SteveMa posted:George,
I'm in the middle (started in November) of building a multi-level STD/O gauge layout also. Love your progress and advice. Didn't see your final verdict on felt vs. indoor/outdoor carpet? Your 5 rail track doesn't look like the 5 rail Gargraves I have used in the past? Who makes that all tinplate 5-rail? May just do the green area in my main STD city/roundhouse area. I'll post pictures soon of my progress.
The 5-rail track is custom. You need to make it from USA Track standard gauge and Menards O track. Nobody makes it in tubular.
As for the felt vs. indoor/outdoor carpet, I am very happy with the felt. I easily solved the problem of drilling through it. I use an Exacto knife to cut a slit; I keep my vacuum nearby; I open the slit with needle nose pliers; I drill the hole and then vacuum the sawdust. The felt goes back in place and you can push wires through. The felt was inexpensive and readily available at JoAnn Fabric. It has a sound dampening effect without even adding padding. I tried padding on the upper level. It worked fine but isn't really needed with the felt. The felt cleans up well too. I just vacuum it with a dust-buster or use a small brush attachment on my shop vac. I have only loose laid the felt so far. I may glue down some areas when I get closer to the finishing stage of the layout.
George