Hi all. I’m planning on building a small Christmas-themed layout in N-Scale (about 2’ X 4", maybe a bit bigger) so it will be out for maybe a month or so. I wanted to use foam board as a base, and was thinking of that white insulation sheeting as that pink stuff is rather pricey. Between Type 1 and Type 2 foam sheeting, which would be firmer and hold up over time longer? Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.
welcome back prairieboy2765
Hi @prairieboy2765. The white stuff is bead board, correct? Kind of like the foam you would find in packaging? Typically, you would want to go with either pink or blue foam insulation board over the white stuff. It is more rigid and will hold up better. It makes great subroadbed and is easily carvable. It is pricey, but worth the cost for a sturdy foundation.
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Don’t use the bead board! Too flimsy.
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Thanks for your reply.
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You’re welcome! Please give us all some updates as your layout progresses! And feel free to ask away on here. There are quite a few N scalers on the forum.
I would avoid beadboard like the plague unless you’re using it in blocks to elevate other foamboard, but even then… The beads go everywhere when you cut it and they’re statically charged. It’s a nightmare. It also leaves a rough bumpy edge where you cut it unless you use a Hotwire cutter, but even then it’s not a ‘clean’ edge.
The extra expense of extruded polystyrene (XPS - the pink, blue or green stuff) is more than worth it.
Edit to add: Especially if the layout will be moved, like your Xmas display, you’ll also want the rigidity and durability of XPS.
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Thank you Brianw, and thank you ALL who chimed in with your replies to help me out. Yes, I will go with the Extruded PolyStyrene (XPS) rigid boards and avoild the bead-board stuff. Thanks again.
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You’ll be glad you did. You’ll eventually forget about the cost, but the difference in quality of the XPS foam versus uber-fragile and messy beadboard cannot be ignored.
DFF
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Hello All,
Christmas in May!
Even 2-inch-thick XPS foam would wear easily around the edges and is not that rigid on its own.
I suggest making a frame of 1" x 2" to protect the edges, and a base of 1/4" plywood under the foam for rigidity, especially for storage.
The plywood base should be the dimensions of the exterior of the frame so it can be attached with wood screws to the bottom of the frame.
To hold the foam base in the frame adhesives would probably not be necessary.
Another thought would be to make the frame out of 1" x 4" so the foam would sit recessed in the frame, and another piece 1/4" plywood- -cut to fit inside the frame- -to protect the track when in storage.
Hope this helps.
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Just a quick tip use gloves or something different to cover your hands to avoid damaging any boards, and use proper lighting too so you don’t screw up 
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