I was browsing the local train store last night and noticed foam roadbed. It comes in a 24' roll. It's a little cheaper than cork, but the long roll makes is more convienient. Does anyone have any experience with it? Should I stick to cork, or give it a go? D6
I am currently using foam roadbed. But the stuff I am using is sill gasket material I picked up at home depot for $5 for 82 feet by 3 1/2 in. I constructed a cutter that split the roll into three equal widths suitable for N scale. This yielded over 240 feet of roadbed. This material is very similar to the Woodland Scenics roadbed at a fraction of the cost . i have been very pleased with it.
I use a polyurethane foam. It was drop offs from rolls 36" diameter, some 5" others 6" wide. I split it as needed for HO, and it kills wheel noise to just the wheel on rail, very quiet. I am also glueing the track to the foam, no nails or spikes except a few at switches. So far, works great.
I'm using the Woodland Scenics foam-bed. So far so good. I bought it in 36" lengths by the case. Around $25 I think. 33 pieces or something. Not really sure. But all in all, I like it. No nails, just tack glue.
I'm using Woodland Scenics foam roadbed, and laying it on the foam subroadbed, The WS foam bed is held down by track nails & glue until the glue dries, then the nails come out (I'm using Elmer's white glue, BTW). I have discovered, much to my joy, that if I have to relay track elsewhere (and I've done that already), the roadbed comes right up, and is reusable. Incidentally, I bought the WS foam roadbed in a box. I've seel rolls of the stuff, but the box is also available.
Like FriscoBob, I too used WS foam roadbed and am very pleased with it. I glued it down and tacked track onto it. With the grey color of the foam, it also looks almost like ballast - if you squint.
Has anybody had any experience with the foam after ballasting? I'd like to know if there is any change with the sound deadening qualities.
Well I am into HO scale and have used the Woodland Scenic roadbed. On the plus side it looks nice, and in HO scale it can be split down the middle. I have one major complaint with it however. It has a low melting point. If you plan to solder drop wires or track joints, don't bother with the WS stuff. A drop of solder off your iron will mess it up big time. However, you can probably hide the error with extra ballast. No, I have not ballasted it yet.
I am just started using the WS foam track-bed and I must say I am very disapointed in the quality control of this product. The track-bed I have is HO and should be 5mm thick. The product I have varies from 4mm to 5.5mm way too much of a difference to use. I finally got replacement from WS after two weeks. They say they are working on the problem but could not assure me that what I bought in the future would have any more consistancy? Very disapointing from Woodland Scenics! Don;t buy it mail order and check the thickness of every box you purchase. I have pictures for anyone interested. ezio48@comcast.net
Very Satisfied With Foam Roadbed I used the WS foam roadbed for a room sized layout in "N". One of the reasons for this application was the foam base. In past experience there was a noise problem. With the foam roadbed there is no noise and it is very easy to use and its been down for nearly five years and I have had no problems. I used the large sheets for a yard with the same results.
Also check out this current thread: Cork vs. Woodland Scenics Roadbed?http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?p=578175&posted=1#post578175 Jamie
I have no experience with foam, but am a strong advocate of 1/8-in cork, for things you can do with it, workability and especially how it can help manage expansion and contraction (article pending). Scott
I've used the foam in HO and cork in both HO and N and I prefer cork. The foam edges aren't as well defined as the cork... and I'm lazy about ballast, so my concrete ties look better contrasted against cork brown then WS black.
I've used the Woodland Scenics foam trackbed and also constructed my own out of craft store foam sheets and foam rubber tool drawer liners. If you ever need to tear a peice out, the WS product is much easier.
I'm a corker. LOL I'm old school and prefer the cork roadbed. When someone mentions foam road bed my mind goes back to an earlier version of foam, it was more like a porous sponge. I don't know of anyone who liked it. The "Foamers", seem to like the newer products out there and sware by them. I prefer the look and ease of installing cork. Well...easy for me, after years of working with it. Kinda like an old friend. The only downside to cork or foam is it will dry out if you don't coat it with something elastomeric (must look up spelling). I've sounded off enough here...it's time for me to get going. Various projects are calling and errands to run. You all have a good weekend and I will check in from time to time to see if you are all behaving. What? What did he say? tongue:
I use a foam roadbed under the Unitrack of the JJJ&E. I also use foam on the "original" JJJ&e which was in operation for over nine years.
I would prefer cork, just out of inertia I guess. However, the closest thing to a train store within 150 miles of my home is the one-third short aisle of train stuff at Hobby Lobby. All they had was the newfanged foam, so not to wait for a mail order, I got the foam. Hope it is acceptable.
