Hello everyone,
This is my very first post in the forum. I just found this forum tonight using Google and I just signed up and I love this site already! I'm going to surf around the forum and take a look at everything, but also in the meantime, I do have a question. Where can I purchase G Scale (Large Scale) Pre-made Cork Roadbed strips? I have not seen it anywhere in any of the hobby/train online websites for sale. I see that they all have it for N Gauge all the way up to O Scale, but I have yet to see it for sale in a G Scale. I've seen rubber, and foam, etc... but no cork! Thanks ahead of time if anyone can help me with this! This is driving me crazy!
Weebles;
Don't think I've seen it either. But since my GRR is outside I wont be using it anyway. However I'm sure that Vic can answer that for you with a high degree of expertise.
Tom Trigg
Hi TTRigg,
Thanks for the fast respone! I'll wait to hear for Vic or anyone whole has seen G Scale Cork Roadbed. If I could get my hands on some, I did plan on using it inside for a straight run (for now) Bachmann G Scale Trolley track and I already have the AristoCarft Auto Reversing Unit hooked up to my straight about 14' track with the back and forth time ajustible delay. I also have end of track lighted up bumpers on each end and they are AristoCraft too. I love this little straight layout! I have it all along the backside of my bar top in my finished basement and it really looks cool when you are sitting at the bar and you get to see the Tolley going back and forth. I have the regular closed trolly, as well as the Christmas version for the holidays. I also have the regular Gandy Dancer hand car with trailer and figurres, as well as the Christmas version of that too! This really makes for fun watching conversation pieces! But, I do have the Bacmann track all soldered at tacked down to an acual 1"x3" and it is a little noisy, so that's why I wanted to try to find this G Scale Cork Roadbed to install in between the tracks and the wood base. Thanks again for the help and reply!
Well actually, I did already think of even taking (2) O Scale Cork Roadbed Strips and just butting the two of them up together, but then I figured that yod' probaby see the seam down the middle of it under the tracks. So I too am trying to think of a way to do this if there is no way of getting G Scale Cork Roadbed. But fir sure, any and all information and ideas would greatly be appreciated and I'll be standing by to see if others write in with any thoughts on this. Thanks again for your quick reply!
O scale cork roadbed is what I will be using for the new DNRR when constrution continues in the spring. I plan on using a 1.25" strip placed in the middel of each section the 'O' roadbed. The strips come from O switch material cut with a sharp blade. The combined sections just come to the edge of the Aristo stainless I will be using , ballist will be chicken grit glued in place ,the thickness of the O roadbed is about 1/8" . The new DNRR will be in-doors and is being built in our retirement home ( out of state ).
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Hi Cacole,
Thanks so much for the GREAT idea of using cork roll from the flooring store! I have already started to research this and I already found a couple of online flooring stores that sell it. Thanks again for the fantastic idea and I do believe that I will be buying cork roll that has about a 1/4" thickness, which should be perfect for my G Scale straight track Trolley Layout!
Website Links:
http://www.ifloor.com/item_275774/cork-flooring/apc-cork-floors/prefinished-planks-glueless-click-/hera-natural.html?e=N%3D9%26No%3D60
http://www.ifloor.com/item_187865/cork-flooring/apc-cork-floors/installation-materials/6mm-cork-underlayment-roll-100.html
http://www.onlinefloorstore.com/store/product/?id=10001387
Why would you want use this type of stuff? I really don't think it's gpt anything to do with Garden railways!
Ian
Hello Iandor,
Have you never heard of indoor gardens before? I have lots of live plants and flowers indoors! And besides, I have more friends that have indoor G Scale Garden Model Railroads, as opposed to outside, especially with circular layouts all around the Christmas Tree! Maybe this is strictly a U.S.A. east coast thing? So far, I love the idea of being able to use cork roll from a flooring company! Thanks again for everyone's great information and ideas!
I used cork, in big rolls from the hardware store, the type used for pin up boards works well. I got it in 3/16" thickness, cut into shape by hand.
