Test Track

Now that all the base level benchwork is done, I wanted a easy way to lay flex and other track which has a soft foam base to cut down noise. I've decided to try some tape which is used to hold automotive body components together. The stuff is 50mm wide so is ideal for my roadbed width with HO track for my On30 layout.

My roadbed is 50mm and 32mm XPS styrene foam - the same stuff that is beginning to become popular as home insulation (which is scary because it burns like crazy). It's ideal for the railway, easy to sculpt and if you want a ditch you just cut it with hot wire. If you want height you just jam on another layer or two and sculpt them. It also allows for easy transition when changing height.

The 50mm wide double sided foam tape roll

I got this tape from flea-bay. It's less than $5 for 10 metres of the stuff which is considerably better than the alternative foam roadbeds which are in my opinion way to high and don't offer a decent profile - especially since I am modelling narrow gauge and this stuff is generally laid on the dirt with little or no ballast.

The roadbed with track and ballast looks pretty decent. A nice clean result with minimum fuss and no nails. It seems pretty easy to peel the track off the foam so that it can be reused.