Can you guys give me a list of them and dont include Midwest. I wanna try it and see what roadbed I should use for my next layout.
Is there one other than Midwest?
I think Model Power makes cork roadbed. Trainworld is the only dealer I know of on the Internet that has MP brand, Item Number 4311 in HO scale or 4321 in N scale.
We have some pieces of cork roadbed at our club that is very stiff, dried out and brittle. It is a much lighter color than Midwest cork, and I think it might be Model Power. If so, I would not advise using it.
I used both Midwest and MP on my layout. The Midwest was a lighter brown and more uniform in color. It also had a pretty uniform shape and nice angled cut down the middle of the strips (the angled cut that forms the sloped sides of the roadbed).
The MP was darker and looked like it had a lot more rubber content in it. The angled cut on the MP was not always on center, so I usually ended up with one narrow half and one wide half. Also, the angled cut seemed like it only went about half the depth of the cork strip, so I ended up with ugly, ragged edges on my roadbed where I ripped the halves apart - took a lot of elbow grease with a sanding block and Surform to get it smoothed out.
In terms of appearance and amount of installation labor required to “get it right,” my vote is for Midwest. Not sure about the long term drying characteristics, as I just finished laying my track. i.e. not sure if the higher rubber content in the MP will help resist long term drying/cracking. Will report back in about 5 years and let you know [;)]
What are some internet sources of the Midwest brand cork roadbed? It seems to me that once the track is ballasted and the ballast is sealed with appropriate adhesive, that drying of the cork roadbed would be minimal.
Bob
Here’s a short list - there are many others:
www.discounttrainsonline.com
www.internettrains.com
www.internethobbies.com
www.cchobbies.com
Thanks for the information on internet sources of Midwest cork roadbed.
Bob