On the new layout I'm planning on using a 2" foam base instead of cork over plywood. This is so I can cut into base for better scenery working and for better sound isolation.
Good luck.
Have fun with your trains
iandor wrote: Why would you want use this type of stuff? I really don't think it's got anything to do with Garden railways!Ian
Why would you want use this type of stuff? I really don't think it's got anything to do with Garden railways!
Just because its not what you may be doing, does that make the question any less valid?
We talk Large Scale here, and that covers a mighty big territory, indoors, outdoors, overhead, 1/22.5, 1/20.3, 1/24, 1/29, 1/32, 7/8th, and a few others. Accucraft all the way down to New Bright. Basicly anything that runs on 45mm track and a bit that doesnt ...
Does it do any good to make such comments discouraging a valid question by a new forum member?
Gentlemen
You are right, i hadn't thought of indoor gardens, but surely you would have to water them and then what would be the sense in using cork?
Even though it is truly not anything i am doing or would think to do, i still cannot see the use for cork in the garden, to do with a railway or anything else for that matter.
I have seen a garden railway in an indoor artificial garden at LGB's works at Nurnberg and they didn't use cork, so i don't see any reason why anyone else should either.
Rgds Ian
Yes Ian, I can see you have a point too. There is a bit of basic info missing, so...
WeeblesNJ, are you talking about running track thru a dirt planter, if so Ian has a point, it wont take long for the cork to deteriorate in wet conditions; or are you planning a more traditional type interior layout (track on cork over a wooden benchwork substructure) and using potted plants placed in and around the layout in lieu of the more traditional hardshell plaster scenery?
It is important to know more about what you are planning so we can better help advise you. Vic
Hi VSmith,
Thanks for you great information too and thanks for standing behind my vision for my in the near future layouts. That's why I am asking some questions now, so I can pre-plan my layout(s) for both indoors and outdoors too. I just trying to compile and compare a list for future materials to use.
The layout that I am referring to - that I'd like to use the cork for is for indoors and is not going to be in direct contact with either soil, plants or water, only surrounding and I'd like to use this cork on top of the 3/4" inch thick surface pine/plywood on top of my benchwork - for now . My biggest reason for wanting to do this, is to absorb some of the noise from the metal wheels on the track when I run my Bachmann G Scale Trolley and Gandy Dancer Hand Car and to me, I like the realistic look of the natural cork without the mess of a crushed ballest that would have to be glued, etc...
I'd like to know more if you don't mind telling me, what exactly 2" foam base are you going to use. Could you please provide me additional information and/or website links for this foam? Thanks again VSmith and thanks Ian for your understanding and patience with me as yes, I am a newbee to this stuff!
Ok Weebles mate, if you haven't worked it out yet a lot of what i have to say is in fun but also it is pretty factual as well. I also se your point about not wanting to use fines as ballast and reducing noise, i hadn't considered it but i guess you have a good reason for so dpoing, i like noise myself and the fact that i am half deaf doen't help.
What about using foan and sealingit against anything nasty.
The 2 inch foam will be blue insulation foam that is used in HO mostly, its a dense foam and can be used self supporting though I plan to use a wood subframe. The foam is used in lieu of the traditional plaster scenery, its much lighter and can be stacked for hills and carved for rocks, or traditional plaster or foam castings can be applied over it. A search of "blue foam" in the Model Railroads forum will yield more info than I can relate.
Hi Ian,
It's all good and thanks for your input too Mate! Well I like the foam idea and I like the cork idea too! What do you all think as far as which one do you think would make the noisy metal wheels going along the track more quieter? 2" or less foam board or cork? I would like everyone's vote please if they can and thanks ahead of time!
Thanks so much again for your great ideas and information! I did take your suggestion and I went in to all of the other forums and now I see what you and everyone else is talking about when they say blue foam! I now see where to get it and also what type of glue/caulk is good to use for stacking it up and building layers with it. Thanks again.
Sorry mate but i have no experience down thias track at all so i can't help you.
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