I'm getting ready to start my first layout and had a question. What is the best way to secure MTH realtrax to rigid foam (4" foam on top of a hollow core door)? Do you run screws down to the door or just glue the track down?
Thx!
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Hi,
I would run the screws into the door, the track will be very secure this way
Alex
I would glue the foam down then screw to the foam, you don't need that much holding force on the track.
Screwing into the wood will make it a LOT louder when you run trains.
It turns the door surface into a speaker cone.
RealTrax is only the second loudest track made, It pays to damp the sound level.
I know, I have a 6' X 23' layout of it. I have added various materials under the track to quiet it down.
Thanks for the help guys! I will screw the track into to the foam and see how that holds. My only concern is it working it's way loose over time - the layout will be taken out and put away several times a year due to space limitations.
Silly question, what screws would you use to fasten the MTH realtrax??? Thanks!
#4 wood screws (found in another post from earlier in the year)
Thank you. Building a new layout. It's coming along!
If you want to reinforce the foam for durability, back the screws out and fill the hole in the foam with wood glue, then reinstall screws. The glue will hold the screws in much better.
On my modular layout I also use MTH RealTrax. I fasten the RealTrax to a 1/4 inch raised "roadbed" using small screws. I then attach a "foam cushion" to the underside of the roadbed to reduce the sound transmitted by the trains. This track and roadbed assembly then gets attached to the layout base with other screws.
My "roadbed" will be contoured and painted to represent a "sub- ballast" as shown on the attached prototype diagram.
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