I’ll be reading your input and maybe picking your brains for info on some things I can’t figure out on my oun.
I just built a new home and will be setting up my first “real” HO layout. My “Train Room” is 12’x14’. At this time I only have the studded walls up. I haven’t decided if I want to use sheetrock or hardboard or what. I’m also undecided about the layout base, wood, foam or what. I can’t spend much money on this, so, any sugjestsions would be helpful. Thanks
Welcome to the forum, don’t want to spend much, this is a hobby, it is going to cost you money! Just a slow long drawn out affair! Just joking!
It all depends on what you are prepared to do.
I have used plywood, only that’s what my father used and it kind of stuck. Lets you stand on it if needed. I think foam has its merits. I’m guessing you need to make sure it is supported well.
Hi Crosstrack, Put up sheetrock first; that will save you a lot of grief when you sell the house in ten years. I like 2" foam for a base. It is easy to work with. And it is light weight for moving it later also. As to money??? It will go into something somewhere. Don’t keep records then it won’t scare you or the wife. TARP
I had a 6’x8’ table that I put up and took down each Christmas. It was plywood. It took up a lot of room in the house and Wifey didn’t like that too much. Also, was hard on the track as I took it all off each year and put down a new layout each year. After a few years, I switched to foam. Teardown and setup went alot easyer.
My new “Train Room” will be year’round.
The most cost involved will be for walls, benchwork and accsesories. After gathering stuff for over 25 years, I have over 50 engines, hundreds of cars, 4 to 5 hundred feet of track and a whole bunch of switches. What I don’t have is a lot of building and things.