Hi! I'm new to these forums, but I thought that I would mention that our new club HO layout (an M-shape about 35' wide with right, middle and left legs of 15', 20' & 25' respectively) uses the regular stringers, cookie cutter 1/4 plywood sub-roadbed with 1/2" blue foam, and cork roadbed all of which is glued in place. I have been totally amazed at how fast the track laying and scenicking has progressed. At first it seemed slow and clunky, but our master builder Tom has managed to lay about 200' of track(Atlas code 83 flextrack) and about 20-30 turnouts(Shinohara #5's which have to be shimmed up about .020") over standard benchwork and something like 70' of 30" wide hardshell terrain, wiring each module for DCC as we go and teach numerous volunteers, in about 32 work sessions of 1 1/2 - 2hrs.
Note: While trying to reach into a deep scenery-only corner to plant some trees, I had to steady myself by leaning on the mainline and did so with no ill effects. I suspect that it will also be super quiet, although we have yet to run locomotives on it. I think I am going to use the same system for my own layout that is in the planning stage. (HO 11' X 33" shelf layout) [ Post WW I Tuckerton Rail Road is a shortline connecting to the Pennsy and CNJ with Pennsy track rights to Beach Haven, NJ] At the present time I am doing design work on a fully working HO scale model of Barnegat Light as an focal point for the layout.:thumb:
Note: While trying to reach into a deep scenery-only corner to plant some trees, I had to steady myself by leaning on the mainline and did so with no ill effects. I suspect that it will also be super quiet, although we have yet to run locomotives on it. I think I am going to use the same system for my own layout that is in the planning stage. (HO 11' X 33" shelf layout) [ Post WW I Tuckerton Rail Road is a shortline connecting to the Pennsy and CNJ with Pennsy track rights to Beach Haven, NJ] At the present time I am doing design work on a fully working HO scale model of Barnegat Light as an focal point for the layout.:thumb: