{"id":271,"date":"2012-12-31T19:56:32","date_gmt":"2013-01-01T00:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smallmodelrailroads.wordpress.com\/?p=271"},"modified":"2015-04-25T20:52:45","modified_gmt":"2015-04-26T00:52:45","slug":"working-with-foam-core","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/working-with-foam-core\/","title":{"rendered":"Working with Foam Core"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Bakersfield
Bakersfield underside showing frame and cross members<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There has been a lot of\u00a0conversation\u00a0in the forums about using Gator Foam, Foam Board, Insulation Foam and the pros and cons of each\u00a0for layouts. I decided to break out my old Bakersville Layout and see how it was holding up.<\/p>\n

I started Bakersville two years ago as an On30 test layout. I had seen discussions back then on using Foam Core and decided to try it out. The material is very inexpensive, stiff and lightweight. It will crush if you step on it or ding a corner if dropped. It will easily support the weight of model railroad locomotives and rolling stock.<\/p>\n

\"Bakersfield<\/a>
Bakersville base made from inexpensive foam core<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I made the base for the layout from 30″ x 20″\u00a0pieces\u00a0I picked up at Michael\u2019s\u00a0on sale. This is the cheapest of the cheap foam core. As with any material, the foam core requires support members much like the joists under the floor of a house. I took one of the\u00a0pieces\u00a0and cut it into 2″ strips. I used the strips to frame the ends and create joists underneath. I used hot glue to assemble the pieces. I painted a portion of the top flat black where the tracks would be placed. That is as far as the project had progressed due to other projects taking precedence.<\/p>\n

\"Bakersfield<\/a>
Bakersville underside showing frame and cross members<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I stated, the base was assembled two years ago and has been stored in a Michigan basement the entire time. For those who do not know, Michigan has the ability to go from 10% – 90%\u00a0humidity and our annual temperature may also deviate 100 degrees in a season. After two years the layout and foam board is just as flat as the day I assembled it. Is all the foam board in my basement flat? No, I have many\u00a0pieces\u00a0that have degraded and are no longer suitable. The difference is the assembly method used. The use of cross members keeps the top board in place and flat.\u00a0This same\u00a0principle\u00a0applies to most\u00a0porous\u00a0materials. I have seen numerous times, modules and layouts made\u00a0entirely\u00a0of 3\/4 plywood or other heavy materials with the belief it will have less\u00a0tendency\u00a0to bend or bow. Simple techniques can eliminate the need for such “heavy” materials. Using “L” or “T” construction techniques allow for the use of lightweight materials and will\u00a0achieve\u00a0a stronger structure.\u00a0Much of the conversation in the forums has been centered on how the material bows when painted or is exposed to moisture. I think how Bakersville has held up shows that with proper technique, plain cheap foam core will maintain shape and serve well in various climates.<\/p>\n

With the dust brushed away and a need to do something, I decided to lay the track and move forward with the next phase of Bakersville. I had a large stockpile of HO scale code 83 track\u00a0laying\u00a0around from a previous layout and I decided to put it to use. I want the finished scene to have\u00a0cobblestone\u00a0streets and an industrial look to the layout so in most areas the ties will be covered and not seen. To keep things simple I used some old Atlas code 83 turnouts. I cut away many of the ties in the “Y” turnout since it is at the front of the scene and might show some of the ties.<\/p>\n

\"Bakersville<\/a>
Bakersville track in place<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The track plan is a basic oval with two trailing point turnouts. The run-around will be hidden by buildings when completed. The rear track will act as staging. When completed, it will appear as a street scene with trackage between three buildings. Cargo will move between the buildings to support the\u00a0manufacture\u00a0of baked items (this is Bakersville\u00a0after all). The intent is to create cardstock structures to create a cityscape. I had already created one structure two years ago called Bonnie’s Baked Goods after my wife.<\/p>\n

\"Bonnie's<\/a>
Bonnie’s Baked Goods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My new (old) layout inspired my son Andrew to want to play with the trains a while.<\/p>\n

