Just set up a Futon today and it had this cool soft packing material in it. And wanting to use, find, reuse, things I already have or can find alternatives for on my tiny 2x4 layout, I tried it and it makes awesome roadbed. Quiet, much smoother operation, and a dark grey color that I like. Not sure what it is but it's like 3/8" or something and it came in long strips almost 48" long by maybe 6" or 8" wide., and have 6 strip's of this stuff and 3 almost cover my entire 2' x 4' foundation board. See photo below. Is it cool to use this stuff? Works great! It's not as solid as cork roadbed, but hey free is free and also I get to recycle And once I decide (if ever) on the layout, just cut around it with an X Acto type knife. BTW, I am also thinking about using the cardboard for temporary structure placement. And whatever else I can recycle from this thing for my tiny railroad. And because this one is to learn more and for me and a 3 year old niece, might use it as a stencil for cutting out lake and river locations, really crude sidewalk's, and whatever else I can think of for this stuff. Anyone know what it is called. And checking for loco fuzz too with older loco's! Anyone else recycled items for roadbed?
Not sure what this material might be. Maybe it's due to being early morning, but right now am not recognizing it.
Unless we get more detailed and better lighted photos, my impression is compressed recycled foam pieces used for packing protection.
Your layout is small and you have a lot of the material. I say, go for it, and see what happens. I am in full agreement on using things you find rather than expensive products. I built a whole layout from found lumber. It was ho scale with around a 47 foot mainline run. Come to think of it, my N scale layout was built on a salvaged door panel a friend gave me. Side note: Looking at your picture, it looks like your layout surface does not have a frame to keep it from warping. I would be concerned about baseboard warping if it does not have a frame.
I think Hytec is correct, that it is recycled material that I will recycle, if it doesn't get fuzz in locomotives and rolling stock during testing. Better photo below. And yeah traingeekboy, I do need to frame the base out. It's a cheap piece of 2 x 4 Luan plywood that was $6.00. Not sure yet if I am going to brace it or buy thicker plywood as it has to store under a bed when not in use.
I hope it does not release any fuzz. That stuff can be deadly, to motive power, as can pet hair, etc.
Yeah, keeping an eye on that fuzz thing. If it a problem, maybe use as a road? Kind of has a road look to it. If that doesn't work I have to recycle the old road bed that was packed in a tote and got all crooked and stuff. I guess clueing it down though would take care of that problem Like I said this one is for me and a 3 year old niece (well nieces, nieces, daughter, I am confused and old) so it won't be pretty but if she and I have fun that's all that counts. Had the battery operated "It's a Wonderful Life" Christmas Train out for her yesterday. Have to fix connection between loco and tender, so wire won't break. And bought some tiny Thomas the Trains loco's and hot wheels orange ramp, road, things and she had a blast with them yesterday. Even out a short piece of roadbed to fix the connection on the loco and tender but was too stiff and wouldn't swivel correctly. Gonna try Gorilla clue? Any ideas to straighten the old road bed, or just take care of it when I clue it down?
Your better photo shows it may be recycled and compressed wool and/or cotton cloth. If so, it will definitely shed fuzz and lint with any handling, or even motion like trains running on it. Like Ken says, that stuff is deadly in trucks, gear trains, and motors. If they have any lubrication, you'll never get that stuff out.
If you're looking for a cheap alternative for roadbed, the Readiboard foam board from Dollar Tree stores should work. Soak off the outer layers of paper and you're left with a sheet of foam a few millimeters thick. It's $1 for a 20" x 30" sheet. You'll need to kerf it to do curves. It might be better to slit it down the middle first and then kerf both halves. Here it is with N scale track... To cut the edges at an angle, you can make a cutter from scrap wood and an X-acto blade. Places like Michael's and Hobby Lobby have angled cutters meant for matte board. ETA: Walmart has a bevel cutter...http://www.walmart.com/ip/Logan-Gra...fault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n Steve S
Steve S, I'll have to take a look at that. I also found a 2' x 4' sheet of cork, which is exactly the size of my layout board, online at Lowe's I want to look at. There is a dollar tree on the way so I will look at the Readiboard too. BTW, the packing material is off the track now. Too much fuzz noticed, therefore I took it off. Maybe I can use it for road's or something Thanks everyone, bring on the ideas for less expensive options for me and others, for their layout's.
If you stop by the Dollar Tree store, pick up a bottle of LA's Totally Awesome All-Purpose cleaner. Spray it on both sides of the foam board, let it soak in for a minute, and then the paper should peel right off. Steve S
Probably a better use for it would be as an underlayment for terrain. A light coat of Hydrocal or thin plaster would seal it and some of the texture would show. Probably good for a dirt/gravel road or a pasture but it would need a seal coat. The home improvement stores also sell a cork product used to line drawers that is adhesive backed. A little thinner than roadbed but would be okay for a siding or lightly used branch line. As far as old cork roadbed that has taken on a permanent bend due to storage just get a big pan of water and give it a half hour in that.
I had thought about the water thing but wasn't sure. It's just starting to rain, maybe I'll accidentally leave it outside in the rain Yeah, that 2x4 cork at Lowe's may indeed be too thin. Although not sure for just a 2x4 layout. Still want to look at it. Thanks all!
You could paint the packing material you first tried (felt? ). That might seal the fibers from becoming loose and affecting your locomotives. Eventually you would ballast, further trapping any rouge fibers. Sent from my PantechP8010 using Tapatalk
It appears to be felt, a cloth type material. It can be sealed to hold in the fibers and that will make it much stiffer as well. Growing up we used it a lot because my father worked at the paper mill and it was used a lot there. So, freebies were common.
