A couple of questions were asked: Why can’t I just tack down the track on plywood? Why do I need to use a roadbed?
These are common questions asked by new modelers getting into the hobby, and you may have wondered yourself.
The answer is simple. There is nothing that says you have to. It’s your railroad, your rules, so only you have the power to do what you want on your layout. However, I am not going to stop there. I will share with you the reasons most modelers use some sort of roadbed under their track.
Sound: Roadbed will help dampen the sound of your engine and rail cars rolling on your layout. While roadbed will not silence all the sound, it will definitely make a difference.
Ballast: Roadbed will give you a little bit of extra space for the ballast. When using roadbed, it raises your track high enough that when you use ballast you can get that crown like you see in real-life railroads. Most modelers want to try to make their layouts look as close to the real thing as possible, and without roadbed, the ballast will be flat and you will not get the desired effect you’re looking for.
These are the two main reasons to use roadbed. Ok, so what kind of roadbed should I use?
There are some choices here you will have to make. There is cork roadbed, which, just like the name suggests, is made from cork. Also available is black foam roadbed. I have used both and really don’t have a preference, but there are advantages and disadvantages to both kinds.
One of the advantages of cork over foam is the sturdiness of it. Cork is more rigid and can take more abuse if you have to pull it up to do repairs, redirect, or add or delete a line. Depending on what you used to secure it down, oftentimes it can be reused, so you are not wasting the product. It does cost a little bit more for cork, but it is worth the added cost.
Foam roadbed, I find much easier to lay. It is more flexible, I feel it defines the sound better, and it is much easier to cut to length and shape. The cost is a bit cheaper than cork, but if you have to pull it up, it is more likely that you will have to replace it because it will rip too badly to be used again.
As far as adding ballast to either one of them, you won’t notice much of a difference. You can also buy cork or foam from a lumber store and cut strips yourself that are probably cheaper than buying through a hobby outlet, but you won’t get the beveled edges of either type of roadbed made for model railroading.
How do I attach the roadbed?
There are many ways you can hold the roadbed down. Here again, it’s all about what you find easier and how much you want to spend.
Some will use Elmer’s white glue, some use Liquid Nails, caulking, brads, and I have even heard of some using double-sided tape. I use clear kitchen and bathroom caulking. The reason is it applies white and dries clear, so you can easily see if it’s starting to dry out. It’s tacky. This allows you to make those little adjustments without moving the whole strip you are laying. What I like about it the most is its ability to lift off the plywood or foam benchwork without ripping either. Is it a hold-tight adhesive? No, it’s not, but consider that when adding and gluing down ballast, it is not going to go anywhere.
I hope this helps to answer the question on why to use roadbed.
Happy railroading!