We are beginning a new project. The benchwork is complete. (Homasote over Plywood)
Challenge: Decide on what product to use for the roadbed. We are using O27 traditional tubular track. Extra ties will probably be added for realism once we decide on a base.
Two products have been suggested: Midwest Cork and Woodland Scenics Track Bed.
Based on your “Modeling” experience, what is your opinion of each product. We are interested in durability as well as ease in assembly. ALSO, if you have any suggestions about another product, please let us know.
I am modeling in HO scale and I used Midwest cork roadbed for my layout. I considered using the Woodland Scenic product, but I preferred the look of the ballast shoulder that the cork provides. There are several users here that used the Woodland Scenics product. I hope they will provide you with information regarding that product.
traindaddy, you may want to check over on Toy Train Operating and collecting forum. I know there are good products for the larger scales and those guys would know what they are for sure. BILL
Question: How are you planning to fasten the track to the roadbed?
When I was using O and O27, I preferred to screw the track down. Neither cork or Woodland Scenics roadbed holds screws worth a darn. Difficult-to-find long track track screws will be needed to reach through the roadbed into the Homasote. OTOH, Homasote holds track screws nicely, as does plywood. The Homasote also deadens the sound, and is more commonly used as a roadbed material. So why add roadbed on top of the Homasote? If need be, cut out the sections of Homasote and plywood where there is no track or accessories or buildings (called cookie cutter).
The other advantage of putting the track directly on the Homasote is the ease of using accessories that tie to the track. If you use a roadbed on top of the Homasote, you have to put pads under the accessories to properly match the heights.
BILL: I am pretty much a regular on the Classic Toy Train Forum but I wanted to “step-out-of-the-box” and ask for opinions from the “modeler” guys. Thanks for the reply.
FRED: I was into “HO” for 50+ years and am now into “O”. I know well the properties of Homasote and have used it for many years. And, in the past, I have used cork for my “HO” layouts.
For this project, we are using an older already-built benchwork. Like all new ventures, we “kick” around lots of ideas. Should we continue to go “traditional” tubular with or without a roadbed as such? Should we explore Atlas or Ross? Should we go with FasTrack? Many thoughts on the subject.
“Midwest” and “Woodland” came up in our discussions so I thought I would ask on this forum.
We have had constructive ‘feedback’ from the “Toy” guys and have not made up our collective minds, as of yet, as to which direction we want to go.
So, this is where we are at!! Really appreciate your interest. Many thanks.
AFTERNOTE: I’ve been re-reading this thread and I think that I may have omitted one point. I think that I should have perhaps said “ballast”. The concentration is on the realistic look under the track. This is the reason that ‘FasTrack’ came up**. Sorry!**
Traindaddy , I guess I took the easy way out to send you elswhere. My Bad. Then I remembered my freind who has S-gauge hirail has a nice looking roadbed, so I gave him a call and the product he used is called Vinylbed,and they have a website, www.vinylbed.com. BILL
Having enjoyed both HO and 3 rail O, I am now in HO and HOn3. I anticipate liquidating most of my 3 rail O next fall, except for a few special pieces and sets being kept as heirlooms for the nearly grown kids. But I’m really struggling emotionally with the decision - even though I know I don’t have time or space for both.
Back to your post - IMHO, the roadbed and track choices should hinge on what your goals are - just like in HO. My focus was primarily on the operating accessories and cars. Tubular track is/was the most compatible with that focus, although I have dabbled with Atlas track and thought hard about Super O. The latter proved to have just too many operational challenges which would have occupied time needed to work with the accessories and operating cars. The Atlas operating rails have issues when running both the narrow operating shoe cars and the normal operating shoe cars. Super O has that issue as well as various switch problems. Roadbed is not particularly wanted when dealing with trackside accessories because of the height mismatches.
OTOH, if your focus is going to be high rail style realism, then Atlas, MTH ScaleTrax, Gargraves/Ross, or even Super O is probably a better choice than tubular. Roadbed will definitely improve the looks for high rail, and I would personally choose Vinylbed over cork or Woodland Scenics. Also personal opinion - I don’t care for FasTrack except for floor layouts. The other options either look more realistic or have more of the traditional tinplate look. FasTracks and the regular MTH track have neither.
Bottom line: I’m a big believer in letting your vision dictate decisions such as type of track, coupling systems, control systems, track plan, and scenery. Use the systems, materials, and techniques that best support your vision and what you want to acc