Hi londonbus,

I've just started to lay track using pre-cut Woodland Scenics track bed.

I used a small amount some years ago and once I'd ballasted (using Copydex to both glue the track bed and ballast) I personally didn't feel there was much noticeable difference in sound quality.

I've not heard or seen Depron, may I ask what thickness you would contemplating using and how effective do you consider it to be ?

One thing I would really not do is just glue the track to the baseboards, that is unless you like wearing earplugs whilst running your loco and stock !

Grahame

I read on this forum that the sound insulation properties of cork, or the Woodlands Scenics track bed (which looks very similar to depron), is compromised when glued using usual PVA wood glue as this sets hard acts as a conductor of the noise vibrations directly to the wood. Copydex, as you mentioned apparently doesn't set rock hard and because of the "rubbery" quality absorbs the vibrations (noise) better. How much I don't know.

Similarly ballast glued using diluted PVA acts as a conductor. The suggestion was to use a silicone based glue as this damps the vibration. 

Previously I have used both cork and depron (in the picture below) but with PVA glue. Now I have bought some silicone based glue (in Germany, not a brand I have seen in the UK) and will also experiment with Copydex. Will update here. 

Incidentally I have cut the webbing between the sleepers on thePeco 100 section in this pic. I will be doing this in the scenic section as well as slight superelevation on the curve south of the station.

I have just done some research as to what is available in Germany and have found cork roll called Ewifoam - 1m x 15m for about

Genau!! I haven't tried this little tester bottle yet, but glad to know it works for you Markus. 

Hi Londonbus.

Just wondered if you used Depron in the end? I'm about to use 3mm Grey Depron as my track underlay. Never used it for a model railway before but I've made a lot of RC model planes out of it!

Iain

Hi Iain,

In the end I went with cork. I did find the Depron quite soft and actually the different in noise was not noticeable. I also found a very cheap bulk source and have a very long roll which has covered the entire baseboard. I was at a large layout recently with cork as the base and it was tacked down, not glued and the noise was noticably lower. I think the key is the noise being transferred through the ballast and glue so i'm using Copydex. It stinks, but is more rubbery so doesn't conduct noise quite as much.