Thanks to everyone here I am making slow but steady process.
My next quest is to decide weather or not to use 2" foam or cookie cutter.
If I do Go foam do I need to glue the plywood top down before I nail it, or just nail it?
Thanks Again
Whether you plan on using foam or not, I would suggest you screw your plywood down to the frame. When I started up my new N scale layout recently I built it in sections which will easily come apart in case of a move. I started off with a base of 3/8th inch plywood attached to 1 x 4 framework and 2" foam on top, using Woodland Scenics inclines to establish any grades.
I’ve had cookie-cutter layouts in the past and now that I’ve started going the route of foam, I’ll never go back. Foam allows you to carve in or add scenic elements easily with no mess and no fuss. Well okay, a Shopvac DOES come in handy to clean up the foam, but it sure beats cutting up plywood and trying to figure out riser placement, etc.
If I were to build a large and more permanent layout, plywood would be a better option, but from the apparent size of your layout, you really don’t need the headache. I would opt for foam.
Frank B.
Dorval, Canada
since you have a plan with lots of grades, i would go for cookie-cutter. Never understood why you would need something under foam. Most use two layers, one for supporting the whole show, the second layer can be carved into. The part used for rivers and drainage ditches can then be thrown away.
The main choice is how to build grades, with Woodland Scenic inclines or by bending the plywood after cutting it cookie-cutter style. Adding risers is not complicated at all, vertical easement come free.
To much is said about this subject, either method works. The debate takes way more time then building the subroadbed; much less fun too.
Paul
Paul, I use a relatively thin plywood base under my foam just to make it easier to attach any switch motors underneath. Instead of having to cut a small square of masonite at each location and glue the piece underneath to give the switch machine something to screw into, I prefer a solid plywood bottom. If I was going to plan for manual groundthrows I would more than likely omit the plywood as the foam is definitely strong enough on its own if properly secured to a solid framework.
Frank