Show results

Midwest Products Hobby Materials

Midwest Products basswood balsa cork roadbed and hobby materials for sale

Once you start building things from scratch, Midwest Products tends to come up pretty quickly when you're looking for wood and materials for sale. Their basswood, balsa, and cork roadbed are the kind of basics most builders keep around for structures, trackwork, and small detail work.

Whether you're laying track or building something from the ground up, these materials make it easier to do it your own way instead of working around a kit. You can find more in model trains when tying everything together into a finished layout.

Page Size:
Sort By:

The Materials Behind Custom Layouts

Not every great railroad starts with a kit. Many of the most impressive layouts are built piece by piece, and that's where Midwest Products has earned its place on hobby workbenches. From basswood and balsa to cork roadbed and sheet materials, the company supplies the building blocks that help modelers create something unique.

Whether you're constructing a depot, scratchbuilding an industry, creating bridges, or laying realistic trackwork, Midwest Products materials give hobbyists the flexibility to build exactly what they envision instead of settling for an off-the-shelf solution.

For many builders, a few strips of basswood are where big layout ideas first leave the station.

Basswood, Balsa & Cork Roadbed

Basswood for Structure Building

Midwest Products basswood is widely used for model railroad structures, bridges, trestles, freight platforms, and countless scratchbuilding projects. Its strength and consistency make it a favorite among hobbyists looking for clean, precise construction materials.

Balsa Wood for Lightweight Projects

Balsa remains popular for scenery projects, lightweight structures, mockups, and custom modeling work where easy cutting and shaping are important.

Cork Roadbed

Midwest cork roadbed has long been used beneath track to create a more realistic railroad profile while helping reduce noise and improve the appearance of finished layouts.

A Favorite Among Scratchbuilders

While ready-to-build kits are convenient, many hobbyists enjoy creating structures and scenes that nobody else has. Midwest Products materials are frequently used by scratchbuilders who want complete control over dimensions, details, and design.

The company's products can be found in everything from small rural depots and engine sheds to large industrial complexes and detailed city scenes.

More Than Model Railroads

Although Midwest Products is closely associated with model railroading, its materials are also used by architectural modelers, aircraft builders, ship modelers, educators, and hobbyists across many different disciplines.

Trainz carries Midwest Products materials for sale in a rotating mix that may include basswood strips, balsa sheets, cork roadbed, hobby lumber, sheet materials, scratchbuilding supplies, estate finds, and hard-to-find Midwest Products items.

Midwest Products Questions

What is Midwest Products known for?

Midwest Products is best known for basswood, balsa wood, cork roadbed, hobby lumber, and scratchbuilding materials used in model railroading and other hobbies.

Why do model railroaders use basswood?

Basswood is strong, easy to work with, and well suited for building structures, bridges, platforms, and custom railroad projects.

What is cork roadbed used for?

Cork roadbed is installed beneath track to create a realistic raised track profile while helping reduce noise and improve the appearance of a layout.

Is Midwest Products still in production?

Yes. As of 2026, Midwest Products remains in production and continues manufacturing hobby lumber, cork roadbed, modeling materials, and craft supplies used by hobbyists, educators, and builders worldwide.