markie97 I have started an expansion of my layout and was planning on using 2" and in some areas 1" thick foam insulation board, the kind you buy in Home Depot or Lowes. After reading comments in the foam core discussion thread I have some concerns about expansion and/or contraction. Should I be concerned?
I have started an expansion of my layout and was planning on using 2" and in some areas 1" thick foam insulation board, the kind you buy in Home Depot or Lowes. After reading comments in the foam core discussion thread I have some concerns about expansion and/or contraction. Should I be concerned?
Yes.
Ed
Hello all,
On my pike I used two 1"x2'x8' pieces of blue foam as the base. These are tongue and groove on the 8' side.
I used carpenters glue along the tongue and groove to mate them.
The foam is attached to 1/4-inch sub-roadbed with wood screws and finishing washers.
The inclines are Woodland Scenic Incline/Decline sets (3%) and the elevated areas are 1/2-inch extruded foam layered with carpenters glue to achieve the desired forms.
I then attached the foam roadbed to the foam bases with silicone caulk.
Next I painted the entire layout with latex paint just up to the edges of the roadbed.
I harvest my own ballast from local sources. This is mixed with powdered Plastic Resin Glue.
When the ballast is smooth, and to my liking, I spray it with isopropyl alcohol and a few drops of India ink to set it.
As I posted in another thread, I live in an extremely dry environment; 20% to 30% humidity all year.
I have not noticed any perceptible shrinkage from the foam in the three years this pike has been in existence.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"