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I'm building 2 small layouts (each will be about 4' x 10'), one in HO, & one a 1/32 Scale Artin oval. Which is better to use as a base? Plywood or 2" blue foam insulation sheets? In either case I would build a frame w/supports & cross bracing.

Nothing stands the sands of time like wood IMHO.

Save a little and go with 3/8" OSB.

What he said. Yep.

I'm asking myself the same question, but for weigth reasons. I discovered (when I made my prep work à that the wall is not sturdy enough to support the track. So I will make a U shaped support fixed on the floor. But the weight will still be a problem (you saw my typical wood floor).

Maybe I'll use an hybrid setup. Wood under the track parts, styrofoam under the empty zones (typical scenery like grass and all).

Like he said, but put the foam OVER the empty spaces. then carve it into landscape. You could even add a couple layers topographical map style and smooth off the edges to form hills or cliffs. I've heard you can wire brush the surface and then paint it to make it look like rocks.

Styrofoam is a great material for scenery. As a former pro modeller (in wargames scene especially) I used it all the time. Great way to create hills and cliffs like you say, you can also texture it with several mixs and products, and it stays light and relatively sturdy.

But if you're making a scenery permanent track, for hills or "mountains" I would use mesh and plaster bandages instead of styrofoam. I made my hills on my lego layout with styrofoam to keep this lego "block" aspect, but it was a lot of work in comparison.