I recently completed setting up five 4 x 8 sheets of plywood ( “a” grade smooth on top ) I would like to know what do you think is the best finish prior to laying track and scenery ? I heard putting black flat paint would make it easier simulating roads , staining would give an overall better apearance . All suggestions are very much appreciated . Rav 4
A wood stain to the layout top? Why would you do that?
I’d go with a neutral earth tone (brown) that would make unfinished areas look acceptable. Black would stand out, and I’ve never seen anybody stain their layout TOP before, only the legs and supporting structure.
Do you have any “extreme” environment conditions in your train room, particularly humidity? Plywood is susceptible to warping, so it’s a good idea to paint (not stain) both sides of the plywood in these conditions. If your train room is not subject to large humidity swings, then this isn’t a problem.
Some modellers paint their surface, usually a light brown. The recommended method of paint acquisition is to go to the “Ooops” bin at your paint or hardware store, and find something in a light brown that the original buyer didn’t like. You may have to go back several times, but you can pick up a gallon of something acceptable for a couple of dollars.
I view painting the table surface as a temporary measure. It makes your layout look better while you’re in the construction phase. For final scenery, though, I don’t like “flat.” For “natural earth” surfaces, I gouge my foam surface, and build up other parts by small amounts, generally less than an inch, to give large-scale uneven terrain. Then, I apply a skim coat of Gypsolite, a grainy plaster, to give small-scale irregularity.
When you look at painted plywood, unless you use several coats, it’s going to still show wood grain. That’s OK while you’re getting the trackwork done, but it’s not what you want your final scenery to look like. If you look at most layouts with scenery, you won’t see any of the base material at all.
Painting will seal the plywood, staining will not. To seal the plywood, you would have to paint top & bottom & sides, which may be helpful in a very humid or temperature irregular enviorment. Even the middle of Kansas is not completely flat, so you’ll probably add some low hills, rather than putting everything on the plywood. Painting brown/tan will resemble earth if your ground cover gets “bumped”, and more of the world is covered in dirt than roads!! And even some roads are still dirt!! My [2c]
My layout is located in an unheated, unair-conditioned garage and is subjected to vast extremes of temperature and humidity. When I constructed the benchwork, I primed and painted all sides of every piece of wood (including the layout top…made of plywood). Later on I glued Styrofoam to the plywood which was then painted a tan color. The point I am trying to make is after 4 years, in a horrendous evnironment, there has been no warping! Trust me the time you take to seal the wooden parts of your benchwork will reap dividends later on.
thanks , I’m taking your advice , it makes alot of sense , thanks again Rav 4