Foam Bed

[questions]

Are there cheaper alternatives to Woodland Scenics Foam Sheets ?

[mbinsewi]

Well, not exactly sure what you mean by "foam beds", is it track beds, or just general layout surface, but, you can buy 4' x8' sheets, of various thicknesses, of foam at the big box stores, and , if you any construction going on around, you "dumster dive" for peices and scrapes.

I spent my working life in the building trades, so I always had a source for scrapes and "throw-a-ways". 

The base on my layout is 2" foam "blue" board or "pink", and so are the hills and scenery.

I do understand that in certain parts of the country, big box stores don't carry foam sheets.

Mike

[BigDaddy]

questions

Are there cheaper alternatives to Woodland Scenics Foam Sheets ?

Welcome to the forum

Did you mean these?  http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/images/NewWSWeb/st1477_f_1.jpg

I was just looking at that product at the LHS.  I think it was closed cell.  The product wasn't developed only for Woodland Scenics, so it must be used for something else and come in bigger rolls.  Maybe this?  http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Density-Volara-Closed-Cell-Foam-Auto-Upholstery-Crafts-By-the-yard-BTY-/161225495525

 

 

 

[questions]

thanks mike

[questions]

thanks henry

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

There is a closed cell product that is used for underlayment for Laminate floors.

I have used it in my staging area. Leftovers from my SIL's remodelling.

Johnboy out...........

[MisterBeasley]

I use WS foam roadbed for single tracks, but for a large area like a yard, foam board (poster board) in 3/16 thickness (I think) works well and is very cheap.  For whatever reason, it's much cheaper at a craft store like Michaels than at an office place like Staples.

[CentralGulf]

Some kinds of foam shrink. Some outgas. Some react chemically to contact with other materials. Some contact bond with other kinds of material, including paints, given enough time.

I have experienced all of the above at one time or another in non-MRR applications. Repurposing an unknown foam product for MRR use seems risky to me.

Edit:

A few years ago I started picking up samples of likely looking candidate roadbed material at home improvement stores, all because homosote is unobtanium in this area.

Last week I was moving some of my stuff from my old place to my current abode when I ran across two of these samples. One seemed undiminished from its original properties. The other crumbled to dust when I picked it up. 

It was a type of insulation board. It was so far gone that I could not read any identifying marks.

Fair warning.

CG

 

 

[questions]

thanks to all

[fieryturbo]

If it's for yards, I use 12"x18"x3mm EVA foam from Hobby Lobby at 99 cents a sheet

[eaglescout]

Fieryturbo, I have used that myself and several years ago I posted about how I cut it at an angle for roadbed based on an article in Morel Railroader that used a foam underlayment for laminate floors as their roadbed.

[questions]

hi all - many thanks. finally located the "pink" foam in our area !!!