Mr. Breeze!!!!! Good to hear from you.
OK. To answer your question, I need to ask you one. What material is the layout built on now? If I remember, it was foam board on a wood frame. Or was it plywood with foam risers?
Next question. It was L-shaped before, right? Now it will be a rectangle only. I'll check on that. I can find the layout on MR's website.
Here's my thought. If the layout base is plywood, save as much of the frame and plywood surface as you can to make the new base. You can use a paint scraper, a putty knife, sandpaper or a sander to get the surface clean again, or just buy new plywood. Toss out the foam topping. You'll only destroy it anyway trying to scrape the ballast and scenery off it. I know you had hills on the old one that would not be in the same place as the new layout.
If the old base was just a foam top, I'd toss that out for the same reason as above. Why create the possibility of not having a new flat surface to work with which would only frustrate you again. Just gluing a new top on the old surface will most likely not work. There are bound to be some bumps and dips that will remain. Spend a little money for the peace of mind it will give you.
So, tell us what the surface is made of now and then think about what I said.
B-)
Here's the link guys:
http://www.trains.com/mrr/objects/pdf/mrr-g0305_a.pdf
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Edited by ginzokid at 02/24/2008 5:57 AM PST
