My small 30" x 53" layout will utilize a 2" extruded foam base, and I am thinking of using 1/8" tempered hardboard (smooth side up) for the cookie-cutter roadbed support which will accommodate changes in elevation. Anyone have experience using hardboard in this way? Would I use extruded foam pieces to support the hardboard, or something else? BTW, Peco PL-10e turnout motors will be employed.
Just use WS stuff, way easier.
Hardboard is a paper product, right? When paper gets wet, it gets soggy and warped. The shiny side is protected, but probably won’t hold glue very well. I’d use something.
Considering the small size of the layout, and its N, you might look into 1/8 inch plywood. That may not be the proper size/name, but it is available at Lowes or Home Depot in smaller sizes (2x4, 2x2 ???).
I’ve not worked with foam as a layout base, but I imagine it could work with the thin wood ply.
LION thinks that a 1/4 inch plywood would be better than hardboard. Only cookie cutter the LION did was with 3/4" plywood. But then that WAS the base.
Using hardboard cookie-cutter style would be a non-starter for me. Using hardboard as spline roadbed is a different story, it’s great.
Welcome to the Forum! Your first posts are moderated, so the first several posts will not appear immediately. That will clear up after several posts.
[#welcome]
We hope you continue to post here, and we are always interested in what others are doing on their layouts.
I would also try to use some thin plywood. If you really want to use hardboard (Masonite for us old people), it might be better to use ¼ inch.
Some advice (from Brent Batman) I was given that worked well is that you can inset the plywood into the foam at the start of the elevation to get a very smooth transition from the level table to the incline.
The foam will support your roadbed. Just don’t climb onto the layout and stand on it! [(-D]
As I said, please check back and let us know how it’s going.
Thank you all for your expertise. Instead of the Masonite (yes I’m old, York1) I got a sheet of 5mm underlayment, sanded both sides, from Home Depot. I just finished priming it on both sides. Next step is to attach my 24 sheet pasted-up of my of my 1:37 PowerPoint layout design onto the sheet, start cutting it up and laying cork roadbed. Then I’ll do the cookie-cutter thing with a slight margin outside the cork. Or should I lay the track down to see if adjustments need to be made to the cork before cutting it out? Again, your expertise would be most appreciated.