Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

pink foam

11691 views
39 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, August 28, 2017 5:29 PM

The thing I like about pink foam is you can do so much with it.  

This was a little experiment.  I stabbed a random line accross the  corner of 2 inch foam with a steak Knife about 8 10 times  then just broke it and half,  then I picked the tops with my fingernails on the perforations that were already there and this is what I got.

The process took about 30 40 seconds.  It's not the effect I want for rocks on my layout but I think it simulates the stone formations in the western states.  

Even though I I have no use for it I think I'm going to color wash and dry brush it.  I'm curious to see what it will look like.

 

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Monday, August 28, 2017 5:40 PM

I think I remember seeing that old ceiling tile makes good shale rocks,

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, August 28, 2017 6:22 PM

railandsail

I think I remember seeing that old ceiling tile makes good shale rocks,

 

Yes I've seen that too I might try that out on the water edges on the lake by my sawmill.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Monday, August 28, 2017 7:03 PM

I gussed right.  Checked with the yardman at the local lumber yard.  All the foam comes in 4'x4'x8' blocks, wrapped in plastic, 48 pieces of 1", 24 of 2", 18 of 3" and so on.   The 2' wide sheets still come in the same size blocks.

He said they'd ship it, I have no idea the cost.

Have fun,

Richard

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Monday, August 28, 2017 7:15 PM

never mind

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Monday, August 28, 2017 7:24 PM

rrinker
Have you price 3/4" plywood these days? It's also a LOT more expensive than it was 15 years ago

True. But in many areas of California and other relatively mild-winter states, a layout built from plywood will be cheaper than the equivalent one built from extruded foam -- just because the foam is harder to find and generally more expensive here than in other places.

Extruded foam is fine, plywood is fine, gatorboard is fine, etc.. But availability and price factor in.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Louisville
  • 588 posts
Posted by dbduck on Monday, August 28, 2017 10:00 PM

The older the tiles the better the effect

newer tiles are not made up layers like the older (20+ yrs) tile were

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 7:20 AM

dbduck

The older the tiles the better the effect

newer tiles are not made up layers like the older (20+ yrs) tile were

 

I did not know this.  

Maybe this is why when you go into an older building you often see a missing ceiling Tile or two.

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: sharon pa
  • 436 posts
Posted by gondola1988 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 8:07 AM

I go around to the construction sites to get mine. They usually give it to you to save room in the dumpsters, I have enough to do 2 layouts. Last haul was 3 truck loads for free and I use both blue and pink. Just make sure if it has the thinplastic layer pull it off glue wont stick to it, it has the little squares on it..

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: sharon pa
  • 436 posts
Posted by gondola1988 on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 8:17 AM
I use joint compound to cover the foam after I shape it. I put the compound in a coffee can and add water to mix it into a thin paste that I can brush it on. You can add your ground color to it as you mix it just in case it gets chipped the white don't show thru.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!