Pink or blue foam? Does it matter?

[Medina1128]

As stated before, I don't think there is ANY difference in the pink and blue. They DO have one thing in common; neither one is cheap. I know posters have bad mouthed the white 'beadboard' foam, but I've used quite extensively on my layout (I had access to free 4'x8' sheets of it from work). For stacking some sheets, I used plain white glue. In others I used acrylic latex caulk. I prefer the caulk, as it dries faster. The white glue takes quite a while to dry since there is no exposure to air. The pink and blue foam does carve easier into realistic looking rock, but I found that working with an old bread knife and a wire brush, I can make realistic rock cliffs and gullies.

[grayfox1119]

BOB: Good idea, my foam is still pink as I have not gone byond that point in construction yet, so I am going to get some latex brown paint and get with it while I can still open doors and windows here in New England.

[Seamonster]

And if you don't want pink dirt for a couple years paint it brown right away.

For sure!  I've got foam over plywood on a 1X4 frame and I painted everything brown as soon as it was built.  Brown for the frame because I like the colour and it doesn't stand out, brown for the foam because if any of it shows through, it will look like dirt, and I know I'm never going to get 100% coverage with ground material.

Here's a hint I picked up in this forum a while ago.  Paint the underside white.  Makes it easier to see when you're working underneath the layout and you can write on it with a felt pen.

 

[Greg H.]

I'm rebuilding my layout and the benchwork is done.  Now i'm going to put down foam.  Should i put blue or pink foam down?  Is there a differnce?  Thank you.

Which ever will be less likely to be noticed by the wife/girlfriend, when on the floor.  

[jaytrix]

We had used pink foam and when gluing the roadbed we had used Dap Tub & Tile Adhesive to secure the roadbed.  We had portions that were painted and the roadbed seems to be secured very well.

[selector]

Has anyone had problems with glue adhesion over painted foam?

For gluing track, it is no great issue as you are dealing with shear forces as much as anything.  But, if you want to laminate layers, and one of the mating faces has been painted, you most certainly will not get as strong a bond if separation of the layers could become an issue.  That said, my experience is that the difference is not substantial enough for our purposes.  I think that the glue can actually permeate the dried paint, or that the paint provides sufficient tooth that it will work well enough.

[tstage]

And if you don't want pink dirt for a couple years paint it brown right away.

Thanks for the reminder, Chip.   I do agree.  It took me waaaaay too long to paint around the track when I got around to covering up the pink.

Tom

[MisterBeasley]

And if you don't want pink dirt for a couple years paint it brown right away.

Has anyone had problems with glue adhesion over painted foam?

This is only a theoretical question.  So far, I've always glued the roadbed down before doing any painting.  (In retrospect, I think the pink color "inspires" me to finish the scenery faster.)

On the other hand, I've learned when putting together plastic structure kits that I need to keep paint off the mating surfaces when gluing walls together, and to sand off any overspray if it's a painted building.  Of course, that's a very different material, and a different glue, too.  The physics and chemistry of styrene bonding is nothing like foam and Liquid Nails for Projects.  (Hint for the Original Poster on adhesive for pink/blue foam.)

[SpaceMouse]

And if you don't want pink dirt for a couple years paint it brown right away.

[tstage]

Brian, 

No difference at all.  Dow makes the Blue.  Owen Corning (Pink Panther) makes the pink.  Our home improvement stores here in NE Ohio stock OC.

Tom

[simon1966]

Same stuff, different brand.  Dow I think makes the Blue. Most home improvement places stock one kind or the other.

[Don Z]

Everyone knows blue is for boys and pink is for girls.... Actually, either one will work just fine for your railroad.....if you use the thinner stuff (1/2"), remember to peel the plastic film from the sheet before trying to glue it down.

Don Z.

[BNSF_conductor]

I'm rebuilding my layout and the benchwork is done.  Now i'm going to put down foam.  Should i put blue or pink foam down?  Is there a differnce?  Thank you.