Layout Sides

[Anonymous]

The item you are describing is the "Profile Board". It comes in different sizes. The profile board I am using on my layout is 1/8" hard board which I believe is also called Masonite. I bought mine at the Home Depot in 2' x 2' squares. They also carry them in 2' x 4' sheets. I believe you can also get them in 4' x 8' sheets.

Trevor[:)]

[trainboyH16-44]

I use gray for my fascia. It seems to work well. I used to have that masonite with holes in it, and it was kind of neat to watch the trains through it for a while, but I am now on solid masonite.
Trainboy

[ClinchValleySD40]

As long as it does not detract from the layout, any color will work fine. I chose black for both valance and fascia to give it a framed look.

[CBQ_Guy]

This is called the layout fascia board. It is usually 1/8" or 1/4" hardboard (Masonite is the brand name) and usually the tempered (smooth on one side) type, but doesn't have to be. I have a friend who bought some type of bathroom wallboard which had a white finish on one side applied to the hardboard. On my old layout I used some scrap wall paneling, which was popular many years ago for layout fascia, but is now considered old fashioned (but still looks nice, IMO). I suppose you could also use 1/4" plywood or ANYTHING which has a bit of thickness to be able to be leaned against, but thin enough to bend around corners.

The hardboard is usually painted and as you mentioned many time it's green. But again it can be whatever color you want. I've seen some that were painted in your railroads colors and also ones which uses colored tape to show the main and secondary tracks at a particular location, color coded, too. Many have also used the tape as places to mount the toggles, etc. for DC control. This works fine but expect at some point the toggles to get bumped and the handles bent or broken off. Personally, I would suggest trying to find a way to recess them if you are going to go this route.

Finally, some people lately have been applying a pleasing color of fabric over the fascia boards. I believe if you use the right type of fabric, and apply the Velcro hook part to the back of your throttles, you can stick them anywhere to the fascia on the front of the layout. There was an article in MR a few years back on all this so checking the magazine archive may be useful. It may have been in MRP instead of MR. Anyone know for sure?

Hope this helps you out . . .

[Anonymous]

An interesting concept is to carry the colors of the adjoining landscape down th face to soften the harsh line dividing the scale world from the real world. I don't recall the article I read in which this was done but the effect was good.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

Interesting that you assumed it was green. It seems dark green has become the color of choice over the past few years, with more and more layouts featuring dark green. I think that color looks good, and will probably use a dark green (or black) myself.

[howmus]

I think you are refering to Masonite. Although it is usually a brown color unless painted. It comes in 4' x 8' sheets in several thicknesses. The best to use for this purpose (and the most difficult to find) is "tempered masonite" in 1/8" thickness. The 1/4" non tempered can also be used. The tempered is considerably stronger and can be bent quite well. I have also seen the tempered masonite used for backdrops as it is easily painted. It can be ordered through any good lumber yard. Most of the people working at the newer chain type home improvement - we carry everything under one roof - stores will give you the blank deer in the headlights stare when you ask if they carry it. LOL

[FThunder11]

I notice in many pictures of layouts, on the side there is a green board that goes along the layout side its normally green and people put holes in it for like switches that control turnouts and like the plugins for dcc control. what is the material of this board, i want to add it to my layout.