I want to build a track on a elevated level about 4" to 5" over the main level.I have 2 options, wood or foam.About wood i can managed it, but about foam is the first time i use, so i need some help and i think the best way is to show me some photos of yours structures with some basic tips.I know i ask much and i will appreciate your effort.
I have seen some picture with vertical pieces of foam build like domino one next to the other and it seems nice and ease but i don't know how to cut it and achive a nice straight surface for gluing the track.
I do not have pictures, but will explain anyway if it will help:
I am using pink and blue 2" foam (Large pieces), to build support bases from about 3" high all the way down to 1" base, (from a bridge downward to the base),. I just cut the pieces wide enough, then start cutting my angles downward by using some of my old trestles as a guide for the angle, also using a 3 foot (stiff), ruler to help guide, then Cutting and sanding to get the right angle. It is a lot of work mind you, and I have considered using wood from the bridge downward instead of the foam, but will still need to work the wood into the foam at the bottom. Basically it can be done, and small pieces of sheets of foam can also be used, it just has to be glued together first before cutting, of course. You just have to start working with the foam and keep practicing until you get the hang of it. There are other ways which may be easier, but the foam can be used in place of wood or trestles, as for me I have lots of foam and not lots of money. Hope this helps.
Are you thinking of Woodland Scenics Foam Risers? They are very much like the "dominos" that you described. They're a commercial product, all pre-cut and ready to use. They come in several different sizes for different degree of slopes.
For my own layout, I use the 2-inch pink construction foam. I have an open-benchwork structure, and I use wooden "trestles" below the different sections to hold up the foam. For inclines, I use a long, thin section of foam with the supports at different heights.
This photo of the underside of the layout will blow up a bit if you click on it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley wrote: This photo of the underside of the layout will blow up a bit if you click on it.
Are we imitating Gomez Addams here?
Hopefully these will give you some ideas. Sorry I don't have more.
Foam over cookie cutter.
Vertical and horizontal uses. Rock face with tunnel is carved foam
Carving in a creek. Steep bank at outside of curve, shallow on inside
Building a compound grade on a curve by adjusting the base UNDER the foam. The foam will bend to the contours without cutting.
You can carve and shape foam with knives, small routers (dremels), hot wire and hot knife cutters, rasps and files, wire brushes, heat (be careful!), etc. Carving makes a mess and any form of heat gives off vapors. Adjust your workspace accordingly.
It's hard to cut thicknesses perfectly straight. But you can put the cut side down and the smooth factory side up under your track.
Good luck,
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
This spot was done by stacking the foam layers. The trackwork, however is laid on 3/4" ply. Foam was used for the scenery contours only. There is actually an intermediate plywood step at the roadway.
Reworking this embankment, the foam works for scenery base.
This layout is rather large and the club will only allow track to be laid on pine spline or 3/4" ply. We don't have the option of stacking and laying the track/ roadbed on the foam. It's up to you to decide your method. Will the elevated track have many switch machines? Is the area fairly large and require a considerable amount of foam? Are track feeders going through so much foam going to cause trouble? These are some questions as to the type of construction to use.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org