Base for roundhouse construction

[Blind Bruce]

My Fine scale roundhouse kit calls for construction to be made on a base and then transferred to the layout. I have already installed a Walthers 90' turntable in 2" foam. This has code 83 track as does the rest of my layout. I think I can build on a 1/16" base and still not be too much higher than the TT. But.... what material to use that will remain flat and not bend or warp?

[jrbernier]

  There are a number of possible options here.  .060" styrene, foamboard/gatorboard, or even model aircraft plywood should provide a good base.

Jim

[gandydancer19]

I think there was a trend some years ago, and maybe it is still done today, to build your model buildings on a base of plywood. Probably 1/2 inch, scenic and detail them right on the base. Then just cut out the plywood on the layout and install them. If your roundhouse is in HO, I would consider using 1/2 inch plywood. But you will have to remove the 2 inch foam and brace the opening for the roundhouse to set in that opening. Any material less than 1/2 ply will lead to warping later on. Or, just cut out the 2 inch foam and use that as the base for building it on. If you have glued the foam down to a table top, cut it out as best you can, then use a new piece of foam that has been cut to fit the cut out for your roundhouse base. The ultimate would be to build the roundhouse AND turntable on the same removable base. Then you only have one or two tracks to connect to the layout.

[loathar]

I'm in the same boat with my Atlas round house. I don't want to use the base that came with it. I was thinking about 1/8" Masonite. Any thoughts on that?

[gandydancer19]

I'm in the same boat with my Atlas round house. I don't want to use the base that came with it. I was thinking about 1/8" Masonite. Any thoughts on that?

The base that usually comes with the plastic kits is usually the floor of the building and is not a mounting base per se, unless there is something I am not seeing here.

Picture a "base" as a plywood sheet that is a couple of inches larger all around the building, that the building is mounted to. This base, with the building, is then set in a opening in the "table" or scenic layout base suitable to receive it. The "base" can be made of any sturdy material, usually 1/2 in plywood that has been pre painted. The "base" can be secured to the bench work with screws. Once it is in place, the cracks are filled and covered with scenery material so that it blends into the layout.  If you use a material that is flexable, the structure may break loose.

By doing this, you can save many or all of your structures when you have to move or decide you want to start a new layout.

[Medina1128]

What is your scenery base? What size is the roundhouse footprint. 1/8 masonite will probably do the trick, if the roundhouse isn't too big. If it is, I would glue two pieces of masonite together, forming a laminate. That should be enough to support. If need be, once you have the pieces cut out, cut a matching hole in your layout, then make supports from underneath. Shim up the masonite to the correct height. If your scenic base is foam, trace out the masonite pieces then use a hand held wire brush to cut out the hole to set it in.