Fascia is the back side of 3/16” paneling I had leftover, cut in 4” strip. 4” because I need to get underneath, and 3/16” vs 1/8” because it’s strong enough to support a curtain or something. I bought another sheet for like $15 for the rest of the layout - (they ripped it into 2-2’x8’ pieces I transported in my Fiesta!). You can see I have extended the fascia 1/4” above the sound board ($12 for 1/2”x4’x8’ sheet from Lowe’s), so I can add scenery without spillover. Also shown is the 1-1/2” thick leftover interior door I used in this section for benchwork. A small piece of fascia will cover that edge.
The operator panel is recessed and tilted up - recessed to reduce aisle interference, and angled upward for better visibility. Track diagram on operator panel is 1/4” pin striping from auto parts store. 40’ roll for $4 at O’Reilly’s. Switches are from Electronics Supply in downtown Kansas City.
Johnson Controls battery plant is cardboard mock up with interior boxcar lead unloading area. White Radon vent pipe will work for a sulfuric acid tank! I’ll add another acid tank next to it (that isn’t functioning as a radon vent for the house!) The 3-1/2” pipe is about the right diameter for the 5,000 gallon fiberglass tanks that are used. St Joe battery plant now produces 50,000 automotive lead-acid batteries per day. When I started in 1992 we put out 12,000 on a good day.
