I’m going to set track directly on foam, nothing under the tracks. I’m told that Woodland’s Foam Tack Glue or Scenic Glue are two effective adhesives. Tracks nails won’t do, obviously.
Is it best to glue between ties, between the rails – every few inches – or on the outside ends of the tie?
Or, are there other techniques to afix the track to foam?
GGB
I’ve used plain old latex caulk – but that was between the cork roadbed and foam, then the track on top of the cork. I think you can do the same thing minus the cork, but the consensus around here seems to be to use cork between the track and foam. I don’t know what else it does, but for sure it will create an elevated roadbed that makes it easier to ballast.
Nice thing about the caulk is that it’s easy to re-do things if you get a bad section of track work. After weathering/ballasting you won’t see the caulk. Just lay down a bead and spread it with a small putty knife. I’m sure there are other methods by other forum members that yield equal or better results.
Good luck and welcome aboard.
Thank you. I never considered caulk. I suspect it holds the roadbed firmly enough.
GGB
It does hold and after being down about 6 months, it’s holding properties don’t appear to have changed, yet I can slide a knife under a piece and remove it without damaging the surrounding foam. Additionally, I’ve held the track down by just using track spikes (this is my practice layout) - there seems to be just enough grip through the cork and foam to hold them in place. I’m just not sure if this is a good idea for my yet-to-be-started permanent layout - I’ll determine that when I start.
Another trick I have learned about securing foam is useing sewing pins. (plus, they are really cheap) My enitre layout of over 340 feet of track (HOsclae) is secured this way. I couldnt glue it permantly as I know they layout I have now will be torn it up in a few years, I wanted to save my track. It works great. It can be a life saver for you as you can pin your track in the curves and it will hold while the glue dries.
Last nite I attached the track to the ws risers using loctite power grab . I first covered the top of the risers with plaster cloth so the ballast wouldn’t fall through ,then I used the power grab to attach the cork roadbed down thumbtacks holding it in place 6 hrs later I used the power grab to attach the flex track to the cork held in place by thumb tacks. I’ll be posting pics of this tomorrow in my layout progress thread. On my previous layout I used white glue in the same steps with thumb tacks and it worked well then too.[:D]
This is what I do on hidden track sections and it works great. No cork, just latex chalk right on to the foam.