Many model railroaders are familiar with the brand name Genesis, an upscale line of detailed locomotives and other rolling stock produced by Athearn.
There's a new Genesis on the block, by ACP, and it's nothing like what Athearn makes, In fact, it's a ceiling tile.
Big deal, you shrug, ceiling tiles have been used for years by model railroaders, usually as stacked layers to represent geological strata.
This stuff is a little different. It's cellular PVC.. And it's pretty amazing stuff considering it costs a little over $10 for a 2'x4' sheet that is 3/16" thick. While it comes in many designs, you'll want to find the smooth stuff, It will glue up just like plumbing does. It is UV resistant, so could be very useful for a garden RR needs like structures and rolling stock.
Importantly, it's very stable material, stiff but flexible, which is why I discovered it. I needed a "sky" to attach adhesive strip lighting to where all I had above where open floor joists. I peeled off the protective tape from the LED tape after trimming the panel to suit, pressing it carefully down to bond to the panel surface.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Sorry, got tired and had to hit the sack. Now for the rest of the story...
Here's a pic of this scene early on, where it's 4' maximum depth was lit by a stretch of the LED cable used on most of the layout.
While under construction, it was tricky to get the LED string hung back there, but I did. Then the last segement of that string went dim about 6 months ago. I needed a new ceiling back there, but all I had to work with was a space above that was open joists. Kind of hard to drywall or otherwise make that happen now.
However, if I could find something thin and stiff to place above the scene I thought that LED tape lights could work if attached to it. That's where this Genesis panel comes in.
While it is somewhat flexible, the PVC panel doesn't droop or fall over even when standing on its own. It's currently suppoprted at both ends - one resting on the wall, the other laying on a couple of screws. I'll keep watch for any future drooping, but plan to stick a dowel rod under the center of the 4' span if it does.
With the tape lights attached and the panel in place. It looks a little like this.
Now the scene is well lit again, with the whole project costing less than $30 and requiring no more than moving a few buildings around for a little extra install clearance.
This is a rather specialized use for this material. Garden RR uses have already been mentioned, but there are others. For instance, the panel could be used as a thin base for laying track on, similar to T-track, to make modules for a very portable mini-layout. Pieces cut to fit could also make roads, parking lots, platforms, or foundations for buildings. Lots of potential uses and the cost of material is so low you'll be thinking of new uses for it beyond the obvious.
I think that material could have a lot of possibilities. You could make weather proof structures for your garden road, couldn't you?
Maybe good for back drops? Dioramas? May be roads? I haven't seen the stuff yet, but I'm going to look for it. It sure helped light up your scene!
I just had a look.
https://acpideas.com/brands/genesis/
Mike.
My You Tube
I used PVC for the fascia on my STRATTON AND GILLETTE project #2.
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http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/273570.aspx
It has a lot of possibilites and is an excellent product.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yep, this stuff would make excellent backdrops and fascias. Just from working with it, it seems to be pretty comfortable bending down to about a 12" radius or so. I used a couple of screws to hold down the connector end of the tape light and they cut threads easily in the PVC that held securely.
Mike,
Where did you get it? Home Depot or a similar big box?
John
Strangely enough, I have already used this for ... ceiling tiles. My basement bathroom needed a ceiling that would resist moisture from the shower.
I found this stuff at Menards. I had several sheets leftover, and I thought of them when I was making some tunnel entrances and some concrete bridge supports. Great stuff for not much money.
York1 John
mlehmanThere's a new Genesis on the block, by ACP, and it's nothing like what Athearn makes, In fact, it's a ceiling tile.
I "discovered" Genesis about five years ago when a ceiling was being replaced in a lab at the GE plant I worked in. I got to bring home all the scraps and left-overs
I use it all the time on the layout. It is an excellent material to replicate paved roads and I use it for interior partitions in structures. I also use it for structure sub-bases. It takes paint exceptionally well.
Very easy to cut and work with. Slightly brittle but not in a detrimental way. I believe there must be some kind of gypsum-like binder in it.
I used it here as a base for my new roundhouse:
RH_rail1 by Edmund, on Flickr
And here I'm setting it in a bed of DAP Alex latex caulk, weighted down while it sets, to be used as a roadway at the steel mill:
Mill_road by Edmund, on Flickr
And, whadda' ya know! I've used it for ceiling tile, too. Most of my lay-in ceiling is Fiberglas panels but where I wanted to put can-lights I used the Genesis:
IMG_8610 by Edmund, on Flickr
Thanks for the info, Mike
Cheers, Ed
I would be interested to know if these are in any way different from the PVC sheets of Azek or other brands we use in construction, other than the 5mm, or 1/8" thickness?
PVC sheet comes in 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" thick 4x8 sheets for general exterior trim use. We have been using it for more than a decade.
Sheldon
When I searched around to see what it was about, many links and reference also pointed to your product.
This Genesis product is marketed as a ceiling tile.
mbinsewiThis Genesis product is marketed as a ceiling tile.
