All About that Base!

There are three different types of baseboards I have used while creating different layouts; plywood base, plywood and foam base, and foam only base. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Plywood by itself:

-Pros

-Sturdy

-Inexpensive (depending on the type)

~½ in. OSB from Home Depot is <$10

-Readily available

-Able to secure items under the layout with screws

-Cons

-Very heavy

-Needs screwed down to framework

-Requires power tools

~i.e. saw and drill

Plywood and foam:

-Pros

-Sturdy

-Able to secure items under the layout with screws

-Foam can be carved

-Foam is cut easily with a knife or foam cutter

~I have used a large bread knife and Woodland Scenics Wire cutter

-Can be cheap (depending on foam thickness and wood type)

~½ in. piece of foam is about $12 at Home Depot

-Cons

-Can get expensive

-Need to secure wood and foam

~Screw plywood to the framework and glue the foam to the plywood

-Large foam may be hard to find

~This applies to people living in hotter regions of the U.S.

-Requires power tools for plywood

-Plywood can be very heavy

Foam by itself (My personal favorite) :

-Pros

-Sturdy depending on thickness (I use 2 in.)

-Cuts easily with a knife or foam cutter

-Carveable

-Very light

-Just need glue to secure it to framework

-Does not require power tools

-Leftovers can be used for terrain

-Cons

-Can get expensive

~2 in. foam at Home Depot is >$30

-Thinner pieces are not very sturdy and easily bend

-Unable to screw items to the underside of the layout

-Hard to find in some locations

~Hotter regions of the U.S. are less likely to stock it