PLYWOOD FOR MOUNTING BUILDINGS

I always allow for an appropriate foundation for the sake of realism.Figure a couple feet tall for general use as an average. That would be 1/2" in  O scale.If your not into that much detail, just put the structure right on the table surface and it will be fine I'm sure.

 

Bob 

Hi Jim,

 

From my point of view, it kind of depends on how yo want to mount it on the layout, and the size/weight of the building.

 

By this I mean, that if you have say 1/2 of homasote, or some other sound deadening material on the layout top, and intent to cut that out and drop the building in the "hole" then I would make the base the same thickness of that material, typically 1/2".

 

If however you have a solid top you will place this building on, I would suggest using 1/4" or so luan type plywood.

 

I have used this approach on several buildings including my roundhouse.  I was able to build this in the show (on saw horses and a p[piece of 1/2" OSB, and then pick it up and move to the layout.  In the second photo you can see that because it was not too thick a base, I was able to blend the ground cover into the building to make it look more natural.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've used masonite for building bases. It seems to work with cork road bed.

Nice Work Mike

That is some wonderful work, especially the multilevel building.

Rich, Dave,

Thank you,

Mike

Great job Mike CT

 

Jim, Thank you, One of Rich's Korber models with a masonite base.  Quincy Mining (308).

 

I am in the process of bulding a BERHSHIRE VALLEY SINCLAIR gas station.  Just started painting the garage floor, sidewalks & roof.  Will start the building soon too.  I hope it turns out well.  I just finished putting together 2 K-LINE  passenger stations that I am going to use a freight docks,  One painted CSS & SB colors and the other O.D. Green for an Army Depot.

Mike, that is one nifty model of a mine tipple!

Thank you,
The Elliot and Sons Supply is a BTS kit as is the Cabin Creek Coal Tipple.
The second picture is an OGR Ameritown kit.  Masonite is available at most building supply stores as an underlayment for flooring.
Original question???   Masonite pictured is slightly under 1/4" thick.   As mentioned it seems to match well with the cork road bed pictured. This base works well for small to medium size structures.  The Korber 304 Roundhouse, that Rich posted, may require a base or, combination layer base, that approaches 1" for structural strength. IMO.
The BTS Orbisonia Station had a detailed two layer base made of masonite that acomplished a match to track height in the front and a small loading dock to the rear. Most kits don't have a base.
Note the two layers BTS Orbisonia station.

Note how the two base layers of masonite work for the rear loading area of the station.
  
The two layers allow for this track detail, passenger loading to the front of the station. Wood walk is included as part of the kit.  Again all the masonite isn't.

Here is a link to a slideshow of how several bases are blended into the diorama. The slideshow is backwards, finish to beginning. Be patient, it's a good detail of how several grades, even on a relatively level layout, are blended together.  Mike CT