Let's talk about baseboards

I said earlier that the layout subject was a blank slate. Despite me posting those pictures of the Vitacress line in Dorset, things could take any track yet. 

Some things though, are certain. This is one of them. The track will be laid on this material. Elmers cork faced foamcore board. It has a foam centre, faced on one side with a sheet of paper, and the other side by 1/32" cork sheet. It is advertised as useful for cork noticeboard projects. Approx. 10mm or  7/16" thick, it comes in a 20" x 30" sheet from hobby stores such as Michaels here in the US. 

Elmers Cork Sheet (picture from the Elmers website)

I have used the material before on my Underground Armaments layout. A model that sadly had to be disposed of in our house move. The cork does help to deaden the sound even in that small a thickness.

The underground armaments layout was something of a personal loss. But as I'd been working on the layout for about 10 years and it would stall at frequent intervals. I didn't feel too pained at its demise.

It is, I think, fairly well known that as a woodworker. I'm pretty incompetent. As a result, over the years, I've experimented with many different materials for baseboard construction. The flatpack Ikea APA box was my discovery. That discovery turned the small model railway baseboard world on its head. I'd also constructed baseboards from expanded polystyrene sheet too. Just to see if I could get away from wood.

The Cwm Lwch baseboard, made from expanded polystyrene. This baseboard survived multiple Minnesotan winters and summers in my garage and never warped or fell apart.

Never be afraid to challenge the accepted norms. In my teens, I once started a 009 layout in an Airfix model kit box and stiffened the thin card of the box with corrugated cardboard. Overall, the project failed but it didn't stop me experimenting.
Foamcore is a material I like. It's light, dimensionally stable, and easy to work with. No saws are needed, just a sharp craft knife and some strong glue.
My good friend, Tom Conboy. Has described in detail working with foamcore on his Wetterau Food Services Layout Blog. A useful resource. If you're considering working in foamcore take a peek.
I shall be taking a look myself.