Extruded foam

4358 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Dennis David, Sep 13, 2006

roundwooduk

Discussion Starter · Aug 5, 2006

I am interested in US railroad modelling, and have read a lot about the use of extruded foam in 1" and 2" thick sheets as a layout base. I would like to try this, but the problem is that I cannot find a source of extruded foam sheets in this country (England). I certainly do not want to use the ghastly crumbly expanded foam. Does anyone know where I can find the right stuff? Thanks very much. I am based in Shropshire.
Peter

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Gwent rail

· #2 · Aug 5, 2006

Try Woodland Scenics, who do various thicknesses, which although expanded foam, is made for the hobby so doesn't seem so bad. Look up www.ecscenics.com. Best of luck.

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Ozzie21

· #3 · Aug 5, 2006

I wouldn't reccomend it. I have a mate that used the stuff, it was available from a plastics manufacturer and is blue in colour and used for insulation in homes, it was fairly expensive and the frame work you have to build to support it, well you might as well build it in ply wood. He tried the 2" thick stuff in a double layer as was recommended in MR. While it goes together fairly rapidly it turned out to very noisy when locos were running. It seems to amplify the sound of a running loco more so after it was ballasted. He persevered with it for a few months but gave up on it and scrapped it. he went back to building in conventional open frame in 10mm plywood.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (roundwooduk @ 5 Aug 2006, 20:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am interested in US railroad modelling, and have read a lot about the use of extruded foam in 1" and 2" thick sheets as a layout base. I would like to try this, but the problem is that I cannot find a source of extruded foam sheets in this country (England). I certainly do not want to use the ghastly crumbly expanded foam. Does anyone know where I can find the right stuff? Thanks very much. I am based in Shropshire.
Peter

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Dennis David

· #4 · Aug 5, 2006

Sorry but I'd have to completely disagree, how can foam amplify sound?. Physically that's impossible. Something else was doing it on his layout. The stuff is fine and used all of the time here, it's just a little expensive if you use the stuff by woodland scenics.

Also because it's lighter the supports are actually less so he must have been doing something wrong.

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Makemineadouble

· #5 · Aug 5, 2006

I know this material well. Its very strong, but as previously said you need to mount it on or inside a frame work. I'm unsure how you attach track pins and the like to this material, probably woodlands underlay would be suitable. It can easily be cut with a carpenters saw, I mainly used it for scenery, as it shapes nicely with a surform. It does not absorb water I think it's probably better suited to N gauge rather than the larger scales.

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Dennis David

· #6 · Aug 5, 2006

Malcom Furlow used to specialize in using lightweight materials on his HO San Juan Central layout. I've even seen it used on G Scale but then that was a special indoor layout.

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Brian Considine

· #7 · Aug 5, 2006

QUOTE (roundwooduk @ 5 Aug 2006, 11:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I am interested in US railroad modelling, and have read a lot about the use of extruded foam in 1" and 2" thick sheets as a layout base. I would like to try this, but the problem is that I cannot find a source of extruded foam sheets in this country (England). I certainly do not want to use the ghastly crumbly expanded foam. Does anyone know where I can find the right stuff? Thanks very much. I am based in Shropshire.
Peter

Hi Peter,

Try & find an insulation distributor in your area (someone like Encon) & see the warehouse manager - ask for damaged stock i.e with damaged corners as, as likly as not they will give the stuff to you (they cannot sell the damaged sheets & it costs them money to get rid of it.

best regards
Brian

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Ozzie21

· #8 · Aug 5, 2006

Sorry but no. He followed the instructions used in building the Maumee Route to the letter. Except for substitution of glue, the brand as named wasn't available here, he did everything to the letter. Perhaps amplify the sound was the wrong term, it was more of an increase in resonance when compared with the same module except in 13mm ply wood with no foam. He also found it messy to cut, not as much as expanded foam, and when cutting with a hot wire cutter cyanide gas can be given off so work out side in good stiff breeze.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (Dennis David @ 6 Aug 2006, 01:57) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Sorry but I'd have to completely disagree, how can foam amplify sound?. Physically that's impossible. Something else was doing it on his layout. The stuff is fine and used all of the time here, it's just a little expensive if you use the stuff by woodland scenics.

Also because it's lighter the supports are actually less so he must have been doing something wrong.

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roundwooduk

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 8, 2006

Thanks for your comments. So many US enthusiasts seem to have used extruded foam successfully that I am sure it is worth a try if I can find a distributor. I am not keen on the Woodland Scenics foam on grounds of cost - and it is not extruded. I cannot have a permanent layout and as I get older the idea of keeping weight down (the baseboards, as well as mine) thus making putting up and dismantling as easy as possible is increasingly important.
I shall keep looking, but would be grateful to hear of anyone else's experience.
Peter

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Dennis David

· #10 · Aug 8, 2006 (Edited by Moderator)

Sorry but the fact that cyanide gas is given off while cutting has got to tell you that something is not quite right. Did the instructions include wearing a gas mask?

Woodland scenics uses expanded foam and not extruded foam which often give off the chemicals you speak of.

Woodland Scenics sell a manual as well as a video that explain how to use their materials.

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mthornton

· #11 · Sep 13, 2006

My local Focus DIY store has it in packs of three sheets. I think most of the larger builders merchants will also stock it.

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Brian

· #12 · Sep 13, 2006

Hi
Wickes and B & Q both sell this insulation board in at least two thickness.
Be warned though its not cheap.

I'm currently not 100% convinced its sturdy enough to be as good as Ply or Sundela board, which for years have been the model rail builder choice.

Anyway, good luck and keep the forum updated if you build a layout using this insulation boarding.

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Makemineadouble

· #13 · Sep 13, 2006

Most foams give off gas when cut with a hot wire, it it bothers you cut it outside, a coarse saw is excellent as well. It's a great product for scenery, but a swine to glue. I used a hot glue gun to pin the stuff down, yes it does melt it a little but that dosn't matter on the underside.