Here's an idea -Eliminate that front fascia

Here I need my Gynormous cup of Tigger coffee to keep cutting the foam. I used a steak knife only because I went through 3 hobby foam cutters. The Wall warts would just burn up...

So after cutting more and more foam... and giving it some shape... I covered it with paper towels dipped in wall joint compound. Its cheap, lightweight, and fills the voids nicely.

Definitely an improvement over the simple skirt or paneling. How's access underneath the layout with that in place?

Then add some paint to seal the joint compound...

Access is easy, I just run around to the other side! It has curtain access...

The slope was a little difficult to glue green foam on to. but I used Super 77 spray contact adhesive, wait one minute, then take old business card, load the green foam on the card and sweep the card up from the bottom so the foam sticks to the surface.

This was the trickiest part.

The wife was not pleased with I tracked green woodland scenic foam from my socks to the carpets, so I had to be careful here... very messy...

Here is before ... the cardboard close out was just not working out...

Looks great.

Very nice looking.

I like cardboard but that foam really dresses it up.  Very nice job.

Rick

Very unique and ambitious project. Certainly looks good.

That looks great!

looks great. what a great idea you had looks so much better than a drape or the cardboard. looks like another project for my layout. i guess i'll have to live till i'm 102 to get this all done.

J,  Looks really nice - what's going in the white areas below the green?

Yeah the poster board thumb tacked to the wood just was not holding up. the cardboard would flex and then the thumbtack would fall out... plus once the poster board would warp it was hard to keep attached to the layout...

Thanks for the thumbs up... thought I would share my adventures...

Next step more rock molds...

Soon to be installed ... rock molds of plaster paris...

not looking forward to it... takes lots of time and lots of mess....

but looks great when you get it done...

Looking good John. 

That's inspirational, and an out-of-the box way of addressing the foreground.

Thanks, Sorry about the rough pictures, its tough to take shots on your cell phone, with glue in one hand and green foam grass in the other!

Very neat idea. Reminiscent of John Allen's layout.

Well uh, that isn't something I would do.  But OK, it looks interesting.

I like it, it completes the look of the layout.  Nice work and I like the idea of the kick board.

It appears to visually greatly expand it as well.  I love this but need a ceiling first!  Then some benchwork then some................................One day!!

Very cool looking, always liked the scenery to the floor look. 

It's a nice idea, and it looks fantastic, but I can't do it on my layout.  I'd have to eliminate the shelves that fill the space below my benchwork and I have no idea where I'd keep all that rolling stock.

Nice.  Is there anything in particular holding these foam strips in place?  (Before you applied the paper towel/joint compound layer) Or do they just stand on their own?

- Mike

That's a lot of work but the end result looks great.

That is impressive! Can you still access under the layout for maintenance and storage? 

Big improvement. A few dozen trees would really make a huge difference. 

Can't wait to see it at the next meet at your house, very impressive!!!

Hi John,

 Look's great, well done.

Alex

What a fabulous idea!

Peter

Very Cool!  Far better than a curtain.

Buzz

Good evening John

Wow what a nice change.    

Clem

Blissfield Railroad Days' Events - Blissfield Main Street

Great job.

Yes there is a piece of 1/2 plywood that supports the foam...

Very nice work.  

When would be the best time to take on such a project?  From my feeble way of thinking I would complete my layout and then say, "Ok, now what do I do? I know, foam fascia."

Ron

Yes the backside of this is open for access: