Evening: I appreciate all the replies on this, and it has helped me make some cetter decisions. My workbench if you will, will be laid out in an "L" shape against2 walls. each section measuring 36" inches wide, by 72" long. Made of 5/8 mdf on 2 cafeteria style folding tables. I am thinking of laying approximately 2 inches of foam board on top and going from there. I have been in a quandry trying to decide to lay green carpet orthe fake rolls of grass directly on the board, but have figured out doesnt give me the flexibility of contouring. So thanks guys. by using the foam and being able to paint several brown and tan base colors, then using the shaker gras and foliage ican produce a better look at cheaper cost,bottom line and on budget is it in any  construction have patience with me, i'm learning , and you guys are my "WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIAS"

HI: I have seen pics of set ups with rigid foam on top of the plywood, explain please why, and advantage, and is the foam paintable istead of having to use say indoor outdoor carpet for grass??  a curious mind wants to know

HI: Ahemm I did some re-mesuring, alas i find my board width to be more like 32 inches, first time measured without my flashlight, got to watch that so came up with solution: I am going to reset and see which 2 outer edges i need to widen, and by how much, and posiblyuse brackets and add on extensions to bring board width to minimum of 36 inches,cheaper than buying new mdf sheets 4x8 at almost 100.00 pop out here. will keep you posted on progress may be cheapest way out , and may be a flop

 I didnt mean to make a faux pa here, is that the correct word? And thanks to all of you and especially to jim, i am having more fun here than should be legal all the while hopefully learning as I go!! As I have a lot of time on my hands, aside from going to the doctors and fighting with the IRS which in itself is now one of my hobbies I read the days posts in the general, then in the ho segment. then search around for any answeres im seeking, then i pester you guys Sometimes in middle of the night i come up with  odd ball questions, but by morning i have forgotten, probably good for you guys I try not to think too much, and thanks a million to all here!!

HI: searched the board but could not find answer regarding mating of flex trak to bachman e-z track?? I am assuming should connect as long as flex is on road bed , cork ect , and is of same height as the bachman track?

Hi mr. banner: These 2 boards are mounted on large fold up tables with the strips of wood you mentionioned underneath the mdf at 12 inch intervals. so will take a few of these strips out and nail down the sides thank you for your reply and others, that will give me that little extra i need i think.

HI:I am setting up an l shaped board using 2 pieces of 5/8 mdf. at the end of each piece i wish to put a u shaped return curve, the board is 36 inches wide what is the smallest curve radius i can use. thanks mike.

Thanks jerry and narrow minded, I am sorry my memory fails me sometimes, I actually own 2 airport beacons, and a radar tower, one beacon being O scale . guess im slipping. any way rhe radar tower is stored and the o beacon is stored, will be left for grndson as inheritance along with some other antique train items.  the ho beacon i want to put on the current set. Jerry youhave the same idea i had, maybe convert the little light to led!!
once again appologise for memory lapse, you guys have a great day

Hi to all: I have a lionel airport beacon ho scale #0494. I do not know and lionel doesnt either, what voltage it operates at or if ac or dc, nor where i might get itty bitty replacement bulbs for it. They refered me to a "DOCTOR DEAN THE TRAIN GUY" who is an authorized lionel repair guy, no luck with him!! So here i am need help from the experts on this. Thanks in advance.

And here me and the sidekick have been sticking flashlight in mouth slobbering on the train to see the hitches thanks for the skewer trick

Greetings Mr. Banner and thanks for your response, itis exactly what i thought was going on , as having a bkgrnd in electronics and engineering myself, but i was seeking confirmation from you after being aware of your knowledge. I think i will pass on reading the suggested materials I may be a little on the perfectionist side, but i have completed my education several yrs ago, and now am officialy retired and all i want to do is play Hope you have a great weekend and i am sure i wil lbe visiting with you from time to time in the future.

Hey narrow minded youjust gave me an idea thanks, wouldnt ever have thought of that!!! see im still teachable in spite of what my grandkids think

Hi jerry and jward: I was assumming that the power supplyon a dcc setup was dc voltage at the rails,and that the encoder tothe cabs was using the rails as a transmission line. I did not know that in dcc the power on the rails is not dc but actually square wave ac. Thanks to you both for clarifying that.I was under the assumption that the small scale stuff as all still dc, and larger scale was ac,leanr something new everyday

Reply to CNE RUNNER: Thank you  for the points 300 more than i started the yr off with I admit the wife educated me, i dont go in there much, they have some stinky stuff in there, but i told her i wasnt paying the outrageous price over in their modeling dept, showed her what it was and she went oh, follow me!! so now you know which end of store i'll be shopping in I was raised in the summers on a farm, and my grandpa would say why  pay 150.00 for100 lb bale of alfalfa, when get 300lb wheat hay for 90.00 cow doesnt know difference and we all know where it will end up

Any way if it doesnt bother any one when i run across something,like this if i say so, i will continue on!! I jsut know i likeit here on this board, like being in big library with talking books

HI: i saw one of your replys on ho in regards to ammeter and volt meters,and you stated that dcc was a special form of ac. Could you enlighten me please??