Gary, in your follow-up post you mentioned that you will have trains running underneath the scenery. In this case, it is important to have at least part of the scenery be removeable if the trains are truly “underneath” the scenery, as in a tunnel. These “liftoff” sections require a bit of planning, but the edges can be successfully disguised with shrubbery or talus.
Yeah, ive given this little snag some thought, im going to have to incorporate a removable section to a hidden crossover atleast. At worst, i have access from underneath the layout to a certain exstent.
The only real issue i can forsee is cleaning the track although a “clean machine” is on its way. It would be more awkward to clean rails in the conventional way but by no means impossible.
Likewise, in the event of a derailment, a quick reach up and under and the cars will be recovered!
I use the reach up and under retrieval method, but since I also used spline roadbed throughout, the hidden trackage leaves the rolling stock and locos susceptible to a tumble to the floor in the event of a derailment under my hills. I therefore cut and fit slabs of 1" foam to lie under the splines held up by the joists. I can remove these easily, and reach up to right any derailments, but in the meantime, a more serious mishap is prevented.
I’ve used the traditional hardshell Hydrocal plaster scenery on my first layout and at a club I was in. I built up the terrain on my home layout with crumpled up newspaper and masking tape while at the club, I used weaved strips of cardboard. Both worked fine.
However, on my next layout, I’ll be using extruded foam for the following reasons; foam is lightweight, foam can be the benchwork (with some form of shelf bracket support underneath), and I hate planting trees on hardshell scenery. With foam, planting trees is as simple as poking the trunk into the foam.
I would strongly suggest that you try to rework your track plan so you do not have any turnouts or crossovers hidden under the scenery. You can be sure once the layout is in operation, it will be the hidden trackwork components that will give you the most trouble. You’ll want them in a location that will facilitate their maintenance.
Bob