This train set is light weight due to its Styrofoam construction. The entire set is built of stacked layers of 1” thick Styrofoam sheets.
The Styrofoam sheets are stacked on a 1/8” plywood (i.e., luon ) with a 2 ½” pine frame. The surface area of the train set is 4’X8’ and stands on four, 3’ tall pine legs; creating a table that can be easily move by one person.
The stacked Styrofoam sheets are cut with a hacksaw blade to create the course look of rock and gravel. Being such a lightweight material, the Styrofoam cut easily into complex shapes like tunnels, buttes, ledges and even bridges (the train crosses a Styrofoam trestle that spans 41” with five arches).
Selecting the paint for the Styrofoam is very tricky. Many paints actually dissolve the Styrofoam! I suggest testing the paint that you select on a sample piece. I used several different shades of automotive primer in aerosol cans and lightly misted the surface of the Styrofoam. Although the result is extremely realistic, the Styrofoam can chip requiring frequent touch-ups.
