foam board question

[Dropbear]

Has anyone used, or know someone that has used the Knauf Insulation Multi-Use Foam Board (sold at Bunnings) at all?

I haven't seen it in person and am wondering if it the same type of foam that can be used to make the awesome scenery I see so many people making.

[Captain Darling]

Hey Dropbear,

I've had no experience with this stuff but if you buy some looks like if it's 'cutable' it would be good for carving trenches, waterways and undulations into it and hills could be cut and added on top...how thick is a sheet?

Cheers!

[Dropbear]

the sheets are 60 x 1200 and come in two sizes for thickness - 3 cm and 5 cm. The 2 cm is about $13 and the 5 cm about $24ish.

The web site for the product mentions it can be used for hobbies and is easy to cut.

I was wondering how easy to cut.

[Gustav]

I managed to pick some up this weekend - although not made a start on what to do with it yet.
Will try and give it a go soon and see what happens.

[Dropbear]

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts and observations on it please.

[Gustav]

Ok made a few hills with mine yesterday - as I had a day off with the kids as it now school hols for my lot.

1) Board is quite strong but marks fairly easy. Therefore you will need to be fairly careful especially if doing above mat pieces. Mine are going to be below a mat so no real issue.
2) Very easy to cut and sand. Used a coping saw with no problem, however I ended up using my power saw for speed and ease.
3) Use a fine toothed saw as possible otherwise you can get bumps and indentations or a rough cut that i shard to really sand out. I use 15tpi coping saw and found that it generated a very rough 45 degree cut. One reason why I switched to my power saw which has a very fine hacksaw blade.
4) Sanding and cutting does create a lot of mess / dust.
5) I would like an easier method to create a slope cut rather than using a freehand power saw

Only played with one 30mm board so far - but I will be getting more to make some more hills.
any other questions happy to answer.

[Dropbear]

Thanks for the reply - sounds promising so far.

I was thinking of making hills, which would be flocked, and a trench/no mans land, so the easy marking shouldn't be too much of a problem... I hope

[Captain Darling]

Hey Gustav thanks!

Do you think a router could be used to create an trench system in thus stuff?

Sounds like it would be okay for hill shapes to be placed under a mat.

Cheers!

[Gustav]

a router could be used easily - would be very effective.

Actually depends on how you go - I made marks from my power saw due to the angle - but they were actually ok and as I will use mine under a cloth not a problem at all. With flock etc also not a problem. Will try and post some pics this weekend.

[Captain Darling]

Good news Gustav, I'll pick up a 30mm thick sheet next time I'm at the big B and have a play around with it.

As above like you if I made hills with it they would sit below a mat.

Thanks for the update!