Smoothing homasote roadbed.

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

Dave the spline sub roadbed is far from dead flat. It could really stand to be run through a power planer but not having one available I am stuck filing and sanding it by hand. That aside it's the homasote roadbed that has the dips in it. Even if I lay it perfectly flat on the floor it seems that every where there is a kerf (relief cut) it leads to unevenness. Not every where just a few choice PIA spots if I wasn't so anal about it being just right I guess I could some what live with it but when you run a locomotive over it with a small consist of about 7 or 8 cars you can watch the roof of the locomotive cab bob up and down. If it were side to side it wouldn't bother me as much but this isn't at all close to prototypical running unless you’re modeling a roller coaster.

I can see how placing the homasote on edge would be of some advantage. maybe the next section of the layout.

[dehusman]

Why using Homasote spline is better if you are using spline, its dead flat.

[cmrproducts]

I have noticed that the surface quality has gone progressively down hill for a number of years.

But that said I still like Homasote for my base!

 

BOB H - Clarion, PA

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

Thanks Bob,

Thats what I have been doing, shimming various spots with styrene shim cut form a very large piece I have. Is this the norm with homasote or is because the stuff was warped or compressed? I have several other sections to do and if this is going to be a continuing problem I might have to try an alternative method. I don't have that much hair in my head left to yank out.

[cmrproducts]

I have just used thin cardboard, old business cards to shim up the track.

I have also used a rasp to shave down some of the uneveness where the pieces join.

BOB H - Clarion, PA 

 

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

Well I've seemed to hit another wall, so I am looking for a practical solution. I am using homasote roadbed on top of spline sub roadbed. For the most part it's turned out pretty smooth but in some areas I have what I call whoop tee do's. The train has up and down motions  in a few spots not the prototypical side to side rock. I have heard of spreading spackling compound over the roadbed with a wide bladed knife and then sanding it smooth. Wouldn't this defeat the purpose of using homasote, as it would leave a hard surface not conducive to track nails like homasote is? At his time I only have the track spiked down no gluing until I get it as good as I can possibly make it.

 

Thanks