N Scale Q -> Yes or NO? (2024)

I'm planning my N scale layout currently. I'm going for a real shortline feel, and I'm wondering if I should simply not use cork or any other type of roadbed to get the desired look. I'm going for neglected roadbed, like the LSRC in alpena where the ballast under track level is really non-exsistant.

So is it fine to go without or should I put roadbed beneth the Mainline?

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MQT3001 wrote:I'm planning my N scale layout currently. I'm going for a real shortline feel, and I'm wondering if I should simply not use cork or any other type of roadbed to get the desired look. I'm going for neglected roadbed, like the LSRC in alpena where the ballast under track level is really non-exsistant.

So is it fine to go without or should I put roadbed beneth the Mainline?

I'd put some form of roadbed under it. Running on some form of roadbed will make the trains run quieter, and if spiking down the track its easier to spike into cork then it is into plywood.

Practice Safe CSX

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MQT3001 wrote:Is there anything I could use that isn't quite as thick at cork that would still work? preferably cheap.....

Carboard. You can get cardboard sheets from any art star and cut it into the width you need and by using multiple layers get the height you want. I have done this to my sidings.

AARR wrote:

MQT3001 wrote:Is there anything I could use that isn't quite as thick at cork that would still work? preferably cheap.....

Carboard. You can get cardboard sheets from any art star and cut it into the width you need and by using multiple layers get the height you want. I have done this to my sidings.

Do it hold up to the water-based paints and stuff?

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MQT3001 wrote:

AARR wrote:

MQT3001 wrote:Is there anything I could use that isn't quite as thick at cork that would still work? preferably cheap.....

Carboard. You can get cardboard sheets from any art star and cut it into the width you need and by using multiple layers get the height you want. I have done this to my sidings.

Do it hold up to the water-based paints and stuff?

So far I have not had any problems. But I do everything very simple so its possible there are some materials that may be a problem with carboard roadbed.

Chrisracer8903 wrote:Personally, I like using sheets of cork that you can purchase at OfficeMax or Staples. When I built my N scale Michigan Air-Line Railway layout, I covered the whole board in cork sheets and laid Atlas snap-track directly over them. I glued the sheets with Liquid Nails and the thick wads of glue produced bumps that made the trackage look bumpy and rough once the track was glued down. It really gave that unleveled/ rough look and the vegitation close to the trackage at the same level on the sheets gave a "low-maintained right-of-way" such as what the real Michigan Air-Line Railway was. It also gives the option to cut-out sections of cork to make a shallow lake.

So your whole layout is covered with the stuff?

How much does it cost (how big?)?

I'm looking to model the look of the LSRC in Alpena tracks......I may just settle for the norm but I'd really like to explore the other possibilities......keep 'em comin guys! .........I LOVE this site

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MQT3001 wrote:So your whole layout is covered with the stuff?

How much does it cost (how big?)?

I'm looking to model the look of the LSRC in Alpena tracks......I may just settle for the norm but I'd really like to explore the other possibilities......keep 'em comin guys! .........I LOVE this site

http://www.officemax.com/office-supplie ... t-ARS24657

Every though of using HO cork for the main line and N scale for the sidings? You could use a Sur-form tool to work out the height differences. I laid my yard tracks directly to the plywood in my yard and now regret it. I did use the Sur-form tool to work on "ramps" to get the sidings and yard tracks to smoothly transition up to the main line.

Making siding and yard racks look "old and neglected" is a very cool effect but you still need to use the rule...."bad track means bad operations". Be care. Test a lot....and don't be afraid to tear up track that causes derailments otherwise you'll just get frustrated.

Steven F. Shick
http://www.youtube.com/user/trnwatcher
http://www.trnwatcher.net

I.T. guy/Railfan
"The true railfan has two favorite railroads....the Baltimore & Ohio and another one." - Charles S. Roberts

MKT_fan11 wrote:MQT, one more thought on giving your track the "overgrown" look. Several layouts ago (I built new layouts on an almost annual basis a few years back), I stumbled onto a different method than the ones posted above. I had a spot in a corner that had a track that I decided to "abandon" by covering it up with Woodland Scenics ground foam. I used several different colors and lots of glue and wound up with what looked like a field on top of the track. But the track was still there and a few weeks later I decided I wanted to put the track back into service. Rather than just removing all of the material that I'd put into place, I carefully scraped the material from the top of the rails, and cleaned off the very top of the rails. I then carefully dug out flange-ways next to the rails, being careful not to disturb the rest of the material between the flange-ways. The overall effect was pretty impressive (although apparently not impressive enough for me to have taken a picture of it), but if you consider going a route like this, you'll want to be sure that the material is secure- if not, it can get into your locomotive mechanisms and will cause detrimental performance.

I think I'll stick to just ballast because I'm not as experianced...I'm not necessarily looking for "overgrown" but "sunk-in" like the LSRC in Alpena.

I'm thinking about getting a wheelset that I can use to create flangways as I put the ballast on...pile on ballast, run it through to be sure there are proper flangways. The wheelset could be tossed if it became siezed up....any thoughts?

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