My next layout will be a shelf switcher with no mainline trackage, just yard - with the tracks directly laid into the “dirt”. Do I satill have to put a cork roadbed on top of the foam insulation board, which will build the basis of my layout, or can I just lay the track on the board?
You can put the track right on the foam. You can also use sheet cork over the foam, or to fill in between the tracks, to give the “down in the mud” look of some yards.
When laying track right on the foam, some sort of foam-safe adhesive is needed, can’t just use track nails to affix the track, as they won’t hold.
I guess I will be using latex caulk or any other solvent free adhesive, that does not “melt” the foam.
On my layout, I used the long Micro-Mark spikes to hold down the cork to the foamboard and then used Atlas spikes to spike the track to the cork, using the Micro-Mark spikes in a few locations where the Atlas spikes wouldn’t hold.
Kevin
I laid track directly on foam using latex adhesive caulk for my present layout. Used cork on foam for the last one. Other than a different roadbed profile, I’ve not noticed a difference…
I used Franklin Titebond III which is water resistant and holds extremely well.