I really want to get started on my layout, but I don’t have a whole lot of money to work with, so I need a cheap way to make grades and risers. Is using corrugated cardboard an option or will that collapse under the weight of trains. I am also thinking about a piece of foam core on top of two pieces of styrene shaped like the pi symbol.
I have a “Model Railroader Design” 4x8 benchwork. It is a frame with two sides and 7 cross pieces 16" or so from each other. I have a sheet of plywood glued and nailed to the top and will install a 3/4 in. sheet of foam insulation board with the track.
No, corrugated cardboard is not a good thing to use. If it gets wet it will disintegrate.
Not sure what your benchwork is, but 3/4 foam isn’t much unless you have some plywood under it.
As for grades, if you could get some scraps of luan or 1/4" plywood and taper the ends. Masonite should work also. Set the two ends, then cut a few pieces of 1" or similar for blocks under the grade.
Use the WS incline starters and only the starters and get elevation risers out of any old bead foam (ussually free from someone). You can get 8 peices two feet long for around $5.00.
Google spline roadbed. There is lots of “how to” info there.
I made about 80’ of up and down for under $20.00. If you can rip a 4’ x 8’ sheet of 1/4" hardboard ( about $8.00 a sheet ) into 1" widths and glue them together with a glue gun you get this.
Not sure why you would want to put foam core on styrene. If you meas 1/4" foam core board, it has little strength and styrene sheets don’t either… If yu mean 2" foam insulation, it is fairly strong by itself, the styrene would add very little strength. A simple wooden frame would be better, does not need a solid bottom under the foam.
Maybe you could explain your idea a little more throughly.
