curtain

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi,

How do you hang a curtain to your fascia? I have never seen any articles on this.

Sincerely,

Chris

2

Depends on a couple of things:

  • Do you intend to slide the curtain, for access to frequently-used storage?
  • Do you want the curtain to be completely removable?
  • Does your fascia project downward from the layout frame, or does it end at the joist bottoms?

If your fascia drops a few inches below the joist bottoms you can screw ordinary curtain rods to the joists and hang curtains just like the ones on the kitchen window (the technique, not the sheer cloth and flowery ruffles.)

If you don’t have that much hiding space, you can hang curtains with grommets (think shower curtain design) on miniature screw hooks. Even if the grommets show, they will look better than the usual under-the-layout clutter.

As a last resort, run a strip of strap iron along behind the fascia and sew miniature magnets into the curtains.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

3

Chris,

I belong to an N-Trak club in the Harrisburg, PA area. We sent up at shows many times a year and we need a “curtain” that is removable. We use a roll of velcro tape that goes around our entire layout. Each member has a section attached to their individual modules at the lower face of the fascia. Our curtains are about 40’ long and have a continuous strip of the other side of the velcro attached to the back. When we set up, just unroll the curtain and attach. Holds great and easy to attach and remove. So this would be an option for you. Good luck with your search.

Mike

4

[#ditto]the velcro. I was in an HO club. We had 4ft modules and each module had it’s own curtain and strategically placed velcro. This allowed us to push aside the curtain if we needed to reach something from the outside. My modules are now part of my home layout and I will be using the same system for the rest of the layout (which is also in modules).[:)]

5

Go with velcro…that is my plan. The wife is sewing them sometime this spring for me!!!

Brian

6

Chris:

If you decide on velcro, you might check out www.fastenation.com . I have a need for 90’ and their prices are cheaper than the local sewing store…

Best of luck

Roger

7

I use wooden clothspins glued to the back of the fascia.

Nick

8

My club’s portable layout has velcro spaced every couple of feet to hold the curtain on the layout at shows.

9

Nick,

Nice idea… I never even pondered this… any problems that you have with this solution? Also, how often do you place the clips (e.g. every 12 inches?). Just wondering…

Brian

10

I place the clothespins every 18 inches or so, and wherever the skirting turns a corner. I also add a pin at locations I break the skirting for access - I have shelving under portions of the layout, and have seperate pieces of skirting in front of each unit, for easy access.

I’ve used this system about a year, and have had no problems with it. I do use lightweight landscape fabric for the skirting, though. So, if you use a heavier fabric, you might need to adjust the spacing some.

Nick

11

Exactly the same that I use. Very cheap and easy.