Tim Chambers Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 Sorry if this has received notice before - was very surprised to hear on a recent visit to the Peco shop that they have ceased production of their Foam Underlay.I'm sure that there will be those on this site that give three hearty cheers,but not me-I've used it for many years with no deterioration at all and whilst it's perhaps not as realistic looking as the proper stuff,it's quicker and cleaner and don't look too bad! Shame. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Decorum Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 I had a Peco servicing cradle which, after many years, had deteriorated into a sticky mess. Foam underlay may not be made fo the same stuff but all the same, I’m glad I never used it. I wonder what the foam packaging used in some loco boxes will be like in a few decades. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Tim Dubya Posted June 8, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 8, 2018 Another win for the planet then! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 Woodland Scenics do a foam underlay. Strip and sheet form. Available from Hattons. I've been using it in place of cork sheet. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaneofFife Posted June 13, 2018 Share Posted June 13, 2018 discoloured too over time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted June 14, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 14, 2018 I had a Peco servicing cradle which, after many years, had deteriorated into a sticky mess. Foam underlay may not be made fo the same stuff but all the same, I’m glad I never used it. I wonder what the foam packaging used in some loco boxes will be like in a few decades. I had a loco (Italian make?) stored in the original foam. When I took it out this year (probably over 50 years old) the foam had disintegrated muchly and was sticking to some of the metal parts like wheels and railings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RFS Posted June 14, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 14, 2018 (edited) Peco foam underlay is of the open-cell type which does disintergrate over time. Other types of foam, such as the Woodland Scenics product, are of the closed-cell type and does not break down. I have used both the WS version, and also sheets of Plastazote foam which is similar to the WS product but very much cheaper in 2mx1m sheets. No problems at all. Edited June 14, 2018 by RFS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmacc Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 I have used it over many years and it has never broken down. Perhaps I’ve just had the right environmental conditions. Gaugemaster’s ballast underlay is great though. Never need Peco stuff nowadays. Fill the gaps between the lines with loose matching ballast and weather it and it’s very realistic looking Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Progress from Peco - they obviously thought there was no future in it. Sales have probably significantly declined over the years. You very rarely see layouts using it at exhibitions or in magazines these days. At least there is a whole host of alternative ballasting materials and methods still available, so it's not like, as modellers, we've been left in the lurch. G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted June 24, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 24, 2018 I had a loco (Italian make?) stored in the original foam. When I took it out this year (probably over 50 years old) the foam had disintegrated muchly and was sticking to some of the metal parts like wheels and railings. If you store models in foam lined boxes it's always worth making sure that the models are wrapped in something to protect them from the foam. I see quite a few brass models being sold way below what they should be worth because of foam damage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeighties Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Good riddance! The World has moved on with far superior products. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 (edited) I used it once in N Scale, back about 1990, as at 8ft long I knew I'd never get around to ballasting the layout using the 'usual' methods. Yes it was quick & clean, but not only were some foam pieces different shades, it raised the track level up higher than I wanted, & was far too neat & tidy for an American branch line. Never again. Edit: the layout didn't last long enough anyway to find out if the underlay perished after time, but I have seen it on other layouts, occasionally. Edited June 24, 2018 by F-UnitMad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Good riddance! The World has moved on with far superior products. I thought Gaugemaster underlay was foam. Are they discontinuing their products as well? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 Good riddance! The World has moved on with far superior products. Which non-loose, ready shaped product might this be? (Since loose ballast pre-dates foam, though nearly always looked better). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmacc Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 (edited) I thought Gaugemaster underlay was foam. Are they discontinuing their products as well? It is foam coated in ballast granules so looks much better than Peco. The ballast used on the foam matches their loose packeted stuff too. With weathering and painting the track it gives a pleasing look in a fraction of the time. Don’t think it’s available in turnout pieces though; only straight. Attached photo shows it alongside some traditional Peco foam for comparison. Ignore the low standard of modelling lol. Edited June 25, 2018 by ianmacc 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Morgan Posted June 25, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 25, 2018 and how many Peco N gauge wagons have been ruined by the foam in their boxes? I lost a few. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 and how many Peco N gauge wagons have been ruined by the foam in their boxes? I lost a few. Careless. Have you not yet found them? ;-) I tend to remove the wagon from its packaging and place it on the track/layout. Then throw away the foam insert and use the nice little plastic box for storing items (like track pins and/or coupling springs). Although isn't the new Peco wagon packaging quite different? G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
locomad Posted June 25, 2018 Share Posted June 25, 2018 About time too, this stuff has caused us a lot of hassle over the years mainly due to the stuff breaking down and getting into the mechs of locos over the years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilwell Park Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 About time too, this stuff has caused us a lot of hassle over the years mainly due to the stuff breaking down and getting into the mechs of locos over the years Very sorry to hear this I have used it for many years. It seems to last 15+ years and is easy to replace if you want to keep the track in the same place. I now spray it with Magicote textured paint so that it looks similar to, but in my opinion, better than Gaugemaster. It also seems to extend the life and is clean and easy to use, also reduces the sound of running. Roger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmacc Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Very sorry to hear this I have used it for many years. It seems to last 15+ years and is easy to replace if you want to keep the track in the same place. I now spray it with Magicote textured paint so that it looks similar to, but in my opinion, better than Gaugemaster. It also seems to extend the life and is clean and easy to use, also reduces the sound of running. Roger Be interested to see a photo of magicoated underlay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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