@A.J. posted:Hello everyone, just looking for some good ideas on how to cover the gaps between the homasote on my layout. I was thinking of putting packing tape over them but I'm not sure if that would effect securing ground cover due to the surface of the tape. I also figured using some sort of compound wouldn't work either as I will be doing work on top of the table from time to time. Any suggestions would be great and appreciated. Thank you!
Here's how I filled in the gaps between Homasote sheets on my last layout which I built in 2007. The gaps were still filled when I took the layout down in 2019 when we moved to our "forever home".
After filling the crack and letting it dry for a few days, I sanded it down so I had a smooth surface, then painted it to match the brown paint I used earlier on the Homasote sheets. Here's how the same place looked during the "first run" after I installed track, roadbed and wiring. The crack I filled, sanded and painted runs across the layout from the left side by the mainline cross-over turn-out near the locomotive, through the stub tracks and on to the other side of the layout.
In this "second run" photo, the crack I filled, sanded and painted is invisible--and stayed that way for the life of the layout.
BTW -- When I purchased my Homasote, the small lumber yard's manager kidded me, "Whatcha building, a music studio or a train layout?" He also told me to paint all six sides of the Homasote (top, bottom & side edges) to seal it against moisture absorption before gluing it to the plywood with Liquid Nails.
I hope this info is helpful!