\"Andrew<\/a>
Andrew running Bakersfield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After some discussion we decided he needed his own layout. We had just cleaned out the storage area and had uncovered an old Thomas the Tank train table that had not been used in some time. We took some more of the old track and using the same plan as Bakersville cobbled together a slightly larger 32 x 48\u00a0version\u00a0for his toy soldiers. He needs more cars but now he has a reason to go with dad to the train shows.<\/p>\n

\"Andrew's<\/a>
Andrew’s Layout<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For now Bakersville will go back into storage as other projects take priority again. Maybe in another two years we will see how the foam core is holding up again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There has been a lot of\u00a0conversation\u00a0in the forums about using Gator Foam, Foam Board, Insulation Foam and the pros and cons of each\u00a0for layouts. I…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles-on-small-layouts","wpcat-2-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4e6yk-4n","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":668,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/a-helix-in-foam-core\/","url_meta":{"origin":271,"position":0},"title":"A Helix in Foam Core","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"November 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In a previous post we looked at the Brewery Tramway\u00a0which included a prototype helix. The thought of creating a helix and multilevel layout continued to intrigue me for some time. I had never done one before, not even on my large layout attempts. I decided to try and build the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout How To Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/brewery_lower.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/brewery_lower.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/brewery_lower.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/brewery_lower.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/brewery_lower.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/brewery_lower.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":425,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/working-with-foam-core-part-ii\/","url_meta":{"origin":271,"position":1},"title":"Working with Foam Core – Part II","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"March 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In my prior post,\u00a0Working with Foam Core, we looked at the On30\u00a0Bakersville layout I had started two years ago. Since pulling off the shelf again I have begun working towards completion (albeit very slowly and in between other projects).\u00a0In this update I add the sides and the backboard to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout How To Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Layout with a couple mock-ups in place","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/img_1849-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":128,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/small-display-layout-with-variable-led-lighting\/","url_meta":{"origin":271,"position":2},"title":"Small Display Layout with Variable LED Lighting","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"October 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"While researching how to light my Mound City 1862 display layout, I received some very\u00a0innovative\u00a0lighting\u00a0recommendations\u00a0from Joseph Norris. I met Joseph through the Yahoo Small Layout Design Group. Joseph has been experimenting with a lighting design using bright LEDs that can easily be dimmed manually or electronically. He made his own\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout How To Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Portable Diorama (2)_img_14","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/portable-diorama-2_img_143-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6129,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/pizzatopia-an-hon30-micro-layout\/","url_meta":{"origin":271,"position":3},"title":"Pizzatopia – an HOn30 Micro Layout","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"December 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"For the last couple years, the e-magazine The Micro Model Railway Dispatch and the Facebook group Micro Model Railroad Cartel have been hosting an annual layout\/modeling challenge they call their \"Christmas Challenge\". The name is just because you have to complete it by the end of the year, not Christmas\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout Design Ideas"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout Design Ideas","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/small-layout-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_4497.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_4497.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_4497.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/IMG_4497.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":731,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/christmas-display-layouts\/","url_meta":{"origin":271,"position":4},"title":"Christmas Display Layouts","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"December 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This month we will take a look at a series of Christmas layouts by Brian G Kammerer. All photos in this article are by Dana Laird.\u00a0We looked at some examples of Brian\u2019s work in a prior article \"Layout Composition and Design Concepts\". Brian has been creating small display layouts for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Layout Spotlight"","block_context":{"text":"Layout Spotlight","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/layout-spotlight\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/finished_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/finished_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/finished_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/finished_1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1517,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/building-a-free-mo-module\/","url_meta":{"origin":271,"position":5},"title":"Building a Free-mo Module – Part I","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"March 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In my last article, we looked at a Free-mo Module\u00a0Design\u00a0that was light weight, strong and easy to setup among other things. This month we take a look at actually assembling the module and some of the finer points involved. The overall module length is 49.5 inches. That may seem like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Modular Layouts"","block_context":{"text":"Modular Layouts","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/modules\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_3741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_3741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_3741.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_3741.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_3741.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":677,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions\/677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}