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MDF is not a paper product. It is medium density fibreboard and is manufactured by combining glue with sawdust and heating and pressing the mix. It is dimensionally stable for a period of time, but long-term exposure to high humidity will cause it to swell and deform badly. If you want to use it, simply seal it completely with 10 or so heavy coats of varethane or spar varnish. I do not and will not use it on my layout. Oh yes, you will find MDF is tough to nail or screw. You will find yourself drilling lots of holes to accomodate fasteners. You say you are having trouble with plywood buckling. If you use 1/2" or thicker five ply material manufactured with exterior glue that shows A-C on the grading mark, you will not have any buckeling problems. Problems with plywood arise because , in our effort to be economical, we opt for the cheapest stuff. The three ply stuff, with C-D grade markings, glue type not specified will be cheap enough but will give you headaches in the long haul. With wood products, you really do get what you pay for (most of the time). I have used OBS, also known as flake board (looks like wood shavings pressed into a sheet which is exactly what it is) because it was cheap. With enough support, it works very well. The problem is that the price for a sheet of OBS has gone from under $6 a sheet to over $18 a sheet in the past year. Someone else with ties to the bank can use that stuff. Sorry for the sermon, but after a lifetime in the building trades and related fields I have learned a little about wood products. Tom
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