Basic baseboard question

[B.Meldon]

I will go with the others on this.
I would also use 6mm (1/4 inch) plywood on a 2x1 frame.
It is a good idea to tray and make the track plan before you build the baseboard.
That way you can make sure that any cross members on the 2x1 frame are not where you want to put a point motor etc.

The ideal way is to use a 1/4 plywood (6mm) track bed made to the shape of your layout plan and then suported on a 2x1 frame work. The Areas in between the track bed can then be made to whatever scenic shape you want with valleys and the like and this would alow you to model items below track level like rivers and streems, ponds ect. But this is a bit advanced for a first layout so may not be good for your use.
For most first layouts people just use a flat baseboard and do not bother with anything below track level, and layout like this can look very good.

[John Harris]

I have not posted much on the forum, having only joined the society a year or so ago after a long hiatus, but 'back in the day', a popular medium for baseboards was Sundeala board, which I suppose could be regarded as 'low-density fibreboard' (LDF).

Sadly, Sundeala went into receivership in April, but the board still seems to be readily available from modelling outlets and places like Amazon & eBay.

It's much lighter than MDF yet easy to cut and shape.

jch

[clayliner]

...and make sure the point motors aren't just where the under-board bracing is...

David.

[B.Meldon]

I have not posted much on the forum, having only joined the society a year or so ago after a long hiatus, but 'back in the day', a popular medium for baseboards was Sundeala board, which I suppose could be regarded as 'low-density fibreboard' (LDF).

Sadly, Sundeala went into receivership in April, but the board still seems to be readily available from modelling outlets and places like Amazon & eBay.

It's much lighter than MDF yet easy to cut and shape.

jch

Soft boards of any type are easier to cut to size, but offer poor fixing for track, point motors etc.
1/4 (6mm) plywood is harder to cut but offers a very good fixing for track, pint motors etc.