Foam Core at the Dollar Tree

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I was at the Dollar Tree today - I get my 1.50 and 2.0 mag glasses there for the layout and you can’t have too many of these laying around - and I noticed they had several boxes of Foam Core Board there. 20" x 30" and looked about 3/16" thick. I’m not a user of foam core but I do know there are a lot of you out there that are. I’ve seen 8 packs of 20" x 24" on sale for $22 so I know it’s a good deal.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone

ratled

2

Thanks for the info. You didn’t say how much it was.

Some folks seem to really like it, others seem to think it is quite useless. There appear to be a number of potential uses for it. I have test painted some and the surface didn’t disintegrate as some have stated. Could there be different qualities? Maybe. I’d suggest painting a scrap piece with the type paint you plan to use, so that you are not disappointed in the final product.

Have fun,

3

Don’t mean to make you look dumb but it is available at the dollar tree, get it.

4

The Dollar Tree is the only “dollar” type store that lives up to its name. The handful of other stores… yea… could still be $5-20.

5

Thanks Graphitehemi, now I don’t feel too bad. We have a Family Dollar and a Dollar General. don’t go in much, but do know they have many things for even dollar prices, up to who knows what top price. Seems like that is a super great price, if the quality of the paper can stand up to our needs. Will look for such a deal next time I’m in one of our stores.

Have fun,

6

The foam is only quarter inch thick and isn’t very rigid. I’ve used it as backing for a few puzzles before. I would think it is strong enough to be used for a small hill, but not as sub-roadbed. The stuff I have is labeled as white foamboard mfg. by R.L. Adams Plastics and is 20"x30" and was $0.99 at either Dollar General or Dollar Tree, I do beleive it was from the Tree though.

7

I don’t think any foam board is strong enough for sub roadbed. The only uses I’ve seen it before are for things like foundations for buildings, walls for buildings, mock ups for buildings, backing for paper buildings etc. There are some interesting hits if you search foam board or Gator board.

There was an interesting article in MR a while back using it as back drops. They took photos of skylines and made some low reliefs to give it some depth of field.

ratled

8

I have been buying it for several months now at the Dollar Tree and it is $1.00 per 20 x 30 sheet, 3/16" thick. I use it for mockups of buildings that I plan to put on my layout and want to be sure the space is OK before I finalize the real estate. I also use it for some of the roads on the layout, I just glue it down after cutting and fitting, then paint it. Works great. BTW; this has the paper surfaces and not plastic. It must be getting popular now because the last few times at the Dollar Tree they were out of it. I ususally get 5-6 sheets at a time and find many uses for it. I have also used it for scenery formers rather than plain cardboard. Just hot glue it in place.

I also buy my Goo Gone, plastic containers for mixing plaster, spatulas (also for the plaster) and several other items that work great for the model railroad hobbiest.