Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Painting foam insulation board

13424 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Delhi, ON
  • 19 posts
Painting foam insulation board
Posted by burke19 on Monday, February 16, 2009 6:31 PM
I'm building my benchwork using blue foam insulation, and was just wondering, would I be better off using a primer to seal the blue off before painting my ground colour? Thanks
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: NE Phoenix AZ
  • 593 posts
Posted by duckdogger on Monday, February 16, 2009 6:57 PM

 A latex primer couldn't hurt but there is no need to seal the foam per se.  I covered mine with a flat latex medium tan in one coat.

Trains. Cooking. Cycling. So many choices but so little time.
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Prescott, AZ
  • 1,736 posts
Posted by Midnight Railroader on Monday, February 16, 2009 7:21 PM

burke19
uilding my benchwork using blue foam insulation, and was just wondering, would I be better off using a prime

 

No, you wouldn't be "better off" but you might get tried of seeing blue, so cheap brown latex paint will fix that problem.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • 649 posts
Posted by AltoonaRailroader on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:21 AM

Midnight Railroader

burke19
uilding my benchwork using blue foam insulation, and was just wondering, would I be better off using a prime

 

No, you wouldn't be "better off" but you might get tried of seeing blue, so cheap brown latex paint will fix that problem.

Yeah, I agree. The blue desert gets pretty boring pretty quick. I painted mine straight out brown latex and it's much easier on the eyes than all that blue. That is unless you're creating some alien world with a weird space train on it. LOL

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Franconia, NH
  • 3,130 posts
Posted by dstarr on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 9:29 AM

You need not worry about a primer on blue (or pink for that matter) foam.  Ordinary flat latex  indoor paint sticks well and covers well.  In fact mine covered well even after thinning it a good deal with water.  While you are at it, sprinkle "grass" (ground foam or dyed sawdust) in the wet paint and obtain even better looks on the layout. 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Stratford Ontario Canada
  • 8 posts
Posted by bhawk on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:37 PM

 Go to Home Depot (any bix box store) and check the paint department for discards or returns. I was able to pick up 3 different colors, chocolate brown (satan) for the fascia, tan (flat) for the pink foam and light blue (flat) for backdrops, all for $9 each. Basically I got 3 for the price of 1, all premium paint.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Saskatchewan
  • 2,201 posts
Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:57 PM

Whistling

If you happen to have  a recycler , such as Habitat for humanity etc, they always have ends and mismatches of paint all grades and all colors at most times.  Price is very cheap and it all works the same and saves those dollars for more exclusive irems.

These are also great places for hollow core doors from 16 inches on up for table surfaces or shelves (layout or storage).

Johnboy out.

May the rails never be Silent.

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

  • Member since
    November 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,720 posts
Posted by MAbruce on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:34 PM

burke19
I'm building my benchwork using blue foam insulation, and was just wondering, would I be better off using a primer to seal the blue off before painting my ground colour? Thanks

 

You don't nead to 'seal' foam as it's already waterproof.  It also takes latex or acrylic paints well.  I'd go right in on the ground color, and use whatever acrylic paints are on sale at Micheal's.  There has to be a couple of dozen different shades of brown you can use for soil.  And shades of Green?  You could be in the paint isle for an hour trying to decide...

 

 

     

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Delhi, ON
  • 19 posts
Posted by burke19 on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 5:59 PM
Thanks, everyone. My brother actually owns a paint store, so paint is easy to come by. I love this forum!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!