Which side of Homasote?

Depends entirely on the effect you are trying to achieve. If you want a nice smooth paint job, use the smooth side. If you are simulating a more natural surface such as earth or old concrete, use the rough side.

I just didn't know if it actually "mattered" and what most did.  

The Homasote I buy has a mess substrate seen on one side, I put that side down and use the textured side which is what you would do if you were hanging it on a wall. I have no idea if it matters for layout use. Don't be surprised if it curls some as the paint dries if you haven't fastened it down. It'll still lay flat with screws or glue.

Yes, both sides are textured, but the "mesh" is the slightly more rougher/textured side on what I bought today.   The other side does have texture, but no mesh and not as rough, mostly smooth.   So, you're saying put the slightly rougher side with the mesh downward?  

I'm no expert on scenery but I think it is better not to have recognizable shapes that you would then have to cover up, so mesh down IMHO.

All Homasote apparently is not created equal.  The stuff I used has a fine mesh pattern on both sides.  I didn't spend any time thinking about which side to put down, it was just cut to side and slapped down.  Mine is all screwed down with a lot of screws, 700-800 for the whole 12 x 24 main surface.

Edges and around openings got a lot of screws, as well as seams.

All the seams and countersunk screws were then filled in with Speed Finish and sanded smooth.

Finally, it got a coat of brown paint.

After that, the finish fascia went on.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

All Homasote apparently is not created equal.  The stuff I used has a fine mesh pattern on both sides.  I didn't spend any time thinking about which side to put down, it was just cut to side and slapped down.  Mine is all screwed down with a lot of screws, 700-800 for the whole 12 x 24 main surface.

After that, the finish fascia went on.

John what material did you use for fascia that bent around the curves?
Joe

There are two layers there, all described in my build thread: New Train Room Finally Getting A Layout!

Here's the post showing the two layers of the fascia: https://ogrforum.com/...36#89843432494338536

thanks John

10-4.  Thank you for the answers, I'm satisfied and will probably go with mesh down, just for the sake of it, but it probably won't matter as I will probably cover anyway with grass mat or something.   Thx all.

Glued down.  Thin coat of plaster coating most of it.  No problems.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

All Homasote apparently is not created equal.  The stuff I used has a fine mesh pattern on both sides.

They do have different products, I'm not sure what I have exactly. Do you see a distinct herring bone pattern on one side? That's a bit too regular and I didn't want to fill all of it.

@Hp289 posted:

but it probably won't matter as I will probably cover anyway with grass mat or something.   Thx all.

Exactly.

Never worried about it. Just cut out the roadbed that I needed for under the tracks putting a bevel on the sides, glued and screwed it into place, pulled the screw the next day, and kept on moving forward.  No problems and no issues.

Setting aside the scenery/aesthetic looking aspect, is there a better side to put down strictly for sound deadening purposes or does it not matter ?

Absolutely no difference in sound deadening properties based on side.

It's done.   I put it down.  Paint it on Saturday for sealing.