Just wondering. I have a ton of O scale cork roadbed left over. Enough to do the entire mainlines for my N scale layout. So has anyone ever used O scale roadbed for mainline, and then used N scale for secondary trackage? I am figuring that one slice of the O scale is suitable for one track in N scale, (have to bevel the other side of it of course), depicting the NYC mainline trackage, and then transition to N scale cork for all other secondary trackage. In tests of this, with the track and a N scale vehicle, the height seems about right. This is to say, if you parked a real vehicle on the service path next to the tracks, the height of the railhead is next to the window of the vehicle, the same as using the O scale roadbed with n scale track and n scale vehichle. So long story short, has anyone else done this, and do you think it would look right as NYC owned mainline class 1 roadbed? Thanks for the input.
I will get one hopefully tonight to show the difference. I will also do a little set up to show the trackage on both next to each other.
Is O scale or N scale? Hunter - I've done exactlya s you made note of on ALL of my mainline track when once it reaches the yard limits on my railroad. Don't know if it looks like the NYC, which did have a hefty bunch of ballast under thier iron - come from "back there" - a long time go - during the steam age. I like the 'look' of a lot of ballast and when I cover the flat plywood with scenic materials - that eats up a lot of the height - kind of what you give is taken back - a bit. Don't have photos - after all this layout of mine is - an - ARTWORK in PROGRESS. A nice way to say - I'll go to my grave with more things to do then I got done. Try a 3 foot section and if you like it - make YOUR railroad do what YOU like - it's yours. Toots
No, I haven't tried the O scale road bed for N Scale. I did use HO cork road bed with three pieces to accomplish the same thing for an O scale layout. At the time it was cheaper then buying the O scale cork roadbed and I preferred the reduced height. The only problem I see, as you stated. You would have to cut in a beveled edge on the one side. That can be accomplished with a razor blade box cutter. With only a minor amount of difficulty. Noteworthy, is how many guys and gals tend to fill in to the height of the cork roadbed with scenery. Leaving me to wonder why, they went to the trouble of installing cork roadbed in the first place. I see no reason why it shouldn't work. Leave nothing to waste...I say. How about you answering.... your own question? Give it a go and let us know how it turns out. If you have a digital camera... send us some pic's. Lot's of luck and have fun!
Have used O scale cork under my Atlas code 55 track. Love the look. It makes a mainline seem to have the "right" look to me. Also used the regular N scale cork in the yards. I place industrial track directly on the surface. I think you'll be happy doing exactly what you suggest.
