Nice idea! I am using hollow core doors from a diy store, wooden framed, ply exterior and cardboard honeycomb interior, lightweight strong and cheap. Had some on trestles out in the workshop for the last two years and had no warping at all. Just sealed them with a coat of varnish and then stuck on some fibreboard underlay sheets baught from the same store instead of cork

There's a lot more engineering involved in making this table than I imagined from just the video's title. This is very interesting because you can make any size, or even any shape you like.

That's quite revolutionry!! I might have to give that a go.

Was looking at a magazine yesterday and it still only mentions battens and ply as the only way to make a base board , didn't even mention foam board. It also stated that 6x4ft was the absolute minimum for a round and round layout. Our last exhibition layout was only 3x4ft and even this one is only 3x5.5 ft. I think it's important to challenge accepted convention otherwise the hobby won't move forward. The magazine I saw could have been written in the 1960's nothing had changed. At the other end of the scale others are only interested in DCC ultra realistic railways, there has to be a gap in the middle for basic simple DC and new ideas, and having FUN?!

That looks amazing and the music is one of my favourites. I am going to try that very soon.

A little tip for you, when i cut wood, i rub a candle on side of the blade both sides, it lubricates when it gets warm, its stops the saw sticking

He's a great helper!!!!!

Great idea, i would personally try and seal it to prevent moisture getting in maybe a layer of pva or some varnish on the outside, but some really good ideas here!

truly amazing I've never seen anything like this I just could not believe my eyes!

That's great work guys, nice job. You MIGHT use even less glue and do a little less work if you use a paint roller on the glue you put down, it'll give you an even more solid and thinner glue base.

This is actually so relaxing to watch.

What a great team you have

Great bit of engineering there. You and the lad put in a hard shift to make it happen. Great idea.

A truly innovative idea.

What a team, congratulations!

This is a great idea as I too am fed up with 'traditional' methods of constructing baseboards - I just don't have the skills to make wooden joints. This method looks really appealing , particularly for making custom, non-rectangular shapes which, in wood, I couldn't even begin to contemplate. I have used ABS plastic, cellular ceiling panels layered on 1" polystyrene foam 'boards' on my most recent project but I did do a rectangular wooden frame, with metal 'l' bracket joints, for it to sit on. From now on I will use this method. Thanks.

Interesting method of building a baseboard! well done.

Think your on a winner

Mozart and trains great combo

What an innovative NEW idea - it will be interesting to see how it develops. What the "business gurus" call thinking outside the box (pun unintended).

Well done! This proves that the best things are for free! Greetings from France!

perfect for my need for an end to end layout on a narrow baseboard for temporary use indoors in the winter months when the railway shed at the end of the garden is a bit cold! This has just made the whole project so much simpler - thanks for the great idea...

At about two or three weeks ago I just started build a small diorama from scratch. I am using anything what I have at home or garden, something so as: 40cm x 40cm chipboard is wrapped around thru by newpaper and glued by PVA, also I am using cardboard, chipstones and plaster or filler, cocoliner. Dioramd still in progress but more important for me is I have got a great fun in this journey with. Thanks for inspiration and regards

Looks the part.....how will it stand up to being moved once completed if that is the intention...you are true to your channel, BUDGET ! Good luck...

I really like this tecknec and the fact it won't warp

Is the baseboard sound insulating ( enabling the locos etc. to run quietly on the track ) ?

I like the idea I will probably use it in a new micro layout that I am thinking about.

We've recently moved house and I've been putting off building a temporary layout until I could clear a room to dedicate to it and my other hobbies. The house renovations are eating up a lot of time and money and I wanted to make a test track only to find out we are temporarily broke :) In the carport I have a large metal shed still in it's very sturdy large and flat cardboard box. It's been staring at me all the time and while I've seen you make the card baseboards a few times it didn't click! I've been waiting until I could buy a large sheet of marine ply and timber to support it, when I have plenty of cardboard and a heap of PVA just sitting there and a sturdy workbench that was meant for the shed when I've finished building it. Guess what I'll be doing over the next few days whenever I've got a bit of time :) So glad I've been watching your videos lately - cheers

I give it to you. This is radical stuff, breath of fresh air.

You certainly got me thinking, I am currently planning a 2 foot width shunting layout, be interested to know if I would be better off doing 2 foot square sections which is the way I had it planned in wood and MDF board. This method would save me a considerable cost, well done for a great inovative idea, this could change model railway building forever.

