I remember at one point either a book or a video from Model Railraoder where they used foamcore art board (not the foam home insulation!) to make a layout table. I am looking to do this to build a 30x54 N-scale layout. I can’t find a reference to this layout. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
Yes. YOu are speaking perhaps of foam poster boards, usually 1/4" thick. They are also available with wood veniers and 1/2" thick, maybe more.
I guess you would have to google it to come up with a product.
Interestinly there was a manufacutrer o f homes (1:1 scale) that used that stuff to build homes that were factory built and transported to site. The stuff he used was 6" thick with 3/4" plywood veniers. They came in 10 x 24 foot sheets and were pre drilled with raceways for electrical installation. He could build a house rather quickly, and could move them around the shop on a carpet of air with little effort at all.
He could make them faster than he could sell them, and saw the writing on the wall. He sold his plant and now somebody else makes stuff for the oil fields in that huge building.
ROAR
I’m not familiar with the exact layout you’re referring to but it would probably work. The 1/4 inch foam core may not be strong enough, but if you have a good art supply store near you they should have thicker stuff. You could make an underframe using the same stuff.
Steve S
They’re called SIPs (structurally insulated panels), and it wasn’t just one manufacturer. There’s an entire industry devoted to it.
It was called the “Cripple Creek Central,” it ran in MR in 1991, and then became a book called “HO Railroad from Start to Finish” by Jim Kelly.
I think it used 1/2" foam core board if I remember correctly.
The book appears to be out-of-print from Kalmbach, but here is a link to it on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Railroad-Start-Finish-Model-Handbook/dp/0890241554
The MR articles ran from Jan. 1991 to Nov. 1991 as a series called “Especially for Beginners.” The book was published in 1993.
There was a layout done in the 1/4" stuff, they made all the stuff you would normally make of wood, out of foam board (quite a bit more bracing if I remember).
I built two layouts out of foam core board. Never again! The main problem with it is when painted, it starts warping badly. This can be mitigated by glueing it to some wood bracing but still, pink or blue foam is far easier to work with.
This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! My changes will be to make this in N scale, 30x54, with Kato track.
There is a product called Gatorfoam. It resembles typical foam core board, but is made of much stronger material and adhesive. At shows I have seen it used as a layout base, for structures and many other things. It comes in a variety of thicknesses and is much stronger than foam core board.
Micro-Mark carries 12"x18" sheets of 3/16". My local sign shop can get it in 4’x8’ sheets, if I wanted it.
Good luck,
Richard
Dick Blick carries it, but it’s not cheap. $120 for a 4x8 sheet.
http://www.dickblick.com/products/gatorfoam-board/
Steve S
I confirm, You can use it as a base for Your railroad
After I read the book of Howard Zane ( My life whith model trains www.zanestrains.com) were he use extensively Gator Foam, I can resist to try to use it.
I use it as a river bed but also for a base for all my models since 5 years; I have also used it as roadbed for a N scale module in construction and also as the frame for my vertical scenery hills on my layout.
I glue it whith construction acrylic glue or whith a hot glue gun; both give excellent results.
Small piece of wood glued as an underframe under the gator foam augment the rigidity.
Wheight is nothing and the combination of Gator Foam scenery frame and Red Rosin paper covered whith strong white glue as hardshell give an extremly strong but also lightweight construction.
I will use whitout moderation for future construction, it’s easy to cut and easy to use and deliver no dust in the working time, a must!