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Bruce in the Peg
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Blind Bruce Hello folks, I have begun constructing benchwork for my 4X8 layout. I would like to know how large a span will be needed to support 2" extruded foam. I was thinking of 18". Will this be enough?
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Lovelady There is no way to attach under table switch machines such as Tortise, or for that matter any other under table devices to foam.
QUOTE: Use the foam but support it with at least 3/8" plywood min, thickness, 1/2" is better, then you have more support for under table wiring and switch machines. You can then support it with a 2 foot grid spacing. If nothing is under the table, 16 inch centers will work.
QUOTE: Originally posted by mark_in_utah I'm with grayfox. I'm currently building a new layout using 3/4" plywood. Why? I want it strong enough so that if someone lays across it it won't cave in,
QUOTE: AND any vertical easements will become automatic as you cannot bend the stuff all that easily.
QUOTE: My benchwork is also 2X4 on 18" centers.
QUOTE: I can crawl around on it without damaging it.
QUOTE: Unless you're going to have a very narrow layout, I'd put down some plywood.
QUOTE: You can easily span long distances with the foam, BUT the foam cannot support much weight before it starts to give.
QUOTE: When you look at all the cost of what you'll put on top of the foam, as well as the value of your time, plywood is CHEAP.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker I don't know how Dow rates their foam, but the various Owens-Corning extruded foam products have product names that reference their compression stength in PSI. The common stuff I get at my Home Depot is FOmular-250, which is 250 psi compression strength - true this is against a solid immovable object, not unsupported. I've leaned on mine while trying to get a straight down view to align tracks, and it doesn't give. If I lean on my elbows it does. There is the next product up, either 350 or 450. The local HD doesn;t carry it, and it is likely to be very expensive. It's designed to insulate the OUTSIDE of a foundation and withstand the force of the backfill. If you could get 175 pounds on a 18" span of the 250, the better one would take well over 200 pounds. --Randy
QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335 where do you get the 2" foam. All I can find at lowes is the 1/2" stuff
QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335 Oh, never thought of that... Maybe Ill just glue a couple half inch sheets together...
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum