N scale on 2 inch foam base. getting ready to start roadbed and not sure if I,m going to use cork or foam Track-Bed Roll from woodland. which one’s better? Or does it matter?
thanks
Glenn
i used the cork for the simple reason that i felt the foam would not hold the flex track in place as i tacked it with nails negotiating a curve. If i was using sectional track or had plywood directly underneath the roadbed which the nails would somewhat sink into i would not be scared to use it. Just my opinion though.
Since I live in a place where humidity is nonexistant, cork is not an option. Once it gets dessicated it literally falls apart. Since I expect my present layout to be my last, that would be unacceptable.
What I am using is pink fan-fold underlayment, cut to exact roadbed shape and beveled to ballast contour. The base material comes as a 2’ x 4’ bundle of connected foam sheets 1/4" thick. Flex is secured with caulk, hand-laid depends on the spikes holding in the wood ties, also secured with caulk.
Chuck
Glenn, I have both the WS foam and cork on my layout. It comes down to personal choice as is the case with many things in this hobby… but for me, I like the cork much better. The foam is too “squishy” for me. I like the strength and substance of the cork. I like the way it looks too. As gilligan mentioned, foam won’t hold a tack, cork will. I thought the foam would provide a little more quiet ride… it doesn’t. I have it back to back with the cork and there is no difference in sound. If you use cork, be sure to sand down the ridges along the top edges before laying track for better appearance.
Rest assured that soon someone will write why they like foam better. [:D]
It’s a matter of personal choice. I’ve used both, and I like the WS foam because it comes in a 24’ roll, doesn’t need sanded, and is easy to cut. Once ballasted there is no difference in sound between the WS Foam and cork.
Nick
I use the WS 24 foot roll as well. I love it. I use PolySeamSeal adhesive caulk to attach the foam roadbed to my foam base and my track to the foam road bed. The adhesive caulk is tacky enough to hold the flex track in the curves, however, I do temporarily pin it with 2 inch long pins just to make sure it doesn’t move when I am not looking. After it dries, I pull out the pins. What I like about the PolySeamSeal is that I can remove the track or foam from the base and peel off the caulk and reuse the roadbed and track.
As to sound, I have used cork on plywood and compared to foam on foam, the foam on foam wins hands down. I have put track directly on my foam base and there is some improvement by putting in the foam roadbed. I have NOT tried cork on foam sub base, so no comment on that.
Also, let me mention that using the 24 foot roll of foam is much faster than laying cork roadbed. One hint. Don’t draw centerlines to lay by in the traditional sense. The foam isn’t split down the middle. I draw my lines to follow on the side. It takes some “head adjusting” but once you try it and the foam, you won’t go back to cork. Also, use a very thin spread of the adhesive caulk, It doesn’t take very much.
This is my nickels worth, inflation you know.
Actually I think it is split down the middle. The stuff I had was if I remember correctly. Anyone else know the answer to this?
george
Yes, both WS foam and cork are split down the middle. Cork is split at the bevel (so you flip it and use the bevelled edge on the outsides). WS Foam is split at 90-degrees down the actual middle (so on straight sections you can leave it un-split).
U know this might be some thing i would like to try. Has anybody else done this, and if so how well does the caulk hold for the long term. And would it adhear to cork the same as foam.
I use yellow carpenter’s glue with WS foam on plywood. It’s been down 3 years in places with no issues. Easy to pull up the track or the foam. Just use a putty knife.