I live in an apartment and I’m building a shelf layout n spare room.  I want to lay pink foam on top of the benchwork and have been looking for the best way to cut it.  Again I’m in an apartment so only have a small back deck to use for my cutting. I’ve been looking at hot knives but the reviews on Amazon for the ones that cost around 30 bucks aren’t that great. Granted most probably aren’t using them for cutting foam for their railroad but regardless can you guys tell me some ways that work well.

Perhaps beating a nearly or hopefully dead horse, would one inch pink foam supported by open grid benchwork without any other plywood/hardboard or similar support under it and with either cork or homasote roadbed affixed to the one inch pink foam with Matte Medium or similar "soft" adhesive be "quiet" or would the dreaded "foam drum" or similar noise still be present?

Bart Chasley 

I searched this forum for this video and did not find it.... so I hope its not redundant.  This is not mine.  Just something I found to be interesting.

Top notch attention to detail and craftsmanship. I could never do this.

As I am getting ready to start construction on my newest layout, the May Valley Railroad, I was contemplating roadbed material vs noise. My plan is to use 2" foam board over a light wood frame. But I have heard others in the past complain about the noise from this type of construction.  I have been told that it is kind of like a drum radiating noise from the trains. All of that said I was wondering if anyone has used Homosote for roadbed on top of a foam board top..... and if so does it help with the noise?