Looking for ideas - section dividers

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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My N scale layout is built in sections on 8 hollow-core door slabs (all but one being 6’8" X 36", and one being 6’8" X 30"). They were built that way to make them a lot easier to move, since the original layout (5 section) was constructed in an apartment and I relocated several times since.

Each section (slab) is a different part of the Midwest, meaning it’s not contiguous geography (in other words the section depicting Wolverine, WI up near Iron Mountain abutts the section depicting Catherine, IA, southeast of Des Moines). Why I chose to go that route is another story - I lost my head in the heat of scenery.

I’m looking for thin yet stiff & unbendable material to use to create dividers to go between the various sections. I’d certainly consider making scenic backdrops on the dividers, or at least some nice neutral color (like light blue). The purpose of the dividers would be to make it more obvious to visitors that each section is indeed a separate part of the system (even though I do have laminated signs identifying the division, sub-division, city & state for each section). I’d cut openings through the dividers (obviously) for the trains to pass-through.

Anyone know of a thin yet durable and unbending material large enough to span 36"? Sheet plastic would certainly be a possibility, but I don’t think it comes that wide (trying to avoid piecing the dividers together). Sheet metal would be wide enough and certainly thin enough for my needs, but almost impossible to keep from getting bent/warped.

Any ideas would be welcome.

[?]

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I would suggest 1/8" masonite. It comes in 4’x8’ sheets and can be cut easily to what ever size you want.

That’s what I used for my backdrop then painted it light blue.

Bill

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Never thought of that!

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WIAR:

What would you think about using scenic features as dividers ? You could use highway bridges, small woodlots, low hills, rivers, et cetera. Forested hills are nice because they tend to screen but not obscure scenes, so one can act as backdrop for another.

I’m suggesting this because, to my eyes, freestanding backdrops work well in photos, but in “real life” are more of a discontinuity than no transition at all would be. It’s too easy to be aware of a backdrop when you can see its end right in front of you, or when a train is visibly passing through it.

As material for painted dividers, you might use foam-core or matboard, which you can get in big sheets. Plastic suppliers can get large sheets of sheet styrene.