Just curious. . .
In Ho Railroad from start to finish author Jim Kelley builds his benchwork from 1/2in thick foam core (not the rigid foam and lumber/plywood normally used).
Has anyone actually done this? If so how did it turn out?
Alan
I would not think, that 1/2" foam board is strong enough to build a sizable layout without any form of support. Is it something like a hollow core door, i.e. a foam core laminated with plywood?
I don’t know what product you are describing. Do you have a better description, or even better, a link to a supplier?
Literally 1/2 foam core board (the kind you buy at an art supply store). He built stringers from the foam board (think of it as L-girder approach without the wood).
Sounds dubious to me, but it is a MR publication.
My 4´x 8´ benchwork is made out of 2" pink foam. I made pieces 6" tall that I glued as a frame with 2´ spacing under 2" pink foam sheets (the layout foundation). As I didn´t think it would be very strong by itself (it is), I made a fascia of 1/8" masonite all around it. It does however make it very rigid and it is safe to bump into the edges now without damaging it. My 4 x 8 weighs in at around 50 Lbs fully scenicked with all city buildings in place! My previous layout, with benchwork of wooden 1 x 4´s and plywood top, weighed almost 3 times as much!
http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page87/index.html
Smile,
Stein
I suppose that would work on a tiny module like that, but I can’t picture doing it on an entire layout. For a small module you could get the same strength by cutting up a used (and therefore free) corrugated Box.
IIRC, MRP 2008 had a feature on a shelf layout, built of foam boards, but with sturdy shelf support.
Sorry, should have provided a link. The description is on the Amazon web site click on “First Pages” (on left)
I’m not familiar with the layout you’re talking about, but I think this is probably the basic idea of what you’re describing - a layout built entirely of Foamcore.
Jim
Jim, just the basic benchwork (read platform).
I personally think 11/2 - 2 in of structural foam with 1/4 plywood is a much better concept (and probably not much more than using 1/2in foam core.
Interesting concept, but I probably wouldn’t use it.
It looks like something my 12 year old grand daughter would enjoy doing.
As long as you dont have to have the ability to stand or sit on it while doing scenery or trackwork, but then that kinda implies a limited layout building size, everything within easy reach. I’ve used 1/4" foamcore for Micro layout ideas but honestly its not that durable, the paper covering tears easily, it doesnt have alot ot tensile strenth and it crushes, gouges, folds, under duress. Good for a small light portable layout, but iffy IMHO for a large permanant layout
Foam core board or Gator foam as some call it is nothing more then compressed paper laminated with a fiber core center. I would think Gator “Board” which is much harder and stronger would be a better choice. Both are made by Alcan composites. You can get a free sample packet like I did just to see whats what. Gatorboard is much harder and stronger. I have used both for building background structures or building flats. I have also used Gatorfoam or foamcore board such as found in the craft stores for mounting photo backdrops to give it more of a 3D effect. It’s intended use is for mounting photographs. I would be a little leery about using foam core as I really don’t think you want to get it wet as it may warp and the possibly delaminate. It’s the stuff architects use to build 3D models. There was a thread done on it a while back where I inquired if anyone used it for structure building.
Speaking of architects, it is amazing what you can support with what if you engineer it right, remember a project where we had to build a structure at least a foot tall out of toothpicks that could support a quart milk container filled and you were limited to the amount of toothpicks also, some very funny failures but some stood up!
demonstrating how strong Gatorboard was for making structures I saw a guy place a cinder block on top of a building about 8"x10" give or take. All he did was add a couple of gussets to the inside corners and it was held together with hot glue. Guess like you said it’s all in the engineering.
They laminated two piece of foam core board to produce a one inch thick thing. I wouldn’t do it, but I have a feeling it could work because, well, someone did it.
I haven’t built an entire layout out of foam core, but I did use it for my staging extentions. It cuts with a utility knife, and I glued it together with tacky glue. I’ll try and post some pics tomorrow.
Nick
Here we go…
Top Side:
I used 1/4" board - A.) it matched the roadbed, so I could it on top of the layout and come right out into the extensions with no ramps. B.) it was the only size the store had. The vertical sides serve to both stiffen the board, and contain any errant rolling stock.
Underneath:
The risers connect to the benchwork below and are glued to vertical cross members on the staging board.
Nick
When I started my layout just over two years ago I used 2" foam on top of a plywood frame.
Frame was a 4’ x 8’ sheet of 1/2" Maple/Birch cut into 3" wide strips set on edge with the foam on top.
Built up the rest of the layout with more foam.