new layout

[dewey]

I'm finally going to build my first layout.  have a 10' X 10' room with a 6' by 30" off of one corner.  Question is what should I cover the bench work with?  Blue board or plywood?  The six foot by 30 inch space I'm thinking of a yard which will be the starting point of constuction.

Thanks in advance

dewey

[selector]

What is the purpose of the railroad you are depicting, and where will it operate?  Will it be hilly terrain or on the prairies?   Will your layout have staging, or a yard?  They would be flat.

Plywood is heavy and hard to set things into...such as utility poles and trees.  So most of us use foam or create plaster-type terrain that is more natural looking than the surface of plywood.  The foam can be stacked and shaped to create some natural relief.  Can't do that with plywood....or, at least, it's a lot harder.

[bearman]

Go with 1/2" or 1/4" plywood then glue foam to the plywood for a subroadbase.  At 1/2" you will probably want stringers at 24" center to center.  If you use 1/4" plywood, you are looking at stringers at 12" center to center or thereabouts.