Model Railway Forum

3mm thick floor underlay by 20 meters (60 ft roughly) long and its moisture proof off local builders provider €150.00 about £129.00, as opposed to €450.00..£387.00 for cork in roughly the same length and it does the same job

Why do you need underlay. most of us lay straight on top of ply. Seems an expensive add on. John

Gives the rolling stock and trains a smother run its like a cushion between the hard base board and the track

Youtube .....Cork Underlay How To Video

Whatever, you are happy with, I suppose. I don’t think it will catch on. Most of us get very smooth running with traditional method. If one is starting from scratch’ it’s another option, however.

In my view the best way is straight onto the board.

I used underlay in some form or the other for years but each time ended up removing it. Makes absolutely no difference to smooth running, particularly if you ballast the track.

I would argue with respect .....that the rolling stock and trains have a more cushioned run, the underlay will absorb any lumps and bumps that the baseboard WILL have

Ballast in my opinion is just decorative, and has no effect on the running of the layout........Again when the stock is running with a cushion underneath its smoother

Of course ballast is decorative as are fences, figures, trees and anything else you add that serves no useful purpose. Any way each to his/her own. Just make sure the board surface is absolutely flat otherwise the underlay will just follow the lumps and bumps.

Don't want to be rude but why waste money which can be put towards buying stock etc.

I originally, put that, then thought perhaps, i should change it. There are no lumps or bumps in a correctly laid baseboard. Waste of money in my view also.