PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[DKS]

The layout is built on a hollow core door,with 2" of extruded styrofoam topped by a sheet of half inch plywood.Makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

Pretty standard fare for those who don't wish to lay track directly on foam, even though this technique is used less frequently these days. The foam lifts the roadbed (plywood) to allow below-grade scenic features, but keeps the plywood perfectly level with no need for risers. Remember, this was 20 years ago, and HCDs with foam weren't as prevalent.

[Dave V]

For me it would have almost doubled the weight.

[DKS]

Right, and I think that may be one of the main reasons people have been moving away from this technique.

[John]

The layout is built on a hollow core door,with 2" of extruded styrofoam topped by a sheet of half inch plywood.

sounds like the armor formula for an M1A2 Tank

[Dave V]

I'm seriously having layout withdrawal.  I want to run some trains!!!

[CVSNE]

I guess I'd forgotten that. Plywood on foam makes about as much sense as the guys who carve Styrofoam into land forms and then cover the styrofoam with plaster....takes all kinds I guess.

I had 12 days to build the Carolina Central so I didn't want to spend even a day on benchwork construction....so I went to Menard's and found a hollow core door with a hole in it that they gave me. I glued 2" foam to the door and laid the cork on top of that. Then I glued the track to the cork - all with yellow carpenter's glue. Last I heard, the track is still fastened to the cork.
I can't imagine why you'd want to add plywood to the foam.
I built the Androscoggin Central a little differently - I built a grid framework of 1 x 3 s and added a skin of luan plywood - mostly to have a surface to secure Blue Points, wiring harnesses and the like. But I put the 2" foam on top of that and again glued cork directly to the foam. When I scrapped that layout getting the cork off the foam was a real chore.
Marty

[Philip H]

I'm seriously having layout withdrawal.  I want to run some trains!!!

You have a three day weekend (possible 4 is USAF follows USA practices).  Go uncrate the layout, set it up in a corner away from the drywall.  Run trains.  Cover with a plastic tarp to keep drywall dust off it.  Finish the drywall for the layout area.  Move the layout.

Then grill out Sunday and Monday!   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I guess I'd forgotten that. Plywood on foam makes about as much sense as the guys who carve Styrofoam into land forms and then cover the styrofoam with plaster....takes all kinds I guess.

That's not entirely crazy. I did that on my shelf because the styrofoam forms still have lots of gabs and textures that aren't really good.
Compare https://picasaweb.google.com/103328750375507168249/1615ShelfLayoutConstruction#5563730485001311362 with https://picasaweb.google.com/103328750375507168249/1615ShelfLayoutConstruction#5685098806462039122. The smoother texture makes a much better base for fine grained ground cover: https://picasaweb.google.com/103328750375507168249/1615ShelfLayoutConstruction#5756523513191303618

[DKS]

Plywood on foam makes about as much sense as the guys who carve Styrofoam into land forms and then cover the styrofoam with plaster....takes all kinds I guess.

I'm one of "those kinds" too, I suppose, as I rarely use raw styrofoam as a finished scenery surface. It's actually a lot more work getting the styrofoam smooth enough and shaped to precisely fit around things like tunnel portals and bridge abutments than it is to carve the rough form and then add another layer of material. Plus, I've never been satisfied with hand-carved foam as rock. I know some guys are good at it, but I still prefer either adding rock castings or Cripplebush rubber rock.

As noted earlier, plywood on foam makes sense to guys who prefer plywood subroadbed over laying directly on foam, which is becoming much more popular these days (remember, this was 20 years ago). Completely covering the foam is admittedly a tad silly, but I suppose it saved the cookie-cutting step and created a solid, level base for buildings and scenery that didn't need to be built up to meet the roadbed.

[eric220]

I'm seriously having layout withdrawal.  I want to run some trains!!!

Ah-ha! The urge to buy a new layout explained.

[rswinnerton]

Hey Dave, here's a pic that might encourage you to get some model trains out of hiding. An aerial photo of the Blair building.

[Dave V]

I'll be priming and possibly painting the basement this weekend. No choo choos.

[John]

I'm seriously having layout withdrawal.  I want to run some trains!!!

Come on over .. we start Saturday morning

[Dave V]

Work progresses on the new home of the Juniata Division.  First pic is looking toward the 6x6 walk-in closet.  I'm having it lit and wired to be my workspace.

[eric220]

Lookin' good!  I very much enjoyed watching the home for the PRR come together a few years ago.  As much as you have layout withdrawal, there's something to be said for the anticipation.  Taking the time to make a proper home will be well worth it.