Model Railway Forum

Hi all,

Building the baseboard for my model railway, I’ve constructed most of it but now just need to decide what top to place on top.

Heard ply is the most popular in 9mm, would OSB be suitable for a top or has anybody experienced any problems with this? Should I just stick to 9mm standard ply? Just trying to cut costs down wherever I can.

Thanks

Ply without doubt.

+1 for the ply

+ another.

+1 ply

Thanks all for your help

I love ply me!

Ply is obviously the de-facto standard... but to repeat the question, has anyone used OSB board? did you get any issues with it?

For starters OSB is a very rough surface and would in my opinion give you grief trying to get your track down flat. It is basically wood shavings clagged together, unlike ply which at best has controlled dimensioned layers giving a true thickness and superior surface finish.

Check on the type of ply as some even at 9 mm only have three layers, outer surface veneers over a single core, which can have voids. Birch ply is good quality but can be hard to work and the formaldehyde bonding agent stinks when worked with power tools so wear a mask.

I have used 18 mm birch ply for the framework and have 9 mm ply standing by to place on top.

Foolhardy to cut cost on baseboard, in my view. Ply. Perfect for the job. These other boards are cobbled together, rarely true, and prone to warp. Normally, you only build the baseboard once, 9 mm supported ply, is fine, although some use 12 or even 18.