Cork roadbed in S scale? I searched the Midwest web site. But they only show N, HO, and O scales. Suggestions? Ideas? Boxcab E50
Idea - use HO "as is" - ie split, but with the bevelled edges facing in. You can use N cork with HO like this, so why not HO cork for S? If you want to have the bevelled edge out, try filling in the space between the halves with a thin slice off an extra piece. Andrew
Using HO had indeed crossed my mind. Just thought I'd eliminate the possibility of a pre-made S Scale version first. Hmmm.... Using HO might even be slightly cheaper..... Boxcab E50
I used HO cork on a small S layout I made several years ago. If you want more of a shoulder, leave a gap in the middle to accommodate what ever shoulder you want. I was cheap and didn't want to fill the void with ballast so I used some strips of typing paper and laid it over the gap. Seemed to work ok, even with the water and glue mixture. Since I was going to model a branch line, I didn't worry about the shoulder for most of the layout. I was going to have the ground almost the same height as the cork anyway. Also, they sell sheets of cork and you can cut strips any width you want. I was told also that a fellow took HO and O and used one of each for getting an S road bed and no gap. Greg
Mixing the HO and O is an interesting possibility. I wonder if they are indeed the same installed height? (Thickness?) Think I'll go back to the Midwest page, and see if they show dimensions. Boxcab E50
Hi All: I used half HO and half O on my modules. Works very well with Gargraves flex track, the wooden ties style. Don't know how it'd look with scale track but check it out. Tom Robinson uses a polypropalene roadbed. It's a medium to dark gray and is made for S. It doesn't shrink and it bends to fit most curves. Don't remember the name but you can probably drop him a line via the S-Trains forum or directly through the ACSG website. Regards, Ted
Hi Boxcab: Sorry for the delay in replying, but i'm currently in 60-70 hour a week mode. Ah, employment, ya gotta love it! Anyway, the "ACSG" is the Atlantic Coast S-Gaugers. It's a modular club that i'm a member of, not much to the membership, no dues and no rules. My kind of club. Anyway, the address is: http://www.trainweb.org/acsg/ Regards, Ted
Ted- Know what you mean. 1999-2001 I was working 7 days per, 100+ hours a week. The word for that is 'tired.' I was pooped. And after taxes, the government walked away with too much. Wasn't worth the effort. Anyhow, thanks for the reply. Glad you found time to post. Whenever you can make it here is great! Boxcab E50
My neighbor uses Woodland Scenics foam road bed with his flex track. It has been up in the garage for over 3 years now and still working fine. Ken, will you be gluing or spiking your track down? Greg
No conclusions at present. Lately other things have been getting in the way of planning a model RR. Lack of funds being just one...... In the past I've glued the roadbed. Then using a minimal number of spikes, the ballast adhesive has held the track in place. That's what I had been thinking about doing again. Boxcab E50
I think the spikes help transmit noise if they go all the way through to the wood. If foam board is used, that should be a moot point. Glued ballast seems to have been strong enough for the modular layouts that I've worked on. Greg
