Hello Everyone I am just starting building my "empire" and I read that using foam board is just as sturdy as plywood. I am sure you're all aquanited with "Six model railroads you can build" from Atlas, my beautiful bride and I are leaning towards "The Central Midland", but instead of running under I am toying with the idea of cutting a gully through the foam board and placing the station portion at a 45% angle to the layout edge. So before I go out this weekend and buy my bill of materials I am eager for input from more seasoned modelers. Thank you for taking the time to help us
Freelancing MCRR/NYC Northern Division - Angelo
Hi Nickel Plate Road
I assume you are talking about the yard on the left that apears to have a couple of loops over it the plan on the Atlas site is not the best a bit fuzzy.
I hope I have the right Central Midland Plan I know of more than one railroad named The Central Midland.
Properly done foam benchwork is just as good but it will still need some timber support just a lot less timber.
It would be better to build the bench work in layers if you can, so you have big flat bits where you need them rather than rough hacked out pieces.
Don't forget the straws for geting wiring through the foam where you need to so start saving those thick shake straws now.
If you have the space to get the yard out from under the loops angle straight however do it, it will save hassles later on when it comes to working the yard
Make sure all hidden track can be got at if you can't thats where you will have real ongoing problems "Murphy's Law" as applied to model rail roads.
Also think about bridges now as well so that your gaps and bridges match and if you need to get a train under it you can.
Beware of double stackers they need more room its embarassing to say the least when that top container hits or sticks under the bridge.
regards John
Hi John,
Thank you for you advise. We welcome it, we are still debating 30's and 40's or 50's and 60's era. I plan to frame it as if it were a wall section, 16" apart, so I have maxinum support. I plan to use two 3" pieces of board so I will have the depth for clearences. My wife and I want to create a diorama such as Utah bad lands mix of desert, jack pines on one end and transistion over to greener pasture at the other. The turnouts I have have switch gear attached which I hope to hide with scenery. Thanks for listening, regards Angelo