what material to make control panel out of?

[yankee flyer]

Hey

This thread is getting kind of old but there is another option I havn't seen listed. I used a 1/8" masionite that has a hard slick white finish on one side. Bought from Home Depot. I then bought pin striping tape from an auto paint store for track plan.

Just another thought.

Lee

 

[BigDaddy]

Nice job!

[williamsb]

Thanks for the comments and to my son steve, he has good eyes and a steady hand. Each circuit board for those switches has 29 solder points for the components plus 3 to the turnout, 2 for power and 3 for the LED's, I was quite impressed at what we were able to do. As you can see we used alot of the ideas suggested here. Thanks again.

[BroadwayLion]

LION prints on 11X17 cardstock using a color laser printer adn Serif PagPlus-X9 Software. Individual plates have generous overlaps, so cutting the individual sections is easy (assuming your board is five feet long!)

LION applies silicone caulk to the base board and then applies the prints. setting tiems allows gentle adjustments to achieve perfection.

ROAR

 

 

[60YOKID]

I use Lexan polycarbonate sheet. I print my simplified track plan with circles for toggle switch and LED locations, and tape it to the back of the Lexan. Then I drill the holes for the toggle switches and the LED's.

I label the tracks and make them different colors. This helps distinguish main lines from sidings. I use rectangular shapes to identify major buildings etc. LED's are bicolor and wired in series with my Tortoise Switch machines. Everything mounts to the Lexan sheet. I make a kind of wooden picture frame to screw the Lexan onto. 

[CentralGulf]

60YOKID

I use Lexan polycarbonate sheet. I print my simplified track plan with circles for toggle switch and LED locations, and tape it to the back of the Lexan. Then I drill the holes for the toggle switches and the LED's.

I label the tracks and make them different colors. This helps distinguish main lines from sidings. I use rectangular shapes to identify major buildings etc. LED's are bicolor and wired in series with my Tortoise Switch machines. Everything mounts to the Lexan sheet. I make a kind of wooden picture frame to screw the Lexan onto. 

 

 

As a bonus, Lexan can be worked with ordinary wood working tools. It doesn't crack or spider web on you. No special drills, etc., are required. You can even use a router on it to bevel the edges.  About the only thing you have to watch out for is strong UV sources, such as sunlight, which will cloud it over time.