INDOOR/OUTDOOR CARPET FOR GRASS

Not bad !

IMHO, green patio carpet looks "right" -- except if you intend to build a realistic layout with lots of attention to detail. That carpeting is readily available, affordable, easy to install, and easy to clean with a mini-vac.

I prepared the four sections of my 15x19 feet L-shaped layout with carpet adhesive, laid the carpeting in place, smoothed it out, wrapped it over the edges, trimmed it to fit, and stapled it to the underside of the platforms. It's "on there" permanently. By intention, I didn't install streets, curbs, and sidewalks on my 1950s-era traditional layout. The "edge to edge grass" looks OK to me.

I installed Lionel O42 tubular track and switches atop the carpeting (without ballast), then put buildings and accessories in place. Perfect.  BTW, if you want a Christmas-theme layout, patio carpeting is available in WHITE (or a "salt & pepper" color - which looks like urban snow with accumulated soot).  Those colors may require a special order via Lowe's.

Note 1:  I placed lots of O-scale figures on my layout. They won't stand up on the carpeting, so I applied a drop of glue to the base of each figure to hold them upright in place.

Note 2:  Like most hobbyists, I run the wiring for track, switches, action accessories, and lighted buildings underneath the platforms and then drill 3/8th-inch holes to bring wires to the surface of the carpeting for hook-ups where needed. To avoid ragged edges or unravelling of the carpeting, after drilling I place a 3/8 brass grommet at each hole with a drop of glue. If the layout is changed, the grommets can be pried up, and the carpet fibers may re-cover the hole.

Pix of my layout attached for reference.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

My layout is 45’ long by 15’ wide at the ends and is 5' out from the wall. around the wall layout. Could not afford to use perfect scale grass. I like both my scale trains and toy train look. It isn’t a museum piece just a toy.🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

@Mike H Mottler posted:

IMHO, green patio carpet looks "right" -- except if you intend to build a realistic layout with lots of attention to detail. That carpeting is readily available, affordable, easy to install, and easy to clean with a mini-vac.

I prepared the four sections of my 15x19 feet L-shaped layout with carpet adhesive, laid the carpeting in place, smoothed it out, wrapped it over the edges, trimmed it to fit, and stapled it to the underside of the platforms. It's "on there" permanently. By intention, I didn't install streets, curbs, and sidewalks on my 1950s-era traditional layout. The "edge to edge grass" looks OK to me.

I installed Lionel O42 tubular track and switches atop the carpeting (without ballast), then put buildings and accessories in place. Perfect.  BTW, if you want a Christmas-theme layout, patio carpeting is available in WHITE (or a "salt & pepper" color - which looks like urban snow with accumulated soot).  Those colors may require a special order via Lowe's.

Note 1:  I placed lots of O-scale figures on my layout. They won't stand up on the carpeting, so I applied a drop of glue to the base of each figure to hold them upright in place.

Note 2:  Like most hobbyists, I run the wiring for track, switches, action accessories, and lighted buildings underneath the platforms and then drill 3/8th-inch holes to bring wires to the surface of the carpeting for hook-ups where needed. To avoid ragged edges or unravelling of the carpeting, after drilling I place a 3/8 brass grommet at each hole with a drop of glue. If the layout is changed, the grommets can be pried up, and the carpet fibers may re-cover the hole.

Pix of my layout attached for reference.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

Looks fine to me, Mike. I am still going to use ballast etc. This is just easier for me and less expensive.

@MONON_JIM posted:

Because we have a cat I had to look for an alternative for grass on layout, so i decided on indoor/outdoor carpet. Here is a short video, a little touch up to do and the ballast need to

be finished. Just doing a section at a time. Looks good to me. Purchased the carpet from Lowes 9X12.  

My, that is one huge lawn on your layout. 😂

But, it’s looking good. 👍

I did that back in the 80s. I stretched the carpet over the piece of plywood like canvas painting. I drilled the wiring holes from the bottom.  I had to pysh ppe cleaners thru to find the hole on the topside.

Getting ready to move.  So I'll just unbolt them and treat them like large paintings.

@aussteve posted:

I did that back in the 80s. I stretched the carpet over the piece of plywood like canvas painting. I drilled the wiring holes from the bottom.  I had to pysh ppe cleaners thru to find the hole on the topside.

Getting ready to move.  So I'll just unbolt them and treat them like large paintings.

I am placing the grass where needed and will cut in streets as I go. I am using a very strong carpet tape and I think it will be fine. Like I said the layout is 136' feet per loop and there will be at least four of them.

I also found that the better carpet was so thick, plush and stiff that it was harder to get the track to go down flat.  So I bought some middle to low end carpet and it was great.

Very attractive color green IMO, and IMO just fine for toy-like look.

I opted for using Woodland Scenics products. Specifically, Green Blend for most grass, and Fine Turf for perfect grass on the playing fields of my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds. Photos below.

Regular grass:

Ball Parks:

Incidentally, we used to have a cat who never peed on the Woodland Scenics grass or any where else on the layout. Arnold

At the club we are using artificial turf. VA Tech was putting a new field down for their baseball team and after putting it in place they quickly discovered the lines were put in the wrong place. They pulled it up and we ended up with some large rolls of it.

Scott Smith

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Very attractive color green IMO, and IMO just fine for toy-like look.

I opted for using Woodland Scenics products. Specifically, Green Blend for most grass, and Fine Turf for perfect grass on the playing fields of my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds. Photos below.

Regular grass:

Ball Parks:

With a layout of 45'x15' around the wall the Woodland Scenics was out of my price range. If I had two rail scale maybe, the third rail, to me makes it look toylike so why go to the extra expense. Nice thing about trains, everyone does what they like and can afford. In my opinion there is no right or wrong, it's what you like. I do have all scale engine and rolling stock. Nice work by the way.

I've got samples from different grades from the Home Depot.  The longer stuff would could pass for a well manicured1:1 front lawn but id roughly chin high on an O gauge man.  The lower cropped stuff is that shiny plastic looking i/o carpet.  Recently I was at Lowes and grabbed some samples of their Grizzly Grass.  A very close cropped i/o carpet.  Kinda reminds me of a scrubbing pad.  I think this may be what Jim used.  My sample looks like it would make for a good O gauge lawn.

This is what I am using, no fuzz 6'x8'.

I also use the Lowe's EcoRug on my permanent clockwork layout at home, as well as for portable clockwork demo layouts for train shows.  The 6x8 size is large enough to minimize seams, yet small enough that it is easy to handle.  I use 1/2" MDF roadbed painted with Rust-Oleum stone textured paint - I like the clean look when paired with the EcoRug:

Indoor/outdoor carpet for grass is an excellent choice! That is what I used when building my layout and it is so easy and

rather within O gauge scale.  Very easy to change and or add to.

Good Choice !!

@MONON_JIM posted:

With a layout of 45'x15' around the wall the Woodland Scenics was out of my price range. If I had two rail scale maybe, the third rail, to me makes it look toylike so why go to the extra expense. Nice thing about trains, everyone does what they like and can afford. In my opinion there is no right or wrong, it's what you like. I do have all scale engine and rolling stock. Nice work by the way.

I 100% agree with you, Monon Jim.