Yes, Mike mentions that in his first post.
mlehmanIn fact, it's a ceiling tile.
ATLANTIC CENTRALI would be interested to know if these are in any way different from the PVC sheets of Azek or other brands we use in construction, other than the 5mm, or 1/8" thickness?
Yes, this stuff is a different formula. Similar, but different I imagine there has to be a fire-retardant mixed with the formula in order to meet flame-spread and smoke regulations.
Attuvian Mike, Where did you get it? Home Depot or a similar big box? John
John,
Got mine at Menards, but it's probably in pretty wide distribution based on what others say about finding and using it.
Sounds like it's been out for some time now, but I'm pretty old-fashioned when it comes to building stuff preferring to use wood wherever possible. But this stuff has so many great properties I have no problem using it. I just didn't know. Some here are already using it, pointing to how wider knowledge of it will likely see even more use made of it. Like Ed did, I would've used this for my roundhouse foundation if I'd only known.
No Menards around here in the Mid Atlantic. Lowes and Home Depot sell it online for store pickup but do not stock it in store.
That's interesting, as would think it would be popular in high humidity areas near the coast. Perhaps the custom is to use one of the products you cited earlier or something else?
I was surprised by the fire rating, even after asking at the store to be sure. This just seemed like a good thing. I'm already thinking it would make a great ceiling tile, duh-oh as I have a few that could stand a rework and this stuff would be ideal.
Then there's my fascia, which I was just thinking about rebuilding the other day. Then I came to my senses. Now I may just be that crazy...no, must resist, not going back under the layout except for maintenace and repair, argh!
Then there is my Blackstone Protraxx HOn3 RTR track, which is made by Kato so just the same except for gauge. Only 22" curves and straights available, but a set of 4 of these tiles would make for a handy snap together narrowgauge modular set. I could even see adding either handbuilt or ME or other HOn3 turnouts to the mix with a modular system.
The local HD has to order it, also. Local Menards has it.
mlehman That's interesting, as would think it would be popular in high humidity areas near the coast. Perhaps the custom is to use one of the products you cited earlier or something else? I was surprised by the fire rating, even after asking at the store to be sure. This just seemed like a good thing. I'm already thinking it would make a great ceiling tile, duh-oh as I have a few that could stand a rework and this stuff would be ideal. Then there's my fascia, which I was just thinking about rebuilding the other day. Then I came to my senses. Now I may just be that crazy...no, must resist, not going back under the layout except for maintenace and repair, argh! Then there is my Blackstone Protraxx HOn3 RTR track, which is made by Kato so just the same except for gauge. Only 22" curves and straights available, but a set of 4 of these tiles would make for a handy snap together narrowgauge modular set. I could even see adding either handbuilt or ME or other HOn3 turnouts to the mix with a modular system.
My guess is that is is mainly a commercial product, and commerical contractors are more likely to deal with wholesale supply houses than Home Depot, at least that is how things are around here.
Home Depot and Lowes sell to lots of smaller contractors, but the big boys doing larger commercial work shop elsewhere.
Even in my business doing historic restoration and custom remodeling, we don't use the box stores for all that much. We have lots of "real" lumber yards and supply houses with the same prices and better delivery services.
And we have only installed about one drop ceiling every 5 years, or longer, so it's not something on my radar.
mlehman it costs a little over $10 for a 2'x4' sheet that is 3/16" thick.
Local Home Depot (S.E. Pa.) wants about $16.50 for that size. Wonder how many pieces you have to buy if they order it.
Fascinating, is this sort of the PVC version of Sintra which I think is polystyrene and more expesnive?
What glues do folks use with this stuff? When modeling with PVC (and sometimes polyethlyene) I've found PVC solvent cement to be the best product, but the fumes are nasty! MEK-based solvents for Polystyrene are no joke either, but they work pretty fast.
Also, is this available in 8' lengths? I'm looking for a flexible option for my layout-splitting backdrop but I'd like it to be one contiuous piece and it's going to need to be around 7 feet long at least.
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Eilif Fascinating, is this sort of the PVC version of Sintra which I think is polystyrene and more expesnive? What glues do folks use with this stuff? When modeling with PVC (and sometimes polyethlyene) I've found PVC solvent cement to be the best product, but the fumes are nasty! MEK-based solvents for Polystyrene are no joke either, but they work pretty fast. Also, is this available in 8' lengths? I'm looking for a flexible option for my layout-splitting backdrop but I'd like it to be one contiuous piece and it's going to need to be around 7 feet long at least.
1. I used regular Testors plastic cement and it seemed to work fine. I'm sure if I was using it in construction there is probably something better.
2. I believe 2' X 4' is the largest I saw. For my basement bathroom, I used the 2' X 2'. It is more expensive than regular suspended ceiling tile. For me, a small basement bathroom was not too expensive. I especially was happy that over the shower, this tile will not absorb moisture. (I also used plastic runners and crosstees, so basically the entire ceiling is plastic.
3. Again, I don't know how much one would want to use for a layout. I only used it because I had pieces leftover from the bathroom.