BATMANHere I put 2" foam right on top of 1 x 4 open grid. There is only plywood at the end closest to you in the photo. This was to accommodate the curved end in the benchwork. I put all the spline and risers in before the foam and if you look closely you can see a space in the foam along underneath the spline. I will be able to drop the feeder wires right down through there. The train will travel up and around the room to the other side and return on the flat. I am just going to use foam to build up the terrain along the spline and elsewhere on the layout. This was my first attempt at spline and I am delighted with the results. It was quite easy to do. Brent
Batman, nice job of mixing both concepts. That benchwork looks like it'll hold some serious weight for sure.
How did that fireplace heat shielding work out?
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Lateral-G bogp40 Bridges spans over gullies, rivers and canyons are easily done. The rises doubles as a sub bridge abutment also (to be covered w/ castings Where did you get the footings for the bridge towers? I need some for my planned bridge... -G-
bogp40 Bridges spans over gullies, rivers and canyons are easily done. The rises doubles as a sub bridge abutment also (to be covered w/ castings
Bridges spans over gullies, rivers and canyons are easily done. The rises doubles as a sub bridge abutment also (to be covered w/ castings
Where did you get the footings for the bridge towers? I need some for my planned bridge...
-G-
The concrete footings are fabricated from clear pine. Any workable material could be used. I allowed enough height to compensate for sloping grade dropping down to the proposed river. They only have a base coloring, still need to weather before scenery.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Art, Bob & Dave thanks very much for your input.
I used 2”x 2’x 8’ insulation and glued it together using latex caulk. I have not yet glued it to the joists. The ¾” plywood looks good on Bob’s fantastic layout but I thought I would save myself some work and have trains operational much quicker using the foam.
Thanks again.
Ed
One of the reasons I don't like foam for a permanent layout.
I built a foam layout for my son that was a folded dogbone, so the majority of the main line was on a grade.
I built the grades by using 1" foam and building up layered foam risers under it and then laying one cookie cuttered piece of foam on top. Many people layer cake the foam and then try and cut the grade. I built up the grade and then put a piece of foam on top. That way the track surface is perfectly flat and smooth. there will be voids uner the foam sub roadbed between the risers but that was never a problem. By using combinations of 1/2, 1 and 2 inch foam, you can easily step up the elevation.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Need a little more info on your construction. You say that you have "L" girder and joists @ 14" O.C.. What foamboard are you using? Is it glued directly to joists?
The "L" girder and joists would allow for risers to hold the subroadbed and could be adjusted for elevations for any track above the joists.
I don't understand why layouts get fully covered w/ foam only to try to include grades. Yes, it does give a quick but flat base, great for gentle rises in any elevation for basically flat layouts. If serious grades and elevation, scenery, cuts, rivers etc. a cookie cutter or riser spline lends itself to be so much more versitile. Open grid or cookie cutter approach does make vast scenery areas more difficult in that the open sections need to be covered in a screen, membrane, cloth etc. Flat industrial areas, towns and random buildings can be placed on plywood bases held on risers at any desired elevation regardless of the track grade.
The full foam appraoch and foam risers starts to create problems with switch motor accessability and mounting. Others will say cut the foam out and mount the Tortoise, but why go to such extreme and waste all that foam?
Various construction techniques can be mixed and incorporated into any layout. Some areas (flat)can be done with sheet foam, but once the grades change , switch to cookie cutter with 3/4 ply strips or spline supported on risers at the open grid. The open grid will allow for easy support of hills/ mountain scenery, deep cuts and valley etc. Cardboard lattice, wire screening and other methods can be used for fill in. The open sections allow for below layout access to tunnel track, switch motor installation and service and wiring.
Examples from the club layout
Quality 3/4" ply for subroadbed on risers but note the elevated wood spline
Huge mountain areas are accessible from below and the open grid allows for lattice support where nec.
I realize that this layout is on a rather grand scale, but the same principles and techniques can be applied on a smaller scale
I hope some of this helps. If your foam isn't totally glued and secure, maybe some of this can be incorporated for the changes you need.
The WS worked fine for me. I just adjusted the plan to fit the grades availble. I have tried the cookie cutter approach by just screwing a riser under the foam where I want it to go up. The trick is to get the rest of the foam screwed down well.
I am looking for suggestions on how to construct inclines on my 2” foamboard base layout. The foamboard sits on 5’ x 12’ L-girder with 1”x 3” joists 14” on center. I would like to keep my grades below 3% if possible. Some of my proposed grades are 2.3% and 2.6%. I have looked at the Woodland Scenic inclines (2%-3%) but I can’t figure out how to adjust them to my grades. I am also considering using the cookie cutter method but I am not sure how to support them from the bottom. Does anyone have suggestions?