Kinda like your method for its use of otherwise discarded material. However, I humbly think the construction will become much more sturdy when you would have chosen to mount the beams perpendicular to the sheets. Now the ‘waves’ of the cardboard are parallel to the ones of the sheets, which will still allow for some flex of the material. Nevertheless, I reckon that must have lead to your remark a next experiment would induce you to introduce a honeycomb structure inside the sheets. Definitely think it’s interesting, especially when prices for lumber and plywood skyrocket beyond every man and woman’s wallet. On the end, it’s always interesting to see methods which introduce the use of innovative recycling methods. Don’t know if it will immediately work for my layout, but will absolutely consider it. Cheerio

Very interesting im going to make my base boards from extruded foam and I have been wondering if the boards might require a support sheet of mdf or ply. Wonder no more that cardboard idea is good had considered using cheap interior doors which have a honeycomb cardboard interior and 3mm ply or similar sheeting and 50 x 25 baton as the frame, my thoughts being to cut away the covering in the shape of the intended track pattern. The other thing that with your idea is that the board can be cut to any shape and profile ie raised road bed for the track/s. I am going to use kids desks steel frames as my up stand to support the foam board. Cool well done

Very interesting. The track plan looks good too.

What a great idea I’m going to try this only got limited space so going to try a make a smaller 1

it looks brilliant apart from the cost savings, as a disabled person i can see the advantages in building this.

You may already know this, but card modellers can use shellac or decorator's knotting to not only waterproof cardboard, but make it as strong as plywood. That may offer possibilities for use on cardboard baseboards? Mind you, you might have to use a LOT of shellac/knotting as a result, but on the other hand, perhaps you might not need as many laminations? Just a thought.

This is a good idea - card is remarakbly strong. Bryan

Hiya, been thinking about using honeycomb cardboard sheets to do this. Would you recommend them? They certainly look strong enough, perhaps a layer of ordinary corrugated cardboard on the edges, top and bottom for extra strength

I have used corrugated cardboard as the top board of 'two story' layout. I also used it for inclines as well. It works well if 'painted' with water and left to dry a day or two before use. That way the cardboard warps and contracts before being used.The two story layout in question is this one:kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6yGY9KprLHImIE.html

thats a good idear hay you wood safe money that way 👍👍

Came across your video after searching for "bracing a baseboard". It's a great new idea - i really can't understand why some people are so negative ... is it just because it's new? I'm using a different (but probably controversial) method using ply outer skins, with foamboard (card-foam-card) interior bracing and 'open baseboard' format - got the idea from Barry Wood at the Billericay MRG. It should be light and strong. I had considered the insulation board idea, but it is expensive. Your's is much cheaper than anything else I've seen, and with many plus points. I've spent 3 years thinking about the various methods of baseboard and supporting leg construction, observing at exhibitions what other folk are doing, and deciding that the more traditional methods used at my club (SHMRC) are not for me. I might have considered cardboard if I'd come across this 12 months ago! I would have stood the beams on edge and gone without the 'skin' both sides to give access for servos and control wires. I like innovation ... one of the reasons I'm opting for radio control (in 4mm) ... and avoiding all the track wiring! Keep up the good work.

Great idea. I'd make sure I painted/varnished the finished produce since cardboard WILL absorb moisture.

What a fabulous job! The structural "timbers" would've been even stronger if you had glued them to the top by their edges (the 2" edge rather than the 4" edge). Great job never the less, an innovative, cheap, lightweight option. Oh, and free!

i have to say that is something new i think it would work

I like it a lot, maybe a couple of cut outs on the underside where the gaps are between the battens, for hand grips. Cheers John.

When I saw you both I had to check the date 2017, a very young and helpful Doug. Yes I am still binging on your layout plans. Just how many times did you get glue over Doug's hands, looks like you came close several times.

Another little tip for you budget railways, for added scenery use old egg cartons, the cardboard handy to fold into shapes for mountains etc, another alternative, in poundland you can get cardboard plant containers, similar shapes and handy for mountain scenery also

Rewatching for inspiration (how was this 6 years ago?!) and plan to try something like this. Have you done an updated version on this, or have you moved to different baseboards?

I have been thinking of making a cardboard base board for some time I have been slowly collecting card board still not enough yet bt my design is still with braces but only 4 inches at the sides and ends say one inch thick then cross braces though the centre and ends being only two inches from the base of base board this allows for ground area going below base board service to allow for rivers or mines etc so simple to build above? you beat me to it as I am a pensioner I need to keep cost down as I have resided to build a model rail road instead of my model boats these are being sold to help pay for the set up BUT THE COST OF TRAINS etc WOW best wishes Ken

How do you run your wiring and add switch machines below ground level?

First thought that sprang to my mind was, don't you have wallpaper glue in the UK?? Either comes in ready to use buckets or as a powder only to be mixed with water. inexpensive and far easier to apply uniformly with a big brush or paint roller. Excellent for paper mache just dip and soak the newspaper sheets in the glue apply to the desired surface and it will never come apart again... Just a tip you might want to try

looking good :-)

I pick your idea for my modular layout ! I can buy brand-new 6.3 mm thick coorugated cardboard for 5 € per square feet, and that would fit (and I don't speak about recycling cardboard, that I would also do). Also, I don't need to buy 500 € of power tools to made some disastrous woodworks by my own (besides cooking, I'm a failure at ahdworks), a 25 € heay duty cutter I alreday have would be enough to do decent work. Just one point : which thickess are your elements ? It's for planification purposes of my own. Thanks for the answer !

