Carpet (snow) for under the tree layout

I simply use white felt and lay it directly on the floor. I cut it to fit around things (like the tree stand), and if I need to add on a piece I use white duct tape to hold the pieces together. When you're done, just fold it up, and put it in a box to use again the next year. Pretty much unbeatable for convenience.

+1 for white felt. For years we used a round white felt tree skirt, and my wife suggested adding another piece of felt to cover the entire rectangular area of the train layout under the tree (train area is larger than the tree diameter).  This way, there is 'snow' for the entire layout.  We put the felt rectangle down on the carpet first then add the tree and its white felt skirt.  We then use Plasticville fence along the perimeter to finish it off.  This works great.

Dale

White felt is a good solution.

Another vote for white felt.

I use Homasote as my base for my 11'x14' floor Christmas layout.  I have a few boards (I cut up 4'x8' boards into smaller more manageable pieces) where I painted them white.  Here's an example from this year's Christmas layout

walt

Here's a different board from my 2022 Christmas layout

When I was a kid my Dad would use cotton. It wasn't  good for my steam engine. LOL.

Jim D.

I have been using felt as well BUT it moves around too easily on the wood floor causing the track to shift slightly as well. I have two loops, so that slight shift in track did indeed cause a bit of a head-on wreck, no damage. This year I bought a plain white table cover (the type that you use UNDER the tablecloth). The one side is white vinyl which faces down and the weight of the vinyl holds it in place better. The side which faces up is white felt. I still use my regular white felt to go under the village and tree stand. I am running late this year so no pics yet, working on it today. It only stays up for two weeks so I have to keep it simple.

Mikki

I like roll up snow, and different types of styrofoam. Greg

Another vote for white felt, Hobby Lobby will cut it off their roll to whatever dimensions you require at no charge. I used the thinnest plywood I could find at HD (1/8”) and painted it white with whatever paint I had handy. White felt is then laid on top.

I like white sherpa cloth, but you have to sear the edges.

John

I used Heavy white fleece from JoAnn fabrics

I bought a pretty cheap white fleece blanket from Walmart and put it directly on the floor.  Haven't hand any problems and it is easy to clean if needed.

@cngw posted:

I like roll up snow, and different types of styrofoam. Greg

I've never heard of 'roll up snow'.  Can you shed some light on that?  Where does one find it?  What is it? etc.

thanks - walt

@walt rapp posted:

I've never heard of 'roll up snow'.  Can you shed some light on that?  Where does one find it?  What is it? etc.

thanks - walt

Walt, I am guessing it is the same white batts of stuff that the others are using, sometimes I would find it in rolls, sometimes in flat batten packs. Nothing rare, it just lays down nice, looks good, and can be shaped.

Most on the forum only use it for Christmas gardens, (like you and I - well, I used to) put up.  I bet not many year round snow "boarders" are around....for year round, a lot of layouts are more green and brown. So, this snow topic only seems to come up about every 12 months....for some reason!

I personally like the posts appearing on the Remember post...https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/remember?reply=182184739261380079#182184739261380079

Merry Christmas, Greg

Try going to a PAINT store not BIG BOX get some xtra strength Elmers white glue dilute the glue as necessary put a couple of coats on the styrofoam. Be happy

Walmart and Target have Elmer's Extra Strength, glue, paint stores don't. I was remodeling and painting the interior of my rental last summer and was back and forth to the paint stores numerous times for a bunch of items. The three major brands, Benjamin Moore, Dunn Edwards, and Sherwin Williams referred me back to, you guessed it, the big box store because they don't carry glue. Paint and lots of paint related items, but no glue. Save yourself the hassle and go to Walmart or Target.

For many years, I went with a couple of small pieces of plywood, covered by a white sheet. The problem with that setup was, by the time to tree was up and decorated, and the trains were underneath, the sheet was all wrinkled and pulled about.

This year, I went a more permanent route, with a piece of plywood cut to fit my space, and painted white.

I painted some "ballast" with a spray can of "stone look" paint. The additional ties are pieces of craft foam, stacked three high, to provide a bit of sound deadening.

I also added two handles on each end, so my wife and I can carry it down to the basement for storage once the holidays are over.