I’ve seen and read about a number of surface materials that can be used on top of layout bench work. I personally went with 3/4 inch styrofoam like that used to insulate new houses. I then painted over it with a heavy coating of plaster that I later spray painted sand color before laying the tracks. The reason I chose it was so that I could use stick pins to hold my track down, and can pin other items down as well if I need to. Works for me ([;)])…
Tracklayer
Kinda the same here. All though, I went all foam. I am useing 2" thick white foam. Just painted right over it. And yes, the freedom to pin things is great. I mastered heating up pins and sticking them into everything from trees, track, fences, poles, etc. Makes for a clean mount, and so easy to move around and adjust as the layout grows and changes.
[8D]
Most of my layout has a thin layer of plaster over the foam. For striated rock surfaces, I just roughed up the foam with a wire brush (you do have a shop vac, don’t you?), then painted it with water based acrylic latex. If you check at some paint stores, they usually have a can that has the wrong color a customer ordered. I got a gallon of light tan for $5 at an Ace Hardware store. I use a small drill bit in my Dremel just a tad smaller than some stiff wire. I press the wire into the trunk of the store and just stick it in the scenery.
2" pink foam, covered with a thin layer of drywall mud. Then the usual water based scenery techniques.
Nick
5/8" particle board. I think it gives a little more sound deadening than foam or plywood.
[#ditto] 5/8 Particle board.
I used 1" foam on top of 1/4 inch plywood. I havent got to the painting part but I think I’m going with tobacco brown paint color.
Steve
7/16" OSB - 1/2" Homasote and then HO cork
BOB H - Clarion, PA
I’ve been using 1/4" plywood under 1/2" Homasote, or 1" or 2" foam. They both do a decent job of holding pins and spikes.
“flat” parts (about 60% of the layout) are 2" foam over 1/4" plywood. Hilly areas are open-grid with cookie cutter 3/4" plywood roadbed on risers, and hardshell scenery.
Combination af things. Plywood, ceiling tiles, foam, and plaster.
Victor
Happy Railroading.[swg][swg]
OSB with cork, been using this for years without a problem.