Model Railway Forum

don't buy marine ply, too expensive!
just get far eastern ply as that will do the job unless you want to have your layout underwater!

Don't waste money on 'Far Eastern Plywood' as it will look like this the next day.



Spend your money on Baltic Birch.

Isn't Baltic birch ply akin to unobtanium since the Ukraine war started?

Goingdownslow wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 11:05 am Don't waste money on 'Far Eastern Plywood' as it will look like this the next day.



Spend your money on Baltic Birch.

Any unsupported ply will warp over time, as the different layers change differently with heat & moisture in the atmosphere. That board will be fine for a railway as long as its braced properly.

Stese wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 9:51 pm

Goingdownslow wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 11:05 am Don't waste money on 'Far Eastern Plywood' as it will look like this the next day.



Spend your money on Baltic Birch.

Any unsupported ply will warp over time, as the different layers change differently with heat & moisture in the atmosphere. That board will be fine for a railway as long as its braced properly.

I tried fixing it to a frame and the frame was twisting.
The plys delaminated and there were voids filled with what looked like burnt wood, they were not veneers. It was only good for the fire pit.
You can't make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.