OK wizards out there I need some advice. I’ve worked with all sorts of woods in modeling, carpentry and furniture restoration but I’ve never worked with MDF.
When at the local “Home Cheapo” today I looked at this material and figured it might be good for making some rolling stock.
Are there any down sides in using this stuff for rolling stock . Being as smooth as it is it seems like it would be good to use for “steel” cars, i.e.: a box car or a hopper.
Thanks,
Dave
MDF is a very soft material, not at all like wood but rather like hard cardboard. It’s easy to cut with a saw but the edges are brittle and can be easily damaged. It needs good protection from humidity as it absorbs water quite well. Maybe it could be used as a core for some type of construction, but I don’t think it would do for detailed modeling. Where I live, the thinnest sheets are approx. 1/4" and come in 8’ x 4’ panels. I used it for support of my first indoor g-scale layout as a substitute to plywood.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/Timesaver_0702_07.jpg)
you may also look at MDO. Both are used in outdoor signage so they should hold up well. YMMV