I am in the process of looking to purchase track bed material for my N-Trak club layout module and my eventual home layout. In my research I have looked at the Woodland Scenic foam track bed and cork trackbed. Other than $$, based on user experience, which one would you recommend. Thanks, Mike
Once ballasted, there is no difference in sound. Cork is a few cents cheaper and holds up better if you change your track plan. Foam comes in one piece so its a little easier to lay. Its very much a matter of opinion, and you will find the split is about 50/50. Personally I use cork, but its up to you to decide.
This is one of those less filling / tastes great things.
Well, I haven’t tasted either, myself. A bit of cork from a wine bottle on occasion, but that’s about it.
I like the foam stuff. It is easy to work with, looks good when ballasted, and I can punch holes through for wires with a bamboo skewer. But, that’s my opinion.
I like the cork better. I like the firmer support and its ability to hold a tack. As everyon has said, though, it’s a matter of taste. Buy a little of both. Lay 'em. See what you like.
I’ve seen foam and cork laid on the club layout in succesion and thought that the cork looked more realistic and is easier to weather than the foam underlay. My own layout has cork and is pretty easy to work with.
Ian
I’ve used both. I like the foam, because it’s easier to lay and comes in 24’ rolls.
Nick
Thanks everyone for your replies. i have priced the foam and like nbrodar said, i liked it because it comes in 24’ rolls. I have looked a few places online for cork, and it seems very expensive. Maybe I am just looking at the wrong items. Thanks again for your help. Mike
I used cork on all previous layouts up to this one. Now I am using the Woodland Scenics foam. The long rolls make it very easy to get smooth curves. I find the foam easier to cut and fit than cork, not that cork is difficult, but a pair of kid scissors works great on the foam. There is a lot more variety int he foam - you can get the 24’ rolls, great for the mainline. You can get 2’ sections, works like cork. And they have various size large pads - which have worked out great for my yard area.
–Randy
If you’re looking for an inexpensive foam tape product look at the seal for camper shells to pickup truck beds and it comes in long lengths. This is self adhesive and simple to work. I have decided to use cork because I found it cheep on eBay. Maybe I’ll try something different on my second module.
Good Luck with what ever you select.
check out www.standardhobby.com That is where I order my cork. I think 75 feet is about $16. I only paid about $60 to do all the roadbed on my layout.
I have always used cork cuz you can nail it down and pull it up and reuse it or move the track if need be.Sounds like foam might be good for straightaways tho.
Once the ballast is down, you can’t tell what is undernieth if it is done correctly. As for laying it down, WS foam is faster but a little more expensive. The bottom line = a matter of personal choice.
Thanks again everyone. Your input and experience have been very valuable. Its nice to find a place where everyone is soo helpful and friendly. Thanks. Mike
both work good.
For my N scale layout I used cork. I find it easier to work with than foam, and it has many other uses if you have some left over.
Both roadbeds do not deaden noise, but I would go for cork. Cork roadbeds are flexible and easy to lay and they have the bevel cut on the sides so the ballast falls nicely.
Cheers,
I dunno what all the hubbub over noisy trackbed is about. My layout uses WS foam roadbed on extruded foam, with NO playwood under it. To listen to what everyone says, this is the worst possible combo as far as noise goes. Well, all I hear when I run trains is the shussshing of the metal wheels on the track, no drum-like loud noises. It does help to not use solid fastenings - NO NAILS! I will never go back to nailing down cork and nailng down track again, latex caulk is so much easier and faster. You nail track down on top of cork, the nail has to go into the wood - defeating any possible sound-deadening of the cork! Caulk itself helps quiet things down by not drying hard and solid like other adhesives. The only solid adhesive I have is the yellow glue I used to fasten the foam to the 1x4’s in the benchwork.
–Randy
I liked the foam in roles for ease of laying. I don’t agree with the sound issue. Railroads are loud, that is part of the attraction. I like the fact that the sound changes as the train goes over different structures. In the bridge book one of the builders put a sound compartment under that track to amplify the sound.
i’m surprised that cork is still inexpensive since there is a shortage atm . look at the wine industry and many of the higher priced wines being sealed with plastic ‘corks’ or oh heavens NO!… screw on caps !!!
perhaps wine corks need higher quality cork than roadbed does , the problem seems to be that so much cork is being used for various things that the trees are being harvested much earlier (4 to 6 years old rather than 8 to 12 in the past)