I am about to start on my fifth and hopefully last layout. I am using 5/8 inch plywood for the bench top. For the first time I am going to try foam on top of the plywood. At least for the area of the yard which of course is relatively flat but the foam will allow me to add a little terrain to it. Anyway my question is when one talks about using 1 inch or 3 inch etc foam what exactly are they talking about? I cked the local Home Depot and all they have is 3/4 inch blue tongue and groove insulation sheets 4x8. Lowe’s has 1 inch. I have a feeling this is not what I want. Any suggestions on what exactly I need and where to look? Tk you in advance.
Sounds like you have the right stuff, just the supplier only carries the one thickness. I have pieces ranging from 1/2" to 2" thick, some came in 4’x8’ sheets others in 2’x8’… It seems from other posts that the southern part of the country has trouble getting the thicker sheets. Really doesn’t matter whether it is blue or pink, main difference is color and manufacturer. I is often called extruded foam.
If you have checked at all the dealers in the area and none can get you the 2", you may have to stack it a little. One thought would be to cover your plywood with a layer, then put a second layer where your track is going to be. It wouldn’t have to be just a subroadbed, cut nice and even under the track, but it could be wide enough to raise stations and industries to the proper level to be served by the trains. Doing this means a little extra cutting, but you would save some money, not having to put another full sheet on. Then the leftovers could be stacked to give you above track heights. It is also useful for making many other little things too, dirt or coal piles, retaining walls, most any small thing, so even the small scraps can be used.
As long as it’s extruded styrofoam it is fine. I have used the blue, the pink, green and yellow. Home Depot now has some lavendar colored. Its all the same for our purposes. I get mine from construction sites, but that may not be practical in Flordia.
For flat yards and the like, 1 inch is fine. If you want more undulations the 2 inch is easier.
I also use it for all my scenery, and the 2 inch here is best though I mix the colors by what I happen to have.
Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I need to check other local businesses other than Home Depot and Lowes. I am just so used to them having pretty much everything I need it surprises me they don’t stock a wider variety of foam board. Of course with the heat down here and mild winters I guess 1/2 or 3/4 in sheets is sufficient. I will post my source when I find one on the off chance someone else may be looking for the same material.