I have recently been emailed by a friend of mine a link to the homasote discussion that you guys had a while back. I would like to tell you that I have a 12X27 layout in our basement with 1/2" plywood as a base for our track. What I found at the local Home Hardware store here is a product called InsulBoard. It is kind of like homasote only it is used for insulating concrete foundations. It is a tan color and comes in 4 X 8 foot sheets. It looks like the same material that they make 2 X 4 cieling tiles out of, only it is a mere 10.00 a sheet. As a test one night, I tried soaking a piece of this insulboard with water and left it over night. I meen, I soaked it in a bucket of water for a half our, then took it out and let it dry over night. The next morning, to my surprise, the piece of insulboard never changed it's appearance, nor it's size. Our basement is always at a comfortable 65 degrees, and in the summertime we have a dehumidifier that we turn on. So far, after having the layout setup for a year, nothing has changed. I hope that some other people out there try this stuff, because believe me, it really works. Thanks for now Danny. PS: I'm currently working on a websight with our layout on it. When I get it up and running, I'll give you the address.
Hi Dannymac, welcome to TrainBoard, and thanks for the info. Does this material take a hammer to put nails into like rail spikes, or is it soft enough to just push them in by hand? How does it take paint; brush or require spray? How is the best way to cut and shape it, is it like the blue foam? Is it brittle or flexible? ------------------ Watash #982
Hi Dannymac and welcome to Trainboard. Sounds like you found a good alternative. I will check out the Home hardware store here to see if they have it. Thanks for the tip. ------------------ Robin member #35 Maberly and Tayside
Hello Danny, you are very welcome here Thanks for the tip, I wonder what it may be called here in England - if it is available. Be sure to let us know when your website is up and running ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Thanks for the tip and welcome aboard !! I'll check this stuff out as I am looking for a good way to raise my mainline above the spurs!! Happy Modeling! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
Welcome Dannymac to trainboard. We have a forum called "the Clubcar" which is for webmasters and would be webmasters. If you require any help in building your website or just some tips drop us line. ------------------ Regards Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Insulboard is soft enough to push the track nails in by hand, but I suggest using a flat screwdriver or somthing to push the nails in with, because after laying two 140 foot mainlines, my poor fingers were getting a little sore, and I'm a lead guitar player with fairly callaised fingers. You can paint right on this stuff with a brush, although the first few coats soak right in. What I did here that appeared to work well, was mix up a batch of PolyFilla or Durabond 90 that was pretty thin, (a little thicker than scrambled eggs before they cook) and paint it on any dry or exposed insulboard. The crack filling compound dries extremely hard, then I painted over the top of this. Makes a beautiful base for modeling on. You can cut insulboard with a normal everyday utility knife and it flexes quite easily. A full 4 X 8 sheet will almost flex right around and touch end to end. This stuff sure worked well for me, and you should give it a try, I think you'll like it. I have a couple of pictures of my layout in it's benchwork stage, I'll see if I can find a shot that shows this stuff clearly and email it to ya. Thanks for the questions, hope that I can help you get under way. Danny. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash: Hi Dannymac, welcome to TrainBoard, and thanks for the info. Does this material take a hammer to put nails into like rail spikes, or is it soft enough to just push them in by hand? How does it take paint; brush or require spray? How is the best way to cut and shape it, is it like the blue foam? Is it brittle or flexible? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Gee Thanks DannyMac, they must have come up with something new since 1934! I got to go check this stuff out, it may be better than scrambled eggs! HA! Thanks again, I would especially enjoy seeing photos of your layout! I sure wish I had a basement again! I sure miss Wichita, but weather is better here in Texas. ------------------ Watash #982
