Super Cheap roadbed.


Steve S

Member
If you're looking for a cheap alternative to cork roadbed, you might try Readi-Board foam board from Dollar Tree stores. It sells for $1 per 20" x 30" sheet. The foam is closed-cell Depron so there shouldn't be any problem with it soaking up water when wetting ballast once the outer layers of paper have been peeled off. While you're at the Dollar Tree store, go to the section with cleaning products and pick up a spray bottle of LA's Totally Awesome cleaner. It's a yellow liquid in a translucent bottle. Spray the Readi-Board with the cleaner, let it soak in for a minute, then peel off the paper. The advantage to using Readi-Board over other types of foamcore is that the Readi-board uses thin paper on the outer layers which soaks off easily, rather than thick cardstock which is difficult to remove.

You can make a cutting tool from a beveled block of wood and an X-Acto blade. Use a straight edge to guide the block. Once you've beveled the leading edge of the foam, flip the foam sheet over and extend it out to the width you want. Repeat this process, flipping the foam sheet over after each cut. An extra set of hands is helpful to hold the straight edge. For curved sections, you can cut kerfs into the roadbed with a razor saw.

The track in the pic below is N Scale.

Roadbed1.jpg


Roadbed2.jpg


Steve S
 
Thanks

You're a man after my own mind. The local hobby shop is selling HO cork for $1.60/3ft! This sounds like about half cost with a little sweat equity.:D
SAJ
 
Thank you for sharing this!

This is the sort of out-of-the-box thinking we sorely need. After all, with stuff like track reaching astronomical prices ($5 for a piece of flextrack!) something's gotta give.
 
The foam is closed-cell Depron so there shouldn't be any problem with it soaking up water when wetting ballast once the outer layers of paper have been peeled off.
Hi Steve,

Just one question, how does Depron handle isoproyl alcohol? Some foams melt. Just curious as here in the UK it's a bit dearer and as I use iso for various things would be interested to know before I pay out.

Angie
 
Hi Steve,

Just one question, how does Depron handle isoproyl alcohol? Some foams melt. Just curious as here in the UK it's a bit dearer and as I use iso for various things would be interested to know before I pay out.

Angie

I'm not sure. I don't have any alcohol here so I can't test it. Perhaps someone else can answer this.

Steve S
 



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