Hello! How do you bring your buildings, pavement, etc up to Kato Track Height? My layout is on pink foam and I need about 1/4" to bring everything that needs to be at track height up to meet the kato. Thanks!
This pic is from my old layout which was all Unitrack. I used 1/4 Woodland Scenics faom board and beveled the edges to match the ballast angle of the track. My layout was not permanent so this method allowed me to easily remove the sections as I needed and I could add or change scenery at any time.
Good thing for the smiley face or I woulda had to come to Austin, Minnesota to have a chat with you...LOL But then again...even sectional or flex track on cork makes it the same height as Unitrack. So there is that...
Pavement and buildings can be put on 1/4" styrene. The buildings would just have a 1/4" additional 'foundation'. Foam would look ok too. Cork may leave a rough edge. jmo
Good ideas! I seem to recall an article where someone use foam core, topped with fairly thin styrene sheet. Unitrack; I'd rather fight than switch! BTW, "I'd rather fight than turnout!" just doesn't have the same ring to it...
I used HO cork roadbed in the yards to level the Unitrack. The slope of the roadbed matches up well with the slope of the Unitrack.
Hehe. I lay the track right on the board as MR did on the New York & Quebec project layout in 1968 - 69. - no ballast strips. The last thing we need in model railroading is to accentuate the vertical perspective. Doug
I have been using Foam Board available at craft stores on my n-scale modules with Kato track. It seems to work well at raising things to track height. I cover is with styrene for concrete or you can paint for use as asphalt. Below are some examples of how I have used It. Hope this helps. Remove paper from both sides of foam board. You might need to soak with water to get the paper to release from foam. Foam is just below rail height but can be raised to track with styrene. This structure is on foam with styrene to represent concrete. This photo shows the foam board painted for roadway and the styrene used as concrete and raise to track level.
I do not use Kato track, but I use various thicknesses of balsa to make building bases, sidewalks, streets, raise tunnel portals, bridge piers, and light bases. Takes paint well, glue it down with Elmer's, TiteBond or caulk. Fast, easy and you can cut and shape it with just about anything.
I tired balsa once. It soaked up to much paint. I switched to basswood. It has tighter pores and takes paint even better. Years back I again switched...to styrene which works best all around.IMHO
Foam board can be gotten cheaply at the Dollar Tree store (green, not Dollar General - yellow). However they are 3mm thick so you may need to double up but they are only $1 sheet. Easy paper removal by wetting it and then letting it dry completely. You end up with a big sheet of paper to do your track planning/drawing on as a bonus. We use these for home made R/C aircraft. Elmer's work good on them or if you are impatient, low temperature hot glue.
