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Hmm... I'm making control panels for a friends layout. The basics are easier than you think. First I don't know why you want only one button; two buttons is no big deal and you'll know what you have done by which one you push. With one button you will have to do a visual check to make sure the turnout is thrown correctly. The basics are as follows: 1) See your panel as a picture frame. So lets say your panel is going to be 10 inches by 24 inches. Make a picture type frame to make your panel all pretty. 2) As your base, you can use the material used on counter tops (try and get some scratched ones as it will save you a ton of money). My friend wants a very light grey for his backdrop, not my favourite colour, but it works. You then scribe this material to be the size you want. He has clear acrylic covering it, so that is cut to size next to fit exactly over the counter top material. 3) I usually tape some printer paper together to get the size of my paper the size of my counter top material. On this paper I draw the track plan I want. I draw circles where I want the buttons (and rotary dials if applicable) to go. I then transfer this plan onto the counter top material with a pencil. The track is drawn with a single pencil line. 4) I cover the pencil lines on the counter top material with very thin, I think 1/8 inch wide red tape. 5) When that is done, I put the acrylic and counter top material together, held by clamps, over some scrap wood and drill through the both of them with drills. Here it is important to note to work your drill bits up in size, rather than one large hole; this will prevent the acrylic from cracking. 6) When that is done, put it all together, like you would a picture. Add your buttons and rotary dials. 7) Mount the panel on a hinge with a bit of an angle. This way you can pull it forward to work on it, if you ever need to do so.
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