Foam Panels

[Jumijo]

Brian,

I am still a big fan of FasTrack and would highly recommend it to anyone without reservation. It looks great, and conducts well. The noise is the only down side I have come across, but to be honest, it doesn't bother me. Trains are loud. I believe my earlier posts did not mention the noise because we were running our trains on the FasTrack sitting on a carpet in the den until August. Once I installed it on our layout table over the foam, the noise level went way up. Part of the reason may be attributed to the accustics of the room it's in now. There is a carpet, but it's very short piled berber, not the plusher stuff we have in the den. No sound absorbing big fluffy furniture like the den either. No drapes, etc. Just a finished room in the basement with a layout table and 4 wooden stools. I plaster clothed my foam's seams and covered them with joint compound. I'll bet that has a lot to do with the higher sound level as well.

I will say this - since I screwed down the track, I think the noise level has decreased to some extent. I also think that if I sound proof the UNDERSIDE of the layout table with spray foam or carpet remnants, it will decrease further.

My FasTrack is secured only to the foam with drywall screws. The 1" screws are not long enough to reach the plywood base under the 2" pink foam. The foam is glued to the plywood with white glue. There is no tranference of sound from the track/screws/plywood. The drywall screws are course enough to hold the track to the foam quite securely. You would be amazed at how strongly the foam holds the screws!

Jim

[brianel027]

I think insulating foam board is the wave of the future as far as layout construction goes. In these days where people cannot rely on having the same single job for a lifetime, the foam board is very light weight yet rigid. If you design your layout to come apart, the foam boards make moving a layout much much easier.

Now I have heard and am of the impression myself from personal experience, that the pink foam board made by Owens-Corning is of a higher desity than the blue board. I think I would prefer to use the pink board for a layout base, so I'd love to hear from those who have used blue board instead.

The insulation board does decrease noise, but again it depends on how the layout is constructed too. Metal screws into a wood frame will always amplify noise levels. I've thought that it is easy enough to make wood or heavy cardboard slats to be glued to the foam board in order to screw in track and accessories. Liquid Nails makes a special adhesive made for foam board, and I figure this could be used in place of screws in many situations.

I know from my experience in scenery construction, foam board is a joy to work with and yields great results... much less trouble that the traditional plaster of paris over screen technique.

Jaabat, I'm very surprised to read your noise level comment on the FasTrack. I think I remember you have been very excited and pro FasTrack in past threads.... your layout photo looks very nice. FasTrack isn't for me, but I respect those who make the decision that it is for them. But I am surprised to hear you say that the track/trains are still so loud even on foam board. In previous long ago threads, I think it was well determined that it is the plastic road bed of the FasTrack along with the method rail insertion to the roadbed that is making all the noise. Yet some have claimed it is not noisey at all.

Personally from my viewings of FasTrack layouts, I think it's noisey for tastes. But I also experiemented and found using the MPC-era plastic wheel sets on some cars (or alternated with a couple metal ones on each car) will work more effectively to decrease the noise rumble with FasTrack.

Would love to hear folks constructive comments on the blue versus pink board... thanks.

[Jumijo]

I used the foam panels to quickly and easily manipulate the layout's terrain. I used the 2" panels, and cut a river gorge in it in about 1/2 hour. My mountain is also made from the foam, again very quick and easy.

As Buckeye said, drywall screws will hold the track down very securely when screwed into the foam. Seeing is believing!

Jim

[Buckeye Riveter]

I don't use green paint, I use the cheapest ugliest mud brown paint I can buy and sprinkle on the grass. The foam deadens the sound. The track is attached to the foam with dry wall screws. I did not use plywood beneath the foam. They sell foam without the plastic covering at our Home Depot and Lowes. Chief Eagles and Blueberry Hill have seen and heard the trains run and will tell you that it is very quiet.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

Photos from Roger’s Corners, Ohio
Elevation 936 Feet


The Baltimore, Ohio and Wabash Railroad - Photo Album 2006
After receiving several nice compliments about the photos I have posted as my layout expansion has progress, albeit slowly, today you can see some real progress. The facing boards have been stained and added to the bench work. I am just about 75 percent complete putting down the 2" blue foam table top. So far so good, which always surprises me.

Project Plan Perspective


Photo from about the same angle as the drawing above


My Secret Weapon [:D]


Where everything will come together, I hope.




The West End where there will be two double loops to turn the trains around and back East.

[pbjwilson]

I think the foam deadens sound. The foam is nice because its light, easy to cut, makes level changes easy, all kinds of benefits.

If sound deadening is what you want try carpeting. I like carpet 'cause it gives you instant green scenery. Add some accessories, trees, etc. you're done.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies, I am particularly interested in jaabat's reply stating he can not tell if the foam panels made any difference in the noise level, so I guess the ? is why do all this if it does not deaden the noise level. I will be using Lionel tubular screwed down.
Thanks Again
Rozy

[cheech]

i assume the foam is 1 inch. how do you attach the tracks to the foam with the plywood underneath it?

[Jumijo]

Rozy,

I painted my pink insulation panels with a roller and latex paint. No problems. I secured the foam to the plywood tabletop with white glue (Elmer's). A gallon costs only $10 at Home Depot.

I don't know whether or not the foam panels amplify or deaden track noise. We have FasTrack on our layout and boy, it's loud. I literally cannot hear someone talking right next to me. They have to talk directly into my ear, and even then they usually have to repeat themselves!

Jim

[Birds]

Do these foam panels act like sounding boards and amplify the track sound? Or are there ones that deaden sound more than others?

I would like to put some on top of the hollow core doors that make up my table so that I can secure track and carve out some depressions, but in my experience insulating with the 2" white stuff with silver backing it seems to transmit sound pretty well.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Regular latex paint works just fine on the foam, so does white or yellow glue. Just make sure to peel the clear plastic film off the sheet first. I'm not sure if anything sticks to the film.

[pbjwilson]

Rozy,
Yep. Thats what I find mainly at my local Home Depot. It will paint up just fine. Any latex paint will work fine. See if the Depot has any mistinted paint in a green that might due. Flat finish is your best bet. Eggshell finish would be o.k. also.

[Anonymous]

In the process of expanding, looked in Home Depot for foam panels all they have are pink. Would like to paint green not sure how this would work out. Has anybody tried this & if so with what result ?
Thank you,
Rozy