I am at the point were I need to start thinking about control panels. Anyone know a good site for construction ideas? Somewere I saw a panel that was faced with plexiglass that I thought was a good idea, but I need info on the total design of such a critter. Any help would be appriciated.
I got one control panel and I used Marlite, it’s that white looking formica used for showers. It’s inexpensive and being white I used black pin stripe for my track map which stands out.I thought about plexiglass , but that stuff is not cheap.I got my idea from a picture in a MR.
THis is the page I used for the lighting setup for a panel. http://www.sierrascalemodels.com/Art_Lighted.html
I know I have a printout of a site that I used to construct a panel using plexiglass that has turned out very well for me. Soon as I locate it here I will post the address.
Ok, I found the link to a site I used to build my control panels out of plexiglass. This may be what you are looking for or it could give you some ideas.
http://www.stutler.homestead.com/files/Tips/PanelArticle/PanelArticle.htm
Thanks very much for the input guy’s. I never thought about useing Marlite, that would would make a nice surface for a panel. I did use that narrow pin stripeing tape on a panel that I made some years ago. I liked it.
The slide drawer plan is what I had in mind, for most of the same reasons that the author stated. He sandwiched a paper track plan between the pleixiglass and a masonite sheet. I could use marlite and the pin striping tape and forget the paper. Just a thought.
Again thank you both. It’s just exactly the information that I was asking for
I used plexiglass and the tape to mark the track locations. Then I painted the back of the plexiglass white, pulled the tape off, and painted the back again with black. This gives you a clear track plan without worrying about the tape coming loose over the years.