@PVan posted:I have used ceiling tiles on my two S-scale layouts, with success. These are the kind that you find in office buildings. They come in a box for 24"x24" sections. Easy enough to cut with a utility knife. I would recommend sealing them with paint shortly after installation as their edges will crumble. It also allows for shaping (will make a bit of a mess). The real culprit with sound is any kind of glue or screws/nails used to connect things together. Anything solid/firm will transfer the sound to the next layer of materials. Ceiling tiles interrupt that transfer. I glued it to my plywood sub-frame and then glued my hand-laid track to the ceiling tile. It's not "silent", but a lot better than installing directly on anything wood. The other advantage over homasote is that you can get ceiling tiles at Lowes or Home Depot for around $10 for a box. Affordable, convenient, easy-to-transport.
Enjoy,
- Peter.
Thanks Peter, I did check the price at Home Depot and the cost per sq/ft is more than Homasote. Still, that might be offset by ease of cutting, etc. I wonder how ceiling tile would hold up to being on it during construction. I would be placing it on top of 1/2" plywood. It would probably need more support when used as sub-roadbed on grades.
Tom Stoltz
