Hello all I have started....MANY years ago, a hollow core door benchwork for a N-scale layout (digital) It is 83 x 39 The door had a huge dip on the center, but I was able to fix it by installing some bracing underneath It looks pretty good now I want to install a 1" pink board board, and then I will have something super nice and flat How do you guys transport a 4x8 pink foam board? I'm pretty sure it won't fit in my car, so I was thinking I will have to cut it in the store somehow, and glue it on the benchwork in 2 pieces? Also, what should I use to glue it on the door: caulk? glue? Thanks
Caulk, SuperNails, even white glue. Think about putting a frame/facia around the edge, to protect it.
I use cheap bathroom caulking to glue foam on a piece of plywood. Just a thin layer is all you need, white glue takes a long time to dry. Joe
Like Joe, I used latex caulk to glue foam to wood on my layout. It works well, is inexpensive, and relatively easy clean up if needed. Also used it to glue foam sheets together.
the pink foam has marks in it so your can break them in half for transport , they will be 8 foot long but not 4 foot wide when you break them in half in those scored lines they have
My table is 83 x 39...maybe I can cut the 4x8 board down to those dimensions inside the store, and it will fit in my car I will paint the top with a flat latex base paint......i guess the cheapest one should be good enough? Which color do you recommend?
Just a thought but if you buy the foam board at Home Depot maybe they will treat it as a piece of plywood where they then give you 2 free cuts to whatever size you ask .
The last time I bought Ext. foam (blue), I took my custom made foam cutting device to the building supply store with me. Some other customers helped me steady the panels while I cut it. The cutter design was in an N-Scale, May/June 1999 article called "Lightweight Layout" about foam box beam construction. I still have my base in the closet. If you make the cutter be sure to devise a safety cover/holder, otherwise a very sharp blade will be exposed. Also, some foam is 2 inch width which will require some additional thought or design change. Good luck.
They wouldn't cut it as a board of plywood... So I did cut it with a utility knife (I took a 1-1/2 board)...it went well, and I was able to fit it into my car I will glue it tomorrow with some caulk I have laying around I may apply a coat of primer (Bullseye 1-2-3) then paint............or if i want to lay some tracks asap, I may just place some cork sheets I have from a previous flooring project !
Ah, a bit late, but Full sheets don't fit in my car either. I bring a utility knife and a 4' straight edge with me to the store. I just score it deep along one side, and bend it backwards - the board will cleanly snap along the cut. Just like styrene!
Couldn't wait to paint the base nor install a frame/fascia......I had to lay some tracks !!! Now, I need a bunch of Kato 20-140.....!!!
Original door size is 80 x 36, then I framed it (twice actually) for the leg system. I have now 83 x 39
So door is now officially (and finally) 85 x 40.....Framed with some 1/2 inch plywood i had laying around, + 1 piece each end to get 85"
Frame was stained, and foam primed (Bullseye 1.2.3) + 1 coat of SW "SuperPaint" flat I had laying around.....I guess I will leave it like that (no 2nd coat) especially knowing I will most likely play will the tracks installed on a layer of cork for now
