CONTROL PANEL LAYOUT

I used automotive pin stripes. Click on my YouTube channel link below and look for my Control Panel video. I ran throughnthe basic How Tos on how I built it. Pretty simple and quick.

Automotive pin striping as Laidoffsick stated above would be my suggestion as well.

Hello O Gauge Jim!

 

"Laid off Sick" is right. Use pin striping from the local auto parts store.. the stuff is great. Has great edges and comes in many different colours. 

 

Make sure to use 1/8" masonite as the thicker 1/4" is too think to grab the threads on some switches. Then when I have all the holes drilled for the toggles and switches, I then paint the front of the panel. The back side I lay 1/2" by 1/2" pin strip glued to where there are no toggle holes and or switch holes etc so it strengthens the board up some. also adding a 1" boarder etc also helps strengthen the panel. 

 

Have fun! 

Dan

Jim, you could save yourself the priming and painting steps by getting white enameled hardboard. It can usually be found in amongst the paneling at your home improvement store.

 

Here are a couple of panels I did with this material. My lines are all done with tape.

 

The back side is unfinished and just looks like Masonite.

 

Another approach is to make a diagram on the computer and print the layout on light cardstock. The print could be color or black and white. Then add a sheet of clear styrene plastic to protect the panel design.

 

See a sample attached. This small sample panel uses miniature pushbuttons to select turnouts.

 

 

Here is a sample annunciator "dispatcher" panel.  This panel uses a sheet of white styrene that has LEDs to indicate status of the layout. The track pattern is made from a pattern of drilled holes in the styrene.