What is the best Roadbed to use?

[Anonymous]

Hello, I am building my first model railroad. I see a wide range of options from cork to foam to AMI instant roadbed.....Can anyone tell me what is the best type of roadbed to use?....

[Anonymous]

Hello, I am building my first model railroad. I see a wide range of options from cork to foam to AMI instant roadbed.....Can anyone tell me what is the best type of roadbed to use?....

[tomwatkins]

I've always gotten good results form the cork roadbed. It's easy to use and works well.

[tomwatkins]

I've always gotten good results form the cork roadbed. It's easy to use and works well.

[Anonymous]

In the layout design forum, I wrote about AMI; you might want to check that thread out. AMI is great for a new person as you can change your mind or modify ever so slightly without having to rip everything up, reglue and respike the roadbed and track.

[Anonymous]

In the layout design forum, I wrote about AMI; you might want to check that thread out. AMI is great for a new person as you can change your mind or modify ever so slightly without having to rip everything up, reglue and respike the roadbed and track.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice , I will check out the thread.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice , I will check out the thread.

[Anonymous]

Our modular group uses a dense black foam (the type that is/was used in automobile headliners) we cut it into the desired width and glue it to our layout (we use construction foam for our layouts). We weigh the foam down with weights and let it dry. The flex track is then glued to the foam roadbed and weighted down til dry. be sure to use a water base contact cement for this purpose.

[Anonymous]

Our modular group uses a dense black foam (the type that is/was used in automobile headliners) we cut it into the desired width and glue it to our layout (we use construction foam for our layouts). We weigh the foam down with weights and let it dry. The flex track is then glued to the foam roadbed and weighted down til dry. be sure to use a water base contact cement for this purpose.

[wp8thsub]

My preference is for roadbed called Homabed http://www.homabed.com which is made from a pressed paper product called Homasote (typically used for concrete expansion joints or for sound deadening). Homabed installs exactly like cork but is denser so it holds spikes well (important if you're handlaying or otherwise using short spikes that don't penetrate all the way to the subroadbed).

Beware the naysayers that try to blame Homasote for expansion and contraction problems that are more likely from benchwork movement. Homabed is very resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. You can soak it with water while building scenery or ballasting track and it doesn't budge.

One great advantage to a Homasote product is that it can be easily worked with power tools like belt sanders to get a perfectly smooth surface, thus ensuring smooth trackwork.

[wp8thsub]

My preference is for roadbed called Homabed http://www.homabed.com which is made from a pressed paper product called Homasote (typically used for concrete expansion joints or for sound deadening). Homabed installs exactly like cork but is denser so it holds spikes well (important if you're handlaying or otherwise using short spikes that don't penetrate all the way to the subroadbed).

Beware the naysayers that try to blame Homasote for expansion and contraction problems that are more likely from benchwork movement. Homabed is very resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. You can soak it with water while building scenery or ballasting track and it doesn't budge.

One great advantage to a Homasote product is that it can be easily worked with power tools like belt sanders to get a perfectly smooth surface, thus ensuring smooth trackwork.