diorama like thingy question

[Noah Hofrichter]

I can think of the name at the moment, but I'm planning on building a small diorama like thingy, what ever you can call it. I'm going to make a small section of the Rock springs quarry loader, in Rock Spring WI. I was wondering what you could use for a light weight base. I've heard of maybe using formcore for a base and suports underneath. Any trails and errors about modual making or what ever it's called would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Noah[:p]

A side note, the quarry I mentioned, also known as the Pink Lady Quarry, is where the WSOR gets there ballast for the rails. UP runs several daily balast trains up here as well, so they must use the balast somewhere on there lines. Its pinkish purpleish if any body has seen a place where they do use it. I supose they might take it to companies that package it for use in gardens, ect, but I don't know.

[Anonymous]

I once tried to build a layout with foam core. BIG MISTAKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![:(!][:(!][:(!][B)][B)][V][V][xx(][:(][:(][:O][:O][banghead][banghead][banghead][banghead][|(][|(][tdn][tdn][tdn][tdn] the stuff curled up when I painted it, the plaster wouldn't stick to it, The joints were all missalighned !!!!!!! Just some advice : DO NOT USE IT !!!!!!!!! I thought it was a good idea when i saw it but it does not work. Just trying to save you some work. use extruded foam. Let me know how that diorama durnes out when you get it finished !

[Jetrock]

One material I'd recommend for a lightweight base is two sheets of 1/8" hardboard, stuck together with a liberal application of Liquid Nails glue. This 1/4" thick sandwich is stiffer than just 1/4" hardboard (since it is, effectively, two laminated sheets) and is just as lightweight. Supposedly you can get decent results from two similarly laminated sheets of 1/8" foamcore (to prevent warping) but your mileage may vary...