I am considering the use of felt material on my layout instead of grass mat. I have some considerations regarding flammability inasmuch as some of the felt will pass under the tracks and there is no roadbed. It is 0 gauge track. Anyone ever try this? Otherwise I may use the felt around the track instead.
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GG-1fan-
Sure have, and it works very well. Most hobby stores sell paper-backed felt mats in sizes slightly larger than 4x8, which is ideal for standard sheet of plywood. I usually wrap the mat around the edges, then staple it to the board on the underside. I then tack on inexpensive wood molding strips along the edges to prevent accidental tears (caused by brushing up against the mat) and also to give the board a finished look. Unlike indoor/outdoor carpeting (aka astroturf) the felt mats can be cut into easily with a sharp blade, which is very handy when you need to drill holes for wiring and such. While some mats look a bit too green, they can be easily dressed with various ground foams to simulate bushes, weeds and dirt.
In terms of a flammability risk, the only time sparks would likely fly on your layout would be if a wheelset derails and/or a wiring fault. Even then it would take a lot more than just a few brief sparks to ignite the mat. Most toy transformer circuit breakers would have tripped well before the mat ignites.
-John
I am right here with you. In the beginning I covered my entire table with felt 8 years ago. It has worked very well and continues to look great.
I am now upgrading my scenery and this is a project I have been working on. You can see the felt before and after the installation of the project which included the addition of roadbed, gravel, roadways and work spaces.
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I am considering the use of felt material on my layout instead of grass mat. I have some considerations regarding flammability inasmuch as some of the felt will pass under the tracks and there is no roadbed. It is 0 gauge track. Anyone ever try this? Otherwise I may use the felt around the track instead.
I would suggest railroad O Gauge Cord & spay paint it gray before installing.
I understand your concern, which is well placed. I concluded the same as above. It would take a long period of arcing or open flame to ignite the material. So, I am using it.
JoAnn fabric has three types. I chose the craft or 100% synthetic fibers because it is 60" or 72" wide by the yard and the least expensive.. They have a 35% wool, which is 36" wide and a 100% wool at 36" wide at higher costs.
We had one of those paper-backed or whatever felt pads wrapped and stapled on our layout 4 x 8 layout years and years ago, when I was a kid. If my brother and I couldn't set in afire then, its fireproof enough.
I couldn't find big enough pieces of felt locally but did find nice green fleecy blanket throws and used that material on my postwar/tinplate layout. I think blankets have to be flame retardant by law?
Roadbed is gray painted hardboard cut to fit.
While the tracks are surface wired, the remote control switch machines and whistling station have their wires run under the blanket. Table top is a hollow core door.
Last year as part of a renovation project, I tore up the grass mat we had previously used and installed a carpet that I found at Lowes. It is NOT indoor/outdoor carpet. It is a good grade and has a mixture of light and green tufts. Take a look, I think that it does a good job in replicating grass.
Click on photo to enlarge view.