All,
As the name of this thread suggests, I am looking for replies from fellow Aussies.
I am thinking about building a small fold up layout and am interested to know what others see as being the best material to use as a base board. I was thinking plywood, but are there any better suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Hi JonathonC,
I don't think you can go past ply, but it's very much a matter of personal choice. It'll be interesting to see what the rest of the Aussie contingent think.
But i wouldn't go with anything else, even for a small portable layout. :thumbsup:
Thanks Bealman,
I was thinking ply as the first choice. But curious if others have used MDF or masonite. Or anything else?
I have chosen ply for my last few layouts. I've seen people use (and tried some of) chipboard, MDF, canite (for you Brits, a nasty, crumbly local relative of sundeala), but for weight, ease of use, etc., unless you want to climb on top of the layout, I'd pick ply again.
Yep, give that canite a miss. It's horrible.
JohnathanC
In respect of your intention to build a small fold-up layout:
I would respectfully suggest that you check my thread ''For those who might not have any space', as it is possible some of your questions could be answered there. I used MDF BTW, for the construction...
Hope it proves useful
Thanks for the replies everyone. I will most likely go with ply, but I will check out your thread Komota.
I use foamular. it comes in different thicknesses, so you can carve, cut and generally chop it around. it is surprisingly strong and will very happily support a small layout with no cross-bracing at all. I put mine on a frame of 25x25mm (1"x1") and have put removable legs in the corner. I made the backboard and side boards out of 3 ply, and the frame and boards completely protect the layout from damage. It is also very light. Cheers, Bill.
Quote from: ozzie Bill. on July 22, 2014, 11:28:46 PM
I use foamular. it comes in different thicknesses, so you can carve, cut and generally chop it around. it is surprisingly strong and will very happily support a small layout with no cross-bracing at all. I put mine on a frame of 25x25mm (1"x1") and have put removable legs in the corner. I made the backboard and side boards out of 3 ply, and the frame and boards completely protect the layout from damage. It is also very light. Cheers, Bill.
Thanks. Never heard of that. Where do you buy yours from?
I've never heard of product either, but it sounds very promising! I like the 'lightweight' bit especially.
Basically it is an extruded polystyrene insulation board. It is NOT the standard 'white' stuff that is used for packing, but a very specific product used in building insulation. http://www.foamular.com.au/ (http://www.foamular.com.au/) this is their site, they even have a little section under applications titled model making foam and even a few pix and refs to model trains.
The only downside is that it is a bit dearer. However, you can lay your track straight onto it, carve, slash, fill and all sorts of wonderful things, so personally reckon the advantages far outweigh the cost. BTW, I have no affiliation, just a big rap for the stuff. Cheers, Bill.
This looks extremely promising, especially for portable layouts. I've had a good look at the link (thanks Bill) - is it similar to that foam board which has a sort of card covering that I have seen used on several American layouts in the press?
George
It looks like the same material they put on roofs here in Spain to insulated the roof from the hot sun, it's about 4" thick. I had to have my roof repaired a couple of years ago and that's how I discovered they use it. Had a couple of sheets left over, one was cut up and used to make some of the hills on Claywell, the other I use as the base for my test track oval. :)
Hi mate
I have always done my layouts on ply also
However I'm helping a mate build one and he has used foam insulation board. I'm Newcastle you buy it from insulation industries and it is hard as but easy to carve out cuttings etc. put to a light frame this might be just the thing
Bart
I think you have discovered a new material for railway modellers!
Anyone else on the forum with experience using this medium?
I will grab a photo and upload it here
Bart
I have seen this material used for a layout. Worked out fairly well, but apart from the expense it was very noisy when the trains ran over it. It seems to amplify the sound.
Personally, I use MDF and haven't had any problems, despite everyone telling I would have, but I do seal it with Shellac.
The main reason I use MDF it is reasonably plentiful in my neighborhood and cheap. I change my mind so many times cheap becomes very relevant.
I also use aluminium frames as I have no facilities to any timber cutting.
