Elmers Foam Board

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am about to start my Atlas HO-14 layout and am a bit curious about something.

I have a 4x8 layout using a 3/4" thick piece of plywood. I plan to use Caboose Ground Throws for now (I can get around the entire layout, so I’m not worried about using remote turnouts for now) and the controller is DCC.

I am hoping not to drill in to wood any more than I have to, so I am pondering using Elmer’s Foam board, maybe about a half inch thick like Michael’s sells. Is this suitable for a layout base? I figure 8 sheets will cover the entire layout (20"x40" sheets) with some left over.

Also any suggestions on running wire would be great.

2

It will work. However, I think you will find that 1/2" in foam insulation is cheaper and will come in a ‘4x8’ sheet. (Be sure to peel the plastic protective film off from it.) If you use 2" foam insulation there is no need for the plywood underneath, just a simple frame and a facia to protect the edges of the foam (needed even with foam on top of plywood.) I think you will find a 4’x8’ sheet of 2" foam and some 1"x3" lumber to frame it will be less expensive than the plywood and foam to go on top of it, lighter weight too.

To attach ground throws to the foam, many folks cut a piece of wood (luan or plywood) that is the thickness of their roadbed, into a square about 1 1/2" square. Glue that to the foam with latex caulk and attach the ground throw to that.

Good luck,

Richard

3

I wish I had thought of that before I went ahead and bought the plywood back in August, or I would.

I had asked Lowe’s about foam board back in July and they told me to go to a hobby shop. Maybe I asked for the wrong thing.

I’ll definitely try that trick with the ground throws.

4

Like “cowman” said, make sure you peel off the plastic coating because it will not stick when you glue it to plywood…so i was told[:-^]

5

Even though you’ve already bought the plywood, it’s not too late to re-consider. You can rip the plywood into strips and use it for framing and fascia. If you take two strips and screw them together at right angles, you will have an “L-girder” which is light and strong, and can be used for table legs.

At my houise, plywood sheets slowly disappear, as they are a versatile material to have “in stock.”

I use 1/4 inch foam board for a lot of things on my layout, but it’s not a very good base. The stuff I’m thinking of has paper backing on both sides of the foam core. Paper isn’t a good base material, as it will absorb water and warp a bit when it gets wet. A lot of scenic work and track ballasting involves water-based glues, applied liberally and often diluted with more water, so a layout base needs to be water-resistant.

6

I like the sturdiness of the 3/4" plywood, and always have plywood as a base beneath any foam I use. Unless you’re going to have areas of your scenery that will below track level, there is no reason you can’t skip the foam and just lay roadbed (foam or cork) directly on the plywood. Foam or cork roadbed will be cheap than covering you whole layout with Elmer’s board and then you would still need the roadbed.

If you want to have streams/rivers below track level, the 1/2" stuff isn’t going to give you enough height or depth, you really need to go with at least 1", 2" being preferable. Ask for foam insulation board. If you live in one of the warmer climate areas (Florida, California) you may have trouble finding it. You can call Dow Corning (google it) for the nearest dealer.

As to the Elmer’s board, also known as foamcore board. I have used that for many things on my layout, (roads, buildings, etc), I have glued it with hotglue, elmer’s white glue, painted it with water-based acylics and latex paint, glued down groundfoam, all with no ill effects. The glossy paper the foam is sandwiched in doesn’t seem to be affected much if at all by any of our scenicing processes. It could be used for roadbed, but I don’t think you’ll save any money and it will also make the trains sound louder.

7

Either :

A} you live in a temperate climate and your Lowes doesn’t sell the extruded 1 or 2 inch blue foam{you would have to order online or directly from teh Lowes sales desk if they will special order for you in blue, or Home Depot In Pink in advance to pick it up when it arrives or find out who has foam based layoutouts in your area and ask where they got it, or order online-hard to do}

B} The didn’t carry the extruded 1 or 2 inch foam as it was July. {they tend to carry more in winter}

C} They should also have had the bubble-dot white crumbly foam for insulation and what not. They apparentely didn’t carry that either.

D} they were just making fun of you and the other “hobbbyists” who come in for foam to do what with? make a model railroad layout on? Are you crazy? whats that?

E] you can try hanging around construction sites to see if they dispose of extruded foam boad that you may be able to collect for free. ASk fo the crew Foreman and ask him if you can have some of the waste.

8

I checked tonight at another Lowes (I’m in mid-western North Carolina), but they only had 3/4" polystyrene foam insulation, not thick enough (and I’d rather not glue several pieces together to make the 1-2" thickness people are talking about here).

I’ll check a couple of more places, then do what you suggested.

9

Here at lowes website is the extruded rigid blue foam insulation in 1/2 inch, 1 inch ont he website in x8 foot sheets:

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=foam+insulation

or better yet here:

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=rigid+foam+insulation

up here in the north they caryy 2" thick pieces.

HERE IS HOME DEPOTS VERSION;

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=extruded+foam+rigid+insulation&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

gOOD LUCK

10

Okay, here’s the results of a little perseverance. I did not have to settle for Elmers foam board. I found a 4x8 sheet of the 2" Owens-Corning XPS insulation, which Home Depot so graciously cut up for me into 4 2x4 sheets.

I couldn’t be happier.

Now I just gotta get a few odds and ends of track and I’m ready to start.

My next question. I went and got some scenery material from Woodland Scenics, and also got some light grey ballast (it’s the approximate color of the ballast used in my town on the railroad tracks).

What I did not get was grass matting. I decided it would look too artificial and figured I could use the sprinkle-on turf when I get the foam board laid.

How do I get around the pink color? What is the best way to make the top white? Do I paint it or what?

11

If Home Depot does not carry it it in the local store because of the climate you live in, they will bring it in for you as it is in their product line. Just go to the service desk and ask them to bring it in for you. If the guy has a problem doing this he has no idea about his job. Tell him you will order it through head office online and will pick it up at this store. Then he’ll get off his lazy butt.[C):-)]

Brent

12

???

You might want to reread the previous post. I have the stuff now, just not sure what to do with it.

13

Use latex paint to paint it. Here is a little progress on a spot on my layout. I used chocolate brown.

Same spot. More work needed still though.

Brent

14

I’ll get some of that tomorrow then and paint it out in my carport, so the fumes don’t get to me.

I like your layout. It’s not exactly what I’d do (because I don’t want to copy other people’s work; I want this to be my design), but it’s a good approximation of the type of terrain I want. Mountains and tunnels are what I am striving for.