Cheap paneling

Almost running….

Image copyright 2005 Tim Warris
50
Ferry dock control panel added!

Working at a snails pace, I managed to get the trackwork completed on the dock addition. The other night we installed the switch machines and cut the gaps. (We because Ron has been recruited).

I did not want to get too fancy in the installation of the switches for the dock, as it looks like I may be moving soon and will have to dismantle the layout. I do want to get this section operational though as I think it will still be six months or so before the dreaded dismantling.

I got fancy anyway.

Image copyright 2005 Tim Warris
51
I drew up a 3 dimensional rendering of what I needed for a panel. The overall size is 4″X12″

Using the laser and some scrap 2mm plywood, I cut the panel in 3 layers. There is a bottom layer, where the lettering and the logo was engraved onto. The middle layer with the track schematic, and finally a top layer to frame it in. The three layers were glued together to form the complete panel, about 1/4″ thick.

This was then primed with a couple of coats of primer to disguise the wood grain. It would look good to varnish this and leave the wood exposed, but I wanted to get a more “tarnished copper plaque” look.

Image copyright 2005 Tim Warris
48
Cheap grey primer sprayed onto the wood panel

Once the primer was dry enough, I painted the entire panel brown. Over this I drybrushed a turquoise layer, and some white highlights. Once dry I gave the entire panel a wash of alcohol and leather dye to make it nice and dirty looking.

Image copyright 2005 Tim Warris
47
The panel is given faux tarnished copper paint job.

Today we installed the toggle switches in the panel, which I hate the look of, but didn’t have much choice. They do the job easily without getting too carried away in wiring up pushbuttons.

The power was ran from the panel to the machines and everything is now live! The only job left is to run the track power feeders. Hopefully tomorrow.

Image copyright 2005 Tim Warris
49
Installed in place and ready to control the turnouts!

Posted by: | 10-22-2005 | 09:10 PM
Posted in: Uncategorized

5 Comments »

  1. Wow! That’s awesome! What a great idea

    Comment by Don Larson — 11/5/2005 @ 9:59 am
  2. I think from the pic’s that is a great panel!

    Comment by Keith Westcot — 11/17/2005 @ 8:57 pm
  3. Tim
    Fantastic way of making small panels. I spend quite a bit of time each week on your web site. It is an excllent source of information and ideas. BTW, the changes you made to the site, just make a something that is excellent, even better.
    Peter

    Comment by Peter Willstein — 11/27/2005 @ 6:54 pm
  4. Now stop that! You are setting the bar WAY too high for the rest of us. How are we supposed to compete with that? Shame! 😮

    As always, beautiful work. I’m shamelessly jealous.

    Craig Bisgeier

    Comment by Craig Bisgeier — 1/30/2006 @ 10:56 pm
  5. Your creativity is so impressive! I love how you think and appreciate you sharing your ideas and pushing me out of the box. Keep up the great work! Hope to meet you sometime.

    Comment by Scott Perry — 1/11/2010 @ 9:42 pm

Comments RSS TrackBack URI

 

Leave a comment