Light weight alternatives to Plywood?

[wallyworld]

I am looking for a light weight alternative to using heavy 1/2 to 3/4 plywwod for my planned, portable layout. Has anyone successfully tried using foam insulation board for the table top in o scale? I would think it stands a strong possibility of working as I have seen articles using this material in smaller scales. It would seem the framing would be the key. A side benefit might be less resonating noise from the track on this material. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated.

[Roger Bielen]

On another forum I recall mention of using the foam insulation board, though, as you stated it probably would require extensive framing which could negate the weight savings. An alternative is to use an open system where only the track areas are plywood and use the lighter material for scenic areas. Or maybe back the foam with 1/4" plywood or thinner cheap panelling. You'll need to be careful not to lean where you use the foam.

[Anonymous]

A guy on another forum uses a system of PVC pipe & metal studs with foam board. You know, the kind of studs that they use in commercial framing. Supposedly, a very lightweight & strong system.

Tony

[overall]

You didn't mention if you wanted below track scenic features like rivers or gorges. If you don't want those things, you might think about using hollow core interior doors as a platform for a layout. They are fairly light but strong.

overall

[Anonymous]

what is the size of the layout? If 4x4 or 2-3x8 feet, 2 inch thick foam will esily work for yuor project, with no problems. Larger sizes work with minimal bracing. question is - What is portable, how often, etc.

[brianel027]

I've had to move in the last year, and will probably have to again since the "Empire State" is rapidly becomming the "Roman Empire State." I have been brainstorming making a lighter more portable layout. My current one was built to be moved, but it is still heavy, even with using lightweight materials (it does have a chipboard base below styrofoam and homosote - oreo cookie design, so I can cut into it for revines, creeks etc). I've used pink styrofoam for mountains with good results, so I am thinking the next layout will be built using 1x3 or 1x4 pine for bracing and with pink styrofoam (pink has the highest density of the blue and white types). If I continue with 027 track, I'll cut wood slabs to fit under the ties, gluing those slabs to the styrofoam and screwing the track into those. If I go with Gargraves, I can just glue that down. Just some of my current thoughts on this topic, which has also been in the back of my mind.

brianel

[CB_Fan]

Re interior doors, although the edges are fairly stiff they tend to sag in the middle, so approach with caution. We have several on our modular layout and have started adding stiffners to the sides, but doubt this will straighten the center areas that have already sagged.