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[RosepineRR]

I read somewhere there is a material other than plywood that can be used for a layout, but I can't find that article.  I can see where driving track nails into plywood could be a trick.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Thanks. RosepineRR

[tpatrick]

Most modelers don't drive track nails directly into the plywood base. They use cork roadbed, or something similar, to support the rails and hold the nails. In some quarters plywood is giving way to foam board. A search will bring  up lots of discussion of foam on these forums. It has the advantages of being inexpensive, lightweight and much more adaptable to scenery construction. My layout is all plywood, but if I ever build another it will be foam, if only for the experience of using it.

[Anonymous]

I use 2" thick foam over plywood for my entire layout. It's easy to cut into for depressions in the ground, easy to cut, (a hot iron works well enough, but a jigsaw is easier, faster, and less smelly, I started using a jigsaw after a while with the hot iron, and I've never looked back) and holds track nails well. Shortline railroads can get away with no cork roadbed, but most larger (as in prototype railroads, i.e. UP, BNSF, etc) railroads would have roadbed, at least on the mainline.

Hope this helps!

[RosepineRR]

Thank you so much for your reply, it helped quite a bit. 

[RosepineRR]

Thanks you for your reply, excuse the pun, but it put me on the right track.

[joseph2]

  two inch thick blue stryofoam works good,but I am sorta  old school and also use sheets of half inch Homasote. 4X8 sheets of it are gray color,made from recycled paper,easy to push nails into. unsure if it is spelled Homasote or Homosote,if you Google the product you can find the manufacturs website and a local dealer. You will get more responses to your question on the Model Railroader layout forum, cordially ,  Joe