I am getting ready to start my benchwork for my O gauge layout. Several posts have mentioned using homosote or foam over the pywood top which makes sense to me to keep things quiet. My question is: Do you then use a road bed under your track or just screw it to the homosote? Eventually I would like to add ballast to the track, if this makes any difference.
I made a small test layout on a door last year and used rubber road bed stapeled down and then screwed the track through that. It wasn’t very quiet but at least I got to run some trains
There are a lot of different ways to do it. I wouldn’t use homasote over plywood, homasote is strong enough to be used by itself. When I do my layout I am planning on using straight homasote for the subroadbed, then glue cork roadbed on the homasote, then use gargraves track. Screw the track down, then balast, then remove the screws. The balast when done properly should be enough to keep the track from moving around. The problem with the screws is they transfer the vibrations directly to the subroadbed and when you have open framework this acts like an amplifier and makes the sound worse than it really is.
I was talking with another railroader here at work the other day and he had this problem. His layout is fully enclosed around the bottom so what he did was install a white noise generator under the layout. The white noise generator generates noise that is inverse of what is being generated and thereby cancels out the noise, the end result is no ambiant noise. You have to run your trains while setting up the white noise generator, but do not have the sounds on (if you have sounds). It was quite complex to me, so I don’t think that will be an option… sounded cool though… BTW - I have n
I used foam on my layout, and if I were to do it over again, I’d place a layer of Homosote on top of that. The foam doesn’t seem to quiet the train noise very well.
No matter what sound dampening material you use, do not screw through it into the plywood. The screws will transmit the vibrations directly to the plywood.
On my layout I used a plywood base with the compressed fiber type insulation board glued to it. I used cork road bed glued and stapled, to hold while the glue dried, and then my track. I used screws to secure the track, some through into the plywood, until I ballasted and the ballast glue set. I then removed the screws and the ballast has done a good job of holding the track in place for four years now.
You definately want to put homosote on top of plywood. Or on foam like Jim said. The thicker ply the better . Homosote will sag over time if not supported. I’ve used it for many years & no problem with plywood under neath & crossbracing. 30 years ago the HO guys woudn’t use anything under half inch ply & for O-gauge they said you needed 3/4 inch. Especially if you may have to get up on it. If ballasting you can screw the track down till you ballast it, then remove the screws, but the screws just going into the homosote & not the plywood should be alright. If you can get a copy of the book below, that would be good.
I agree with Jim that foam is not very sound absorbent. Homosote does an excellent job of deadening the ambient sounds of the train. After using foam board, I was really disappointed. I think in some respects, the noise was greater. However, I used a product called Vinylbed underneath my Atlas track and the ambient sounds were significantly attenuated. I couldn’t be more pleased. The advanatage of foam over homosote is that you can carve up the foam for scenery details (river beds, streams, small lakes, etc.). This has resulted in a great combination for my needs.
Thanks for all the info. I think a white noise generator is a little over my head but I wonder what the possibilities would be for using one when the grandkids are over, or better yet, the inlaws.
But nothing compares to a summer job working in the distribution center for a large pneumatic tube delivery system, sorting and rerouting all the cylinders. Guaranteed to provide a couple extra winks during slow periods.
Bob,
You are of course correct, but for those that don’t understand how it works, it in effect cancels out the noise. I once worked at a place where they use white noise and I’m not entirely sold on how healthy it is. Where you could definitely not ‘hear’ the warehouse conveyors in the background, I think you could actually hear both the conveyors and the white noise. I used to go home nearly everyday with splitting headaches…
Chuck, thanks for the clarification on the homasote on ply - I used only homasote on an earlier layout but did not have it very long as the A/C lines froze and destroyed nearly all the track and homasote… [V]
By now, most of the regulars are aware that I am a homosote user. My present layout has a plywood base under homosote. I have found that while the homosote, for all intents and purposes, is sturdy enough for HO, the weight of O and the “climate” makes the homosote a little less desireable as a stand-alone base (unless, of course you have a decent benchwork support)
The homosote accepts roadbed material easily. As far as sound, I think the homosote by itself would be enough, even with screws, to keep the noise down.
Another thought: I don’t know what your layout focus is but if you cover the homosote with one of those indoor-outdoor carpet products before you lay the track, you will, not only make it quieter but you will have a lot of “green” grass coverage.
I just built my benchwork 3 weeks ago. I used a layer of homasote on top of the 3/4" plywood table topr. I used Liquid Nails to hold down the homasote. I put screws around the edges of the table to hold the homasote down while the Liquid Nails dried. The next afternoon I removed the screws, and the homasote is staying down great so far. Good Luck.
Noise? Aren’t trains suppose to make noise? I plan on putting down foam under my underlayment [1/2] inch MSD. Right now, I really can’t complain about track noise. Running on Realtrax. The engines with Railsounds/PS2 drown out any track car noise. I ran then with engine sounds off and they are not as bad as tublar. Could be the carpet on the floor under the layout is helpsing with noise. I think I am going to use foam as it is easier to carve scenery like rivers, lakes and etc.