Can you tell me if this will work for my sub-roadbed? It looks like the right material I’ve been reading about but I just want to be sure. Also, it only lists one thickness of 11/2" Will this be sufficient or do I need thicker? I’ll have 1/4" plywood in place also.
Thanks,
Aaron
Aaron, if you go into your local Home Depot, Lowes or other builders supply store, you should be able to find foam sheets (pink or blue brand) in a number of thicknesses. If you live in a hotter climate it may not be as easy to find. The material in the link looks like a special foam board. Being so thin it won’t give you much opportiunity to carve ditches and streams. I would go with a thicker material if possible. For what it is worth, I got all my foam for free as offcuts from a siding contractor at a local housing development. It is suprising how large pieces get scrapped! Since they can’t burn the stuff and it just will end up in a landfill I found the workers quite happy to let me take it. Saved them some clean up time!
I am hoping they have them in bigger thickness. The link I posted was what was in the weekly flyer for Home Depot and a sheet of 1/2X4X8 is $9.
I’ll take a look around town today while I’m at work (police officer) and see if there’s any I can ask for!
If that is extruded foam, absolutely it can be used for roadbed. I used the stuff for my yards and it was much cheaper than sheet foam sold by Woodland Scenics. It is about 1/8" thick, almost exactly the same thickness and WS foam roadbed so it is easy to transition from one to the other. The stuff I bought came in a bundle, folded like an accordion. I forgot what I paid for it but I know it was a fraction of what it would have cost me to buy a product specifically for model railroading. If you want to take the time to do it, it could be cut lengthwise for single track roadbed as well.
The item you listed is the correct material. At 1/2" thick, it won’t offer much support without good benchwork beneath it. The same material should be available in 1" and 2" thicnesses. The 2" is so strong that minimal benchwork is needed.
Keep in mind that you can laminate thinner panels to get thicker pieces. In my area (St. Louis, MO), a 2" 4x8 panel is under $30. You would spend $36 for 4 pieces of 1/2" and stil have to laminate them.
Go for the thicer material. You will love it!
Darrell, quiet…for now
Darrell,
Do you laminate the thicker sheets like the 2"? I hope not because I’m not sure what is meant by laminate them :S
I called one of the local Home Depots and they do carry 2" For $23 so I’m good to go!
Thanks everyone!