temporary layout base - foam ok?

Garrett,

My Christmas layout is one 4x8 sheet of 2" foam.  I did it for the same reasons as you suggested.  I have it on a folding table with wood braces about every 24" because it overhangs the table.  I have kept it up year round since November 2014, and change the scenery around.  It hardly sags at all, but 4" thick and 12" spacing of wood should be quite sturdy.  Remind me to post some photos, I can't now on my smart phone.

So this is my effort on 2" blue foam board. Strong enough for this layout. Support base on family room floor will be on the 1" x 6" interlocking boards. I want it raised off floor is only reason for the base.  

banjoflyer posted:

Now that is well done! 

Mark

I couldn't agree more!

Getting back to the original question: 4" foam is more than enough.  2" is plenty if you brace it.  My new layout will be using this method as it will be modular in design and I want something lightweight should it need to be moved.

Fellow forumite David1 has a 4x16 or so layout using 1" and 2" foam over Mianne benchwork and his layout is more than solid enough.  If you reached out to his email in his profile I'm sure he'd be glad to answer any questions you may have.

-Greg

Here are some photographs.  These were when I first started it.

Now it is setup for a non-Christmas setting.  You can see some of the wood brace on the front.

Here is how it has looked since early last December.  I have about 30 porcelain or ceramic buildings on it, plus two trains at any time.

Mark Boyce posted:

Here are some photographs.  These were when I first started it.

Now it is setup for a non-Christmas setting.  You can see some of the wood brace on the front.

Here is how it has looked since early last December.  I have about 30 porcelain or ceramic buildings on it, plus two trains at any time.

Very nice!  Good to see the whole thing at last, Mark.  Speaking to strength, I would imagine all your buildings would add substantial weight. So 4" foam would be more than adequate I think.  Ted

BanjoF and Greg, thanks. 

Ted,

Thank you.  I sure don't know how much the buildings weigh.  One thing the weight is dispersed over the layout.  I do run some heavy MTH Premier engines (sometimes even double head just for fun) during the off season, and I have had no problem with them either.  I would say 4" wouldn't have any problem holding up.

I live in a apt. And I built a 16x4 foot layout using 2" foam and it works just. My supports are 12" apart. I put the foam on top of my Mianne bench work. I used white glue to keep in place. 

The trains run just fine and the foam has no sags, and it is level and flat. 

TEDW,

where did you get your foam board, and does it have a brand name?

thanks

OC Patrick posted:

TEDW,

where did you get your foam board, and does it have a brand name?

thanks

Lowes. Dow product; styrofoam utilityfit scored insulation.  Blue color, 4' X 8' sheet.

Thanks all!  Good pics and got me headed down the right track

Garrett,

I'm very glad to share some of my personal experience with you.  The concept seemed sound when I thought to try it, just as it seemed to you.  Yes, it works.

I'll be looking forward to seeing your, as I have liked what Ted has been doing!