I have been out of the hobby for sometime now. I have noticed the use of "Foam" benchwork as a sub-roadbed. Besides some of the postings I have read here, are there any other resources to research such as Model Railroader etc? Also, when I was first started in 1980, Bachmann U36B was one of the more consistent running locos you could get in Nscale. It's amazing what is available now, and how well they run.
Welcome to Trainboard N Scale Mike! Of course Trainboard is you number one source of information but there are some good references in back issues of MR and one that has just recently been reprinted into a book. I don't know if you are familiar with The Model Train Magazine Index but that is where I went to find the exact issues. It's easier than digging through the closet! Anyway - MR ran a project layout in N called the Wisconsin Central. It ran in 7 parts from July 1997 to Feb 1998. You may be able to find these in your local library ? or you can contact MR for back issues. The WC project was quite extensive and they used foam construction techniques. More recently is a two-part article in Jan and Feb 2000 MR called the Appalachian Central. These articles have just been reprinted in the book "Project Layouts you can build" and again uses foam construction techniques. There are three other project layouts in that book, at least one other uses foam, but I am not familiar with the others. This book should be easy to find at your local hobby shop. [ 01 June 2001: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
Hey "N" I've used 2" extruded styrofoam for the past 2 layouts. It's light, rigid, carveable, $20. per 4x8 sheet, glueable, paintable, unwarpable, well, you get the picture. Best I've found to work with. As far as locos- for the least problems and most enjoyment I stick with Kato. About.com has a listing of locos and ratings. Welcome back!
Mike I am on my second foam board layout and it is great to work with. Everybody does this process differently as fits thier needs. I have a web site that has some pictures of how mine went together. http://www.members.iquest.net/~leghome/index.html This is what worked for me but may not be your cup of tea. I made boxes out of 3/4 plywood ripped into 5" strips and then screwed and glued joints. The cross braces are 24" centers and the longest box is 8' long. I then used 1 1/2" pink board but would have rather had blue board, the pink had break apart joints at 16" centers and the blue I found later at Lowes did not. I then used Liquid Nails for projects to attach the pink board to the plywood boxes. I used these boxes becasue if I ever have to move I can take apart, without to much hard work, the layout for moving.
There are alot of different places to get ideas on how to use foam board. I wouldn't know exactly where to tell you to look. The MODEL RAILROADER article on building the Wisconsin Central can be use as a good starting point. I have used foam for a couple of years now and feel that I can give you a few tips. Use LIQUID NAILS to hold the pieces together. Make sure it is the LATEX based type, the other NON-LATEX formula will eat up the foam. Next time you see a contractor building a house using foam building insulation, go up and ask if you can have all the small pieces that the builders are going to toss out. ASK FIRST, usually I will offer to pick up the building site if I can have the excess pieces. I never have to buy foam board.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by NSCALEMIKE: Is there a difference between the Blue, Pink or White foam boards I have seen?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> There is no difference between the pink and blue foam except the color (different mfgs). This foam is extruded and is somewhat structural. It can support itself and some weight as long as the supports underneath are not spaced too far apart (varies to the thickness of the foam). My 2" foam is supported every 16" or so. The white foam (or bead board), on the other hand, is expanded and is not structural at all. This foam must be supported completely underneath. Depending on the application, both have a place in model railroad construction. I only use the blue or pink over open-grid benchwork and the white only over a continuous piece of plywood. Hope this helps.
A useful reference was a book on the Burlington Nortern Layout in Nscale publiched by Model Railroader . They gave very detailed instructions on using foamboard and even if you do not want to build that particular layout the scenery tips for working with foam are worth it .
I have the fall 1999 catalogue of Kalmbach books, and the number of N scale layouts is limited. In looking through, I have seen these titles...maybe some one will recall looking at them in the store and be able to help you out. 1) N Scale Model Railroad That Grows by Kent Wood and Ric LaBan 2) Beginner's Guide to N Scale Railroading by Russ Larson 3) Don't think it will be here, but anyways.... N Scale Model Railroad Track Plans, 2nd edition Rick Nicholson
I don't think it's in a book (not one that's listed on the model train mag index anyway) The MR articles start in Feb 1990 and go to Dec: Train Mag Index Search Results
Kalmbach published the BN layout story in book form.It most likely by now is no longer being published. You could just email MR to find out. <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee> [ 13 June 2001: Message edited by: Catt ]
