Fastrack lost Thread on NOISE

I think this was the latest Fastrack noise reduction topic, but it doesn't mention the product you asked about in your post.

silencing Fastrack

Try this one...

Thank You for the quick responses

litegide24 is the one I am looking for

Sure.

I have some left and will check the mfg.  Although, I think stores stock what's currently available so the brands change from time to time.  I purchased my first few rolls from HVAC supply (I think it was 3M product $) but then found less expensive almost identical 2" foam at Home Depot...  I just checked around and this is what it looks like.

Menards

Home Depot

Fastenal

Grainger

They were both about 1/8 thick by 2" wide, the length of the rolls varied.  It was super easy to work with.  As mentioned in the above linked Try this one... post realtrax/homosote has photos during installation.  The foam trimmed back with hobby knife after my track was secured with screws.  At that time it was pleasantly sucked back under the surface of the roadbed.  The process reminds me of the ruby slippers disappearing under the house on Wiz of oz , I think since track was sucked down flat (w/screws) into the homosote the foam nicely filled the cavity under the plastic track.  I would Definitely use it again.  Grab a roll and try a sound test and let us know.

Keep in mind I don't have fastrak but would presume its similar because it's all bridged across where its designed to rest flat on the surface.  

litegide24,

Thanks a bunch

Those **** clerks don't know nothing.

I probably went right past it.

I am going back to the depot tomorrow.

Here is a current picture we just took tonite with a Mock Setup of our Scenery.

Thanks for starting this topic. I try to read the topics about reducing Fastrack noise, but I never read the other topic because I don't care for Realtrax. It sounds like an interesting material for reducing noise.

Brian, nice setup!  Love the idea of mobility.  The track plan is kinda similar to ours (pre scenery).  Can't help but notice the acrylic display cases with some very nice E pieces.  Great job.

litegide24,

I purchased the self stick tape at Home depot. Isle #8 $7.85 per roll.

I purchased just one roll to check it out.

WOW !! What a difference. It as I will call it "smoothed out the sound" as the trains go over the joints. I really like it a lot.

I only placed the 2 inch wide tape in the center of the track. I first penciled around the outerloop and then pulled apart only a few pieces and moved the layout around to install the tape. I am 100% pleased with the results this way instead of putting 2 pieces side by side and then cutting off the excess. For me it works AOK.

I am actually going to leave a few tracks here and there with No tape just to get that clatter in the far corners away from where the controllers are.

Thank You for the great advise.

It does work.

Attached is a picture of Power Central under the layout.
Just getting started on InnerLoop today, then I will get all the wires nice and neat.

FWIW I had the best sound reduction using FusionFiber (http://www.truescene.com) which is a cellulose based terrain material. I had some left over from my last layout and used it to fill the cavities in my FasTrack. 

Pros:

• The best sound deadening. I measured a simple O36 oval using a dB app on my iPhone and FusionFiber made the biggest impact. Makes sense since it COMPLETELY fills the cavity in FasTrack, unlike tape. 
• Not permanent. Some people have used spray foam insulation. Problem there is once applied you're never going to be able to remove it - not good if you later want to add power feeds. FusionFiber is cellulose based so if you want to remove it you can pull it out pretty easily. Worse case you moisten it a bit and it peels right out leaving behind only minimal residue (which can be scrubbed out pretty easily with a stiff brush). 
• Easy to apply. I found cutting pieces of tape to get pretty tedious, pretty fast. With FusionFiber you just drop a dollop in each cavity of FasTrack and smooth it level with a broad putty knife. Took me just a few minutes to cover my test oval. 
• Also makes a great terrain sculpting material. It's not a single purpose item like tape. If you have some left over you'll find a use for it. 

Cons:

• Not the cheapest solution. It's $21/bag though I think one bag will cover a modest sized layout. I used less than a 1/4 bag to do an O36 oval with 4 pieces of 10" straight track. 
• Takes a while to dry. Mine took close to a week to dry but that's here in Seattle where we have really damp winters. YMMV
• Adds quite a bit of weight, probably not the way to go if you're building a portable layout. 

Even with this FasTrack will still be louder than Atlas track by virtue of the hollow rails. This won't eliminate noise but it does make the noise less sharp sounding and overall more pleasant. It just makes the trains sound heavier. 

No affiliation with the TrueScenes, just a happy customer. 

Since I am re-doing my Fastrack layout, I will pick up some Armaroll Foam Insulation Tape at Home Depot tomorrow and give it a shot.  Thanks! 

Rick

I just completed my outside loop and it is 45-65% SMOOTHER sound than the inside loop. Very happy with the results and I only used the 2 inch piece in the center of the track. It was suggested here to use 2 strips side by side and then trim the excess off. That might be even better, but for me this is Perfect.

I want to hear a little noise from the tracks as the train goes over the joints.

Please forgive me for not knowing, but are you only using the foam tape on top of ply? Foam? Homosote?  And if you are screwing your track down on top of some sort of soft substrate, what are you using for screws?  I've found #4 pan heads to work well but have not found them long enough to go through FasTrack and an inch of foam.

Trapnell,

No Problem..I used OSB and then Homosote  on top of the OSB. I painted the Homosote with a water based paint like a lite tan eggshell finish. That's what I had laying around. I used the 2 inch Tape just in the Center of the Fastrack and screwed the fastrack down with 3/4 screws just enough to squeeze the track down to the Homosote. I only used a screw here and there around the layout just to hold things in place.

I have also looked around for #4 Screws longer and have found NONE.

I am not sure what you could use if you want to screw down to FoamBoard.