What is the proper type of foam baord to use for light weight layout construction? Also, I've noticed most mention 2" thick. Is a thinner one too flimsy?
Owens Corning extruded insulation was my choice
It comes in 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/2, and 2 inch thicknesses
My choice was 1" which will structurally span one foot just fine for our purposes
I used risers 6 inches on center for my cookie cutter construction
TF
Big Box home supply stores sell it as insulation. The colour depends on the manufacturer. Blue or pink is the most common, and two inch is stronger, so fewer cross members are needed.
Our club then puts Homasote sheets on top, glued together so that cork can be nailed down.
2" can easily span 16" without needing plywood underneath. It also allows you to do some sculpting to get gullies, ditches and rivers. Ken Patterson on youtube, glues two and three pieces of 2' foam for even more elevation options.
If you live in Southern Calif, the southwest or south, you won't find it in the big box stores.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I'm on my 4th layout useing foam. I use scraps,odd size pieces, 3/4, 1, and 2in. Both pink or blue. I found NO need for plywood above or below. I have spanned 2in over 24in, 16 for 3/4.
I nolonger use road bed, when I did, plane old latex caulk held it down along with the track.
There are many,many who use it, each has thire own dos and don'ts.
There are also thouse who are agaist it for any number of reasons.
I use polystyrene, only problem with that is all open areas need a coating of plaster cloth. I do the cloth after the cork and hills are in.
Llenroc fanWhat is the proper type of foam baord to use for light weight layout construction?
Dow rigid insulation is the blue stuff, and Owens Corning is the pink. Take your pick, but, as Henry says, it depends what part of the country you live in, as far as availability.
The density is 250 and 150. 250 can be more expensive, depends where you get it. The density doesn't matter for model railroading. What ever is cheaper.
So, what part of the country do you live in? If your in a more northern area, scraps for making mountains sometimes can be found in construction site dumpsters.
Mike.
My You Tube
You don't say where you live, or exactly what you want to build with the foam. I live in South Florida, and I need to drive out of State just to find anything thicker than 3/4"
Pink foam is good enough for model railroads. Each color actually has different strengths and properties.
The orange foam that surf boards are made out of is probably the best, but it is so expensive very few people use it.
2 inch pink foam with supports on 16" centers is plenty strong.
I have a big stash of 2 inch pink foam I brought back from a trip to Indiana.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Around here, Lowes stopped carrying the pink, they have their own green. Same stuff though.
No, not a nice grass green, it's kind of sickly green - see my basement thread for pics. It needs to be painted over just as much as the pink stuff.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I'm in Eastern NC and Lowe's seems to only have their own 1" stuff available anywhere nearby. Any suggestions re: glueing two 1" pieces together and using longer (16") spans or just using the 1" and supporting every 6" or so?
Llenroc fanAny suggestions re: glueing two 1" pieces together and using longer (16") spans or just using the 1" and supporting every 6" or so?
That's up to you. Here in SE. WI., it's $20 a sheet.
The lumber for closer supports is probably cheaper than extra thicknesses of foam, but that's your call.
If you glue two sheets together, it doesn't have to be a solid continuous coverage, just a few beads of a caulk adhesive, something formulated for using with the foam, or even regular latex caulk.
My layout sits on a 2" foam base, and the chunks of foam I used for the hills and rocks, I glued together with regulat latex caulk. It takes a while for the caulk to set, so I also shoved in a few 16d nails where needed, to help hold it all together.
Ken Patterson uses gorilla glue, which is water activated and expands, so you need to weight the top piece to the bottom. Do not use silicon caulk,which has been outside in the garage for a couple years.
I'd be inclined to take a road trip to southern VA to buy it there.
6" spans will interfere with under layout turnout machines
Home Depot is $20 for 1" and $30 for 2"
2" foam is thick. I still prefer it to 1" since less sturdy. With 1" foam, you have depth to create valleys, etc. in the layout.
While more expensive than the 1" foam, the 2" variety provides more opportunities for creating elevations and slightly deeper waterbodies.
Kevin in Florda you can buy Dow blue 2 inch extruded polystyrene in Tampa at a place called Insulation4us for approximately $39.00 for a 4x8 sheet, Dow makes it up to 4 inches thick. Their phone # is 786 224 0029 and yes they are open for business.
Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.
Interesting site, Bob. I just checked it out, and asked a couple of questions in their "live chat".
Is one of their (as they call it ) collection sites in Tampa?
I tried to get specific info for collection sites in WI, but did not get any info until I ordered. I was just curious, not wanting to place an order.
Yes Mike A site is in Tampa. I bought 3 sheets there last month and they had a huge stock of it. They did not have any 3 or 4 inch stock in house but would order it.
Bob D
submanKevin in Florda you can buy Dow blue 2 inch extruded polystyrene in Tampa at a place called Insulation4us
Bob, Thank you for that tip. I wrote the information in my Hobby Notebook if I ever need 2 inch foam again. Right now I have four sheets stashed in the garage.
4 inch foam would have been amazing to have when I was making CosPlay costumes.
rrinker Around here, Lowes stopped carrying the pink, they have their own green.
My wife just bought a 4x8 sheet of pink at Home Depot. But she's not using it for trains, instead for a hydroponic garden.
I use plywood or OSB with Homasote and Midwest cork. I'm old school.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
My first layout had 1-inch foamboard on 3/8" plywood and 22-inch spacing. I'm a big man and could lean heavily on the layout without any damage. The width of the layout will be important if you use 1 foamboard alone, even with close risers. May break or crack with a heavy lean... Just my thought.
Most people use the pink or blue foam but there are a few modelers who have used foamboard and built lightweight modules. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/156549.aspx
Gary
I love the 2" foam. It's very strong, which was a bit of a surprise to me. In one famous incident, the guy who's been helping me build the railroad actually was lying on top of the foam. Since he is a very large man, I was impressed that the foam had no trouble holding him up. I took a picture of it, but I can't find it (besides, he would kill me if I posted it). Anyhow, the point is that the 2" foam is strong, and easy to mold for scenery, mountains, etc.
I have used plywood with homasote and 2" foam on my layout all with Midwest cork roadbed. I found the foam to be quite noisey.