Really REALLY helpful for my layout ideas, getting wood cut to size is such a hassle some times, and having a cardboard alternative is something that I have always wished for. Really good video, keep it up.

The Rang sells a 3 by 2 foot cork pin board it is £7.99, I’m thinking it might be ok for a cheap base board

good

Hmmm... nice idea. A while back I did a lot of work for a chain of estate agents. When they shifted their HQ, in the clear-out I scrounged a lot of the old 'For Sale' boards*. These are easily cut - and braced, and make great base-boards, using a glue gun a a bit of savvy. It's very easy to wire the layout as well - just poke a screwdriver through the top or the bracing! I also had already got a baseboard from out of a skip (I think it was some form of shop-fitting) which was much like a 'traditional' board. However, it only had a very thin ply on top, so I stuck three or four layers of these signs on before starting construction of track etc. In this way I could cut away parts to make dips / differing contours etc before adding plaster finish. I'm very pleased with the results. (*This was not my idea, unfortunately, I recall it from a Modeller magazine of old!)

I hate carpentry so will be giving this a try. How many layers would you suggest?

Great idea of you do have access to cardboard source.

very inivative will products like liquid pva and water disolve or damage the cardboard?

Would this withstand being leaned up against a wall for storage? if so this video has just helped me massively.

I lost count of just how many layers of card you used. I must admit that I would have cut the pieces to shape and then laminated - much more work than laminating first and then cutting. I would have put the beams vertical - which would mean more accurate cutting. So. my way would have taken about a year. I am about to make a baseboard for a OO micro layout out of 1/4" balsa. It might even result in a video, who knows. Don't hold your breath.

I really like how you and your son work so well together. I´ll bet that you must have used a gallon of PVA to glue all that cardboard together. I think a circular saw would have to be used to saw all that cardboard as hand sawing takes so long and so much effort. I didn´t count the number of layers you used so could you tell me how many layers of cardboard were used? Thanks for posting this very unusual way to make baseboard. Crack on, mate! :-)

Hmm, I like the idea, a lot! But the effort that went into it was huge! You could just go to B&Q and buy some insulation foam board, it's cheap lightweight and hard wearing! But as i said above, it's a great idea, and I do get it. Great upload

Is it possible to have wired points with this type of baseboard?

Nice idea, but unfortunately I don't have something like a furniture or kitchen shop locally to me :/ Do you think it would be possible to use larger boxes from a supermarket e.g asda?

I like the idea but my concern is how track pins hold in it or do you fix track another way ?

I will be following this project with interest as wood is expensive these days how are you thinking of mounting the track to it if you don't mind me asking?

The same method my 5€ Ikea Table was made :D

Watching this whilst dropping one off and wondering if honeycomb from bog roll could be strong enough

if you buy all our glue and saws you can have the cardboard for free! I'm using an old kitchen fire door and a decorating trestle

go to a builders merchant or b and q you get 5 litres of pva for about 6 quid

Hi me and my girlfriend are doing my own layout in cardboard and in 00 scale but not as big as your layout .dus size matter or not.let me know

Once the cardboard is laminated is it strong enough to be screwed into? If you’d had some more card you could have made folding legs to go underneath it which would add additional strength and the weight pressing down on the top of laminated cardboard legs would be negligible compared to what they could withstand

How many boxes were needed to make this? How big the final piece turn out to be? Looks good tho, could be more rigid when like you said added some additional supports most likely in a triangle position

Just wondering how has this baseboard worked out as it has been over a year since you made it up

Going to have to make sure that you don't move it in and out of buildings whilst it is raining! It will soak up water like a sponge, unless something else is done with it.

Great Concept, it's pretty fat, I wonder what the minimum thickness of cardboard 'ply' you might need to have a stable baseboard!

6️⃣0️⃣3️⃣🚂😎👍. Koolest

The problem here in states. Companies now recycle every scrap of card board

most of currently sold supermarket quality doors is probably lower quality :P one thing that is interesting me though is Why did you make those beems first and skin them later instead of cuting cardbord inerds and glueing it in one go with the top and bottom?

Goer

Is it rigid?

10:12 rest..1..2..3..

That's s lot of work and cardboard bit if you source enough of it why not just s thought on top layer maybe finish it off with a layer of lining paper to cover joins

How old is your son

An even cheaper way would be to use wallpaper paste rather than waste all that PVA.

No thanks,

Cheap & a wast of time