I bought some pre-cut Woodland Scenics foam sheets to create elevation. Should I have just used pink styrofoam? The latter is much cheaper, but I would need to cut it. Cutting the foam to fit exactly is far from easy. Being cost effective makes sense, but time and frustration are priceless!
TIA!
Lee
If it is your criterion that you’d prefer to save money for the same outcome, and if the WS product is costing you more for that outcome, then I would have to say that you have spent money needlessly. Wasting it…I guess if you achieve your aim it isn’t necessarily wasting it.
It’s your decision.
Hey, I too have just purchased foam products from woodland. But I didn’t pay their prices or pay for shipping. go to www.onlinetrains.com and type in the search box woodland scenics foam products. right now if you buy over $50 worth of products from online trains shipping is free. I have bought from them in the past and I am very satisfied with them. I think I would rather pay the extra $$ then go and buy a foam and cut it all up. have fun
I bought a few sheets of the woodland scenic foam, 3/4", mainly because it’s 3/4" exactly, whereas the blue styro I get at Lowes is 1/16" larger than being an actual 3/4". Anywhere where I need track at an exact elevation I use the WS, otherwise I use the general styro.
Anything we buy related to model trains is a waste of money…just ask my wife. Now I know why I’m not a millionaire!
I feel sorry for you. My wife seems to be the exact opposite. I have to be the “frugal one” or she would drive the train market prices beyond reach for most.
As for the foam, I bought one 2percent grade, and now will only get the “pink” or blue. It’s easy to cut if you use a decent razor and snap the sheet.
You just answered your own question.
I only purchase the various riser sets from Woodland Scenics.
I would not even consider buying the other foam pieces. A quick trip to the hobby shop or the building supply depot will be sufficient for me.
There the prices are probably about 25% of what Woodland scenics charges and there is no S&H charges.
As far a cutting to size I do not see a problem dealing with widths of 1/2" to 2" for most of the foam sheets.
But then again as I am on limited income I tend to be frugal.
Like don7, the risers have their place. It is the easiest way to put a grade on a flat surface. WS styrofoam won’t carve worth a darn, so for mountains and valleys, the pink, blue, green, yellow is the only way to go. Besides, I don’t buy any. I get more than I need from construction sites. Most foreman will let you have their scraps and some are full 1/2 sheets.
Hi
When I need foam I go around to constrution site where they are building new homes and ask the builder if I can take what they are throwing out, save a lot of money that way.
Another material not to be overlooke for building “levels” on a model railroad are the 2’ x 4’ ceiling tiles. Note need to be sealed with a sealer to eliminate any possible swelling. They are significantly heavier than foam sheets so benchwork needs to be adequate. However, they are plentiful and cheap.
Lee–
I built my 24x24’ HO scale Yuba River Sub with a combination of WS risers and 2" extruded foam. Granted, the WS is not exactly cheap, but their graded risers are extremely exact. This was seven years ago, and I’ve had no problems with them at all. And my track elevation goes from 0" on an average 2% grade to almost 18" at the highest point. IMO they’re definitely worth the expense.
Tom [:)]
I think the question being asked is should one stick to only buing the Woodland Scenics items? Most agree on the WS risers for track elevation, but what about the other WS items?
IMHO
The WS risers are very good, as Tom says, exacting.
For ballast, I would prefer to use Arizona Rock & Mineral Co. (real rock).
http://www.rrscenery.com/AZROCK5.html
For ground foam and the like, Scenery Express sells large jugs of ground foam and forest floor for 12.95, and their trees are the best.
Don–
Sorry, I may have mis-interpreted the question, I thought he was only asking about either WS Scenic risers or foam, not other WS products. My answer was meant to say instead of ‘either-or’ one can do a combination of both and save money at the same time.
Tom [:)]
WS foam stuff ‘cuts’ best with a hot wire cutter. You can cut pink or blue foam with one too…but the resulting smoke is poisonous. [xx(]
Stix–
VERY good point. That’s why I only use box or carpenter cutters on the pink or blue foam.
Tom