I noticed that most layouts look to have some kind of colored plexiglass on the front, can anyone tell me someplace i can get this. Local hardware store carries only clear.
I don’t think you are seeing colored plexiglass. Most folks use tempered hardboard of thin plywood for their fascia. When it is painted it could resemble plastic in a photo. To answer your question - you will have to go to a plastics dealer to get colored plexiglass or other material. When you do be ready for sticker shock and being limited to buying in 4x8 sheets.
Joe
I think Joe’s right, it’s painted hardboard you see most often - Masonite is one brand. Here’s a pic of mine, before painting.
Masonite or 1/4" Luan plywood are the most common, but depending on the look you’re going for, you could use anything. If you really want the colored plexiglass (plexiglass can be expensive and easily scratched) just buy the regular clear stuff, paint the BACK of it and screw it to your layout. Since the paint is on the other side, the color won’t get scratched off (unless you scratch it during installation).
Masonite is great for curved fascias, I prefer Luan (I’ve got flat fronts).
Thanks so much gentlemen.
I don’t know if anyone has tried MDF. I looked at it at my local Lowes store. In a 1X4 it seems pretty flexible.
Aflyer
I have a rollaround 4 by 8 N scale with flat sides. I want it to look nice but not distracting.
I use 1/4" (more like 3/16") underlay luan plywood. I cut it into 8" strips and it bends easily. I just paint it and it looks good. You could use a gloss enamel finish if you like that kind of surface, or even a speckled stone paint (that would be different!).
-Bob
WIRTA-1 Hey [8D]
I don’t buy any thing, if I can scrounge it. It will probably be torn down and rebuilt anyway. My fascia was left over paneling.
Note the clear plexi glass where the rails are close to the edge. Murphys’ law.
Works for me.
Lee
Plexiglass is actually a brand name. The actual product is acrylic. Acrylic is very easily cracked/broken when being cut or drilled. If you are insistan on using plastics, polycarbonate would be a much better choice. You can drill, cut, sand, & even bend it without much fear of cracking it.
I would personally go with hardboard or thin plywood as already mentioned.
Unfortunately, polycarbonate tends to scratch relatively easily. I used 1/8" tempered hardboard, smooth side out, unpainted (so far). I agree that thin plywood is a good option.
But if you require the transparency of a clear acrylic, it can be done and has been done successfully on many, many layouts, especially those for shows.
Dante
If you have the $$$$ for it you can get ‘Scratch Resistant’ polycarbonate (Lexan is a trade name for this plastic) which I have used for displays when I was working for a professional model shop in New York many years ago. Incidently, polycarbonate is used in bulletproof windows.
-Bob