Questions, Answers & Tips - 2
Frank Musick used foam without the hardboard splines:
“I don’t know if I care for the foam-no-hardboard idea so much
but I do like the foam,” says Alan. “This is where I got the idea. I
haven’t reached the point yet where I need to install the spline
(but I am close). When I do I am sandwiching foam between
hardboard.”
Brian Clogg built his roadbed with ¾” MDF (medium density
fiberboard), which he finds to be very stable. Spacer blocks are
¾” plywood ½” wide and the splines are ¼” wide. “I found that I
needed to support it at least every 16 inches,” Brian said. “I had
a section over a sink that was 30 inches long and it started to sag
so I glued a 2x4 underneath. This system has proven stable over
the years.”
Steve, at
has used Homasote
splines for more than 10 years and says he has “never had a
single regret … other than that I didn’t use more of them! I
had already started my former layout when I learned about
Homasote splines, and already had the benchwork in the more
track-dense areas done with Homabed on plywood. If I was
starting over, I’d either go with sheet Homasote over plywood
in those areas or splines throughout, depending on the num-
ber of tracks.”
Spline user Joe Atkinson says “I’ve had no problems with sea-
sonal humidity swings, and I’m in Iowa, so those swings are sig-
nificant. I found splines to be extremely easy, even enjoyable,
to work with, and when I switched from modeling the UP to the
IAIS and needed to rebuild my track arrangements in 2000, I was
able to reuse virtually all of the spline material.”
John recommends clear pine lath strips, about 3/16” to ¼”
thick, 1-1/8” wide and 16’ long, from the wood trim aisle at
Home Depot.
1
1. Spline roadbed comes in many forms. These Masonite
strips are laminated with carpenters glue, and can be
built up as needed to locate switches. As long as atten-
tion is paid to maintaining a desired radius, splines can
be formed into flowing transitions.
to the bottom of the page. It’s sold separately or as part of a
set. Here’s the direct link to the DVD with spline construction:
Masonite, Homasote, expanded polystyrene foam, white pine
and other materials can be used. Some people have had luck
alternating splines and spacer blocks. If you are handlaying track,
consider Homasote spline in 2” tall strips. Use drywall screws to
laminate three or four splines together, enough to make a road-
bed a little wider than your track. Fast, easy, and you can spike
directly into the Homasote. Some people like to cut the edges at
an angle to create the proper ballast slope.
MRH-Jul 2014
