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Based on my experience I would say yes for the most part, it might be a little less noisy thanks to the wood ties, but likely won't be that much different. The real problem there is you are screwing the track to the table, and the screws transmit the vibrations to tabletop which will in effect amplify the noise.

If you can afford it, what I would recommend is instead of screwing the track down, on top of the carpet lay down roadbed material (cork, rubber, rubber tape kind of things people have mentioned on here) where the carpet is glued down and the roadbed glue to that, then secure the track to the roadbed with glue and/or ballast glued down. You will isolate the track that way, no matter the type, and will be a lot quieter. 

   I heard a big difference between wood tie track and tubular. Ross and GarGrave both have a very diffent tone if not a lower total volume of noise than tin tube track. It was screwed tight, no roadbed of any kind to quiet it, and it was still better imo. Wood being softer and more numerous than metal it should transmit less, and be less localized with what it does transfer, allowing stiffer reinforced areas of bench to absorb and prevent vibration.

You may want to use the foamboard on top in lieu of plywood.  It will certainty be a lot easier to handle a 4x8 platform, being much lighter.  And screwing into it won't transfer the sound to the framing below.  The issue I see is having the screws hold, but maybe a dab of glue on the end of every other screw would do the job to secure the track better.  I used Ross track on homasote on plywood and I never found it to be noisy.  On the contrary.  But that platform would be cumbersome to move around due to the weight.  Honestly, I've never used the foamboard, but it would seem to be a good idea here.  Put down the grass mat to hide the pink or blue foam and a lightweight fascia board to conceal the sides.

Last edited by William 1

I thought of foam board when you said you wanted something to move out of the way, you could do foam board on a relatively lightweight frame (though foam board, the thick stuff, is pretty darn tough by itself so you may be able to use it only.). You won't be able to use screws, you could glue the ties to the foam board or you could do something a bit more time consuming, drill a small hole in a couple of ties in the track section you are putting down, push a nail through the holes, pull up the track section, and put a dab of foam safe glue in the hole the nail left in the foam for each hole, put the track section back in place, and push the nail into the glue filled hole. When the glue sets, the track should be secured. I haven't tried this with O gauge track, did something like this with a smaller scale, but it might allow you to hold the track in place securely if you don't want to glue down the track itself. 

Jess_C posted:

The prob. is that I'm in a Apartment and at time's  I will need to put layout on edge 4X8 out of the way will rubber washer's under screw head help if tack is able to flex some along with roadbed under track?

Going to use about 4 switches on this layout

  Yes, rubber or even nylon washers will help. Isolating the threads from the hole too helps in addition... if possible. A big hole in a tie would allow the threads to pass without contact, letting the rubber do all the work.

  Rubber being both very soft and very dense insulates sounds very well.

   Harder material like foams and wood rely more on the air between grains and the air bubbles to absorb sounds.

   By now you've read lots of opinions on what is quiet or isn't. I just want to point out again the difference is often based on personal sensitivity to some sound frequencies.  Few folks are actually using decible meters or looking at a frequency monitor. With decent padding under the track and legs, I doubt there would be more than a couple db difference... but the different tones will penetrate the walls and floors more than others. Bass tones will carry through more, highs will bounce around in the room and not penetrate nearly as much, etc.

So many variables, there isn't really one single right answer to what's best.   

    Even the style of scenery you use can effect that choice, that's why I asked before.

   E.g. If you used Fastrak, or wood ties, the hole size, or lack of hole, might not be ideal for the zip strips. You could use zip strips on the wood ties, but would that even be acceptable aesthetically. Many toy folk could care less, while a scale modeler would laugh at the thought.

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