need some input about road bed...........

[geepers]

hello everyone, i have a dilema. i built my benchwork in the open grid method and covered it with 1/2" plywood. then i put a layer of 1" pink foam on top of the plywood. my question is this..... has anyone just used the foam for track bed? do i really need to use a road bed under my track? should i raise the mail line with cork roadbed? what is your guys suggestions? im modeling the 1950's and my layout will depict a rural branch line serviceing a paper mill, a chemical plant and a pulp wood plant. i know, (only 3 industries), but the paper plant alone will take up a 12' section of my layout. the pulp wood will occupy another wall of 16'. anyways, if someone has any suggestions or ideas, please let me know. thanks in advance!
steve[:D]

[grandeman]

You could use foam roadbed for the main and lay track directly to the 1" foam for spurs. I think it would look fine.

[geepers]

hello grande man and thanks for the input. one question though..... what do you mean by ..use foam? what type and how thick? thanks!

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by geepers

hello grande man and thanks for the input. one question though..... what do you mean by ..use foam? what type and how thick? thanks!

Sorry, I was a bit vague. I meant Woodland Scenics foam roadbed. Can be had in 24 ft rolls. Here's another thread that covers it well. http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=37839

[eng22]

I think the question is: Can you put track on pink foam, the answer is yes! However, your mainline should be on roadbed, cork, foam, homabed, whatever you like. Your spurs for industry can go right on the pink foam. In my foam table layout, I have the following track elevations: Mainline on homabed, sidings on n-scale homabed, spurs on the pink foam.

See picture for all three examples -