Kind regards
Geoff
This looks extremely promising, especially for portable layouts. I've had a good look at the link (thanks Bill) - is it similar to that foam board which has a sort of card covering that I have seen used on several American layouts in the press?
Similar, but without the 'card' covering. Foamular is also very popular in US, which is where I came across it.
it was very noisy when the trains ran over it. It seems to amplify the sound.
Geoff, I don't have a noise issue. Is your mate putting it on top of some form of solid base board?
Cheers, Bill.
Bill
No, there is no board underneath just supported on a frame as one would do normally with a ply or MDF surface.
Articles in the American model press seem to allude to a noise problem as well, and a recent article in the Railway Modeller where someone created a replica of the David Jenkinson's Garsdale Road using similar material.
I think there are issues about attaching point motors like Tortoises although some people have come up with some innovative ideas. There would be any trouble attaching Peco point motors as these attach to the points, that is of course if you are using Peco points!
Lastly, some it has been raised in the model press about the toxicity of the material should it come in contact with heat or fire.
Bart should know the answer.
Kind regards
Geoff
Having run locos and trains on it I have found it not loud at all as it is a dense material used in sound/heat insulation and us blue in colour. We have installed 3mm cork on top though. The size of the sheet is big something like 8 by 4 and is 1 inch thick but I will check
Bart
Don't get me wrong. I think it has very good possibilities and have seriously considered using it myself. In fact, it would be very good with aluminum frames as you could some below track scenery.
However, it has its limitations as does ply and MDF.
Kind regards
Geoff
Quote from: Chatty on July 24, 2014, 12:56:34 PM
There would be any trouble attaching Peco point motors as these attach to the points, that is of course if you are using Peco points!
Lastly, some it has been raised in the model press about the toxicity of the material should it come in contact with heat or fire.
Regarding the Peco point motors attached directly to the point, I have never had any success with that, for some reason... I must be doing something wrong 'cos I just can't get them to throw when I attach them that way. I've always had to mount them with screws beneath the plywood baseboard.
Fire hazard... considering the number of layouts out there around the world that use polystyrene for scenery (mine included) I'd say a wee bit more in the form of a baseboard probably won't make an awful lot of diff! :beers:
Lastly, some it has been raised in the model press about the toxicity of the material should it come in contact with heat or fire.
I've never heard this. It is used in a wide variety of home, commercial and industrial applications, so assume that it is no better or worse than anything else. I know a lot of the US modellers use it, and they are possibly far more "aware" of hazards than most of us, due to the constant nagging of US regulators.
Anyway, I rate the stuff as pretty great to work with.
Yes, I did have trouble mounting the tortoise motors I use, but some planning will negate that issue next time. What I would do would be to cut the board to a reasonable depth from underneath and glue some ply into place so that the motors can be screwed to the ply. You would still maintain the surface of the foam board and have a ply deck maybe 1/2" underneath.
Cheers, Bill.
FYI, this appeared today on N scale net. I have not had a chance to check it out.
For Australian forum members - foam board now at Bunnings
Bunnings is now stocking insulation foam board (this is the foam board that you can cut, saw, sand). In Bunnings at Castle Hill yesterday they had shortish lengths - at least a metre in length, perhaps a metre and a half, and in depths of 25 and 50mm. The 50mm pieces are $20.
Cheers, Bill.
Quote from: ozzie Bill. on August 01, 2014, 12:13:26 PM
FYI, this appeared today on N scale net. I have not had a chance to check it out.
For Australian forum members - foam board now at Bunnings
Bunnings is now stocking insulation foam board (this is the foam board that you can cut, saw, sand). In Bunnings at Castle Hill yesterday they had shortish lengths - at least a metre in length, perhaps a metre and a half, and in depths of 25 and 50mm. The 50mm pieces are $20.
Cheers, Bill.
Thanks for this info. Will check it out. :beers:
I am sure that foamular is cheaper than the bunnings offering. you should be able to find their local dealer/distributor from their website. cheers, Bill.