Cork Roadbed 3' (25)

very good to use for laying roadbed, very fresh feeling and does not break like some brittle brands of cork.

I love this cork roadbed. It's quiet, easy to cut, and easy to glue down. I've used that black foam-y stuff before - you know that stuff that comes on a roll - but that stuff squishes and loses integrity when you are gluing it down along a curve, or installing track. This cork bed is the best, and I've just always used this brand. One strip does require a little coarse sanding to get the rough edge off, but that's fine with me! Just more fun for the hobby modeler. I use white Elmers glue to tack it down, and thumb tacks to hold it in place. I model on 1/2 to 3/4 foam board always and this roadbed works wonders. If you plan your layout ahead, this bulk box will save you!

My preferred subsurface for layouts is plywood; however, cork road bed is a must, in my opinion, on foam too. Although cork must be glued to foam, it can be stapled to plywood which is faster and easier. When used on foam, flex track can be laid using nails which will embed securely in the cork to hold until ballasting is complete and dry. This product comes with beveled edges and a split down the middle. It is intended that the cork be split apart (it's very easy) with each half being glued or stapled against the track line. Even tight radii are easily circumnavigated with this product in this manner. I prefer to use only half pieces, centering them on the track line with the bevel turned down. This way the ballast forms the fall, not the cork. I think this creates a more natural looking fall along the edges of your track (see pictures). More ballast is used this way, but you make up the difference by using only half the cork.