I am putting together my first HO layout. Can some one please tell me if I need to use road bed if I am laying the track on Corning insulating foam board? I cannot find a descent guide of how to lay road bed so I am considering not using it.
Kev
Using something like cork roadbed is a personal choice. You don’t have to, but decide based on the look you want. Kalmbach has some books on getting started with track and roadbed like this one http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12254.html or this http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12401.html .
If in doubt, look at (and learn from) prototype railroads.
Main tracks are raised above the general lay of the land on roadbed that is designed to promote drainage. Even in cuts, the roadbed shape is maintained, allowing for drainage ditches along the outermost edges. Any railroad that wanted its trackwork to survive the first significant rain event would have the necessary profile, even when it had to be provided by strong-backed Irishmen or Chinese with shovels and wheelbarrows.
Lesser tracks may not be raised as much, and yard tracks might appear to be on a dead level, but the all-important drainage is there.
Lack of maintenance may cause tracks to subside into the mud - but not if the railroad intends to stay in business.
That said, the key is the land contour under/adjacent to the track(s.) Roadbed doesn’t have to come out of a box labeled ‘Roadbed.’ At various times in the past I have used bent stripwood, plaster and carved ceiling tiles for roadbed. These days I carve a thinner form of foam, sold as fan-fold underlayment, into the desired ballast/roadbed shape and fasten it to my plywood subgrade with latex caulk.
As to how to lay roadbed, try the search function under your member profile. Since I don’t use any currently-available commercial product my methods probably wouldn’t help.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with thin foam roadbed on cookie-cut plywood subgrade)
It is NOT necessary to use road bed, BUT:
The Corning extruded foam board will magnify the sound and noise of the trains, to a point it can be “deafening”
Roadbed, in addition to deadening noise, also creates a “realistic profile” to prototype’s trackage, so consider carefully about not using it.
The two most common types are, of course, the cork roadbed {which modern versions apparently have a rubberized cork composite} or the Woodlnd Scenics Foam road bed.
It is really not hard to lay roadbed, and where needed, a good sharp utility or exacto knife{s} or scissors will help to cut/contour/splice the roadbed. I suggest Using latex caulk to apply.
There ARE other methods and materials for roadbed, otheres have used the fan-fold foam as mentioned above, or homasote {where it can be found}.
As far as help laying it, here are a multitude of youtube tutorials-just hunt and poke around {they may not be the best, and be sure to check the right side videos for more related tutorials}:
Foam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpFb8eELMRc {not so hot,}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDy3TJcHOy0 {O guage, but works the same,}
Cork:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxN-DCOVYRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BamyKAzxZE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3xQIG5O68k
Have fun and enjoy the hobby!
[8-|]
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Don’t forget the article in MR using a tile underlayment is the right height for roadbed. Deadens sound very well. That is what its job is as an underlayment . cuts and shapes very easy. Peel and stick. Holds spikes and white glue well. Only draw back, youhave to cut it into strips. It saves about 50 cents per 3 foot over cork 3 foot sections. Found at home depot in the tile area. Well worth looking into.
Forgot to add that I use it, and my track is handlaid with no problems.
Just to make sure I am barking up the right tree. I found this at my local Lowes, am I looking at the right stuff.
Kev