chain link is in place. (Actually has been since 4th of July, awaiting a place on the layout.)

My next step (I think) is to lay a roadbed. I've been collecting all kinds of ballast, from parakeet gravel, to Woodland Scenics stuff off Ebay, to Regular old gravel.

What I'm wondering now is what type of roadbed to put my track on. I am leaning towards the Woodland Scenic trackbed. Mainly because I don't feel like cutting anything else to shape. For example, I really don't feel like cutting Homosote out to the shape of the rails. So, does anyone else have any tips or preferences they'd like to share?

Thanks folks!

[Anonymous]

I used cork roadbed for years, on layouts in Z, N, HO, and O gauge. When Woodland Scenics came out with their foam roadbed, I decided to give it a try. Now, I don't imagine I'll ever go back to using cork on my O gauge layouts. Very easy to work with; helps quiet train noise; and looks darn good even before ballast is applied. I've also found that if I use white glue to hold it in place, I can remove it later if I need/want to make changes. Can't do that very well with cork.

[Anonymous]

Second the comments about WS foam. It is much easier to work with than cor k and doesn't dry out with age. Much quieter too.

[Anonymous]

Well I decided to use the woodland Scenics product, and of course my LHS doesn't have any in stock. I've looked at a couple of the local places, and nobody has it in O.

So I guess I'll hit the internet tonight....any suggestions for a good source for landscaping materials who caries the Woodland Scenics road bed?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Does it even come in O, or do you have to use 2 HO's? I think the latter is the case.

[Anonymous]

If you're referring to the WS foam roadbed, it definitely is available in O gauge. In O gauge, it comes in 24" long strips; 24" long sheets (with multiple sections); and 24-foot rolls. I have been using it for some time. It's made just like the cork roadbed--split in the middle. Separate the two sections; flip them so the slopes are to the outside; and you're good to go. I don't recall where I purchased mine. It was a few years ago, and I bought a bunch of the packaged strips..

[SteelMonsters]

Cork used to be better than it is now. It's quality has decayed. It has something to do with the plant that it comes from.