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Cork Roadbed Vs. WS Track Bed
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<p>If I may sugesst a different idea. <br /><br />I used N cork under my HO track in spots where it wasn't seen. In tunnels I used Camper tape which was about 6-7 dollars at HD. It's sticky on one side. </p><p>I am using 1/2 OSB board and 1" foam for the base with mostly cork as the road bed and the house is air conditioned and low humidty year round. </p><p>I used a hot glue gun to set the cork with a few short sections about 1/2 to 1 in about every 1 to 2 feet. More if I was doing a curve just enough to hold the shape. I would then slide in the second side and again glue a spot every once in a while to hold it. The track got a short dab of glue to hold it in place usually one/two ties and check with a ribbon rail and set the curve or straight edge for staight line. </p><p>I would run a couple of cars along the rail and observe anything that looked out of place like a wobble or derail. Turn the power on and test an engine or two to see if power(DC) was ok. A short hit with cheap brown spray (99cents from Wally World) on the rails and I could ballast any section I want along the way to really set the track. I could lay 2-3 or more 3 ft sections at a time. I would before completing the ballast go back and add feeder lines for future DCC ops as I wanted. This way I could run a train around or a least think I could while I was planning where things were going. </p><p>Mistakes, sure I made a few and because it wasn't held down but by a couple of glue spots a kitchen steak knife would slip under the track or cork and cut through the glue. I could then reuse or if it was beyond saving throw away a short section of track after I cut it with a dremel. </p><p>As to the N scale cork I used, that on most all of the branch lines and it lowers the rail a slight bit from the main. I just placed the cork the width of the rails which leaves a section down the middle to be either filled in or if you're lazy like me I just spread some oil dry material (Wally World $3 or so) and carefully would make sure it was below the ties and balast over the top. Heck I think I even paint it too. A lot less work and no one will ever see it. </p><p>It's your road----have fun with it. </p>
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