Fascianitis - Designing the Fascia for the Dixie Central

I hate most layout fascia boards.  Dull, boring, don't add anything to the layout.  Hey!  Let's paint it green or black.  Yuck.

I've got a great idea for the fascia on the Dixie Central but I'm not going to share it with you.  I know, I know, I always share everything.  This time, its a surprise.

But I have been looking at other ideas.  The presentation of the layout is important.  See this example.

http://www.bronx-terminal.com/?p=1124

A good fascia should add to the layout, but not detract from it.  Likewise it should be of a color that enhances the layout and blends in with it.  Fascia should have texture of some sort, not perfectly flat.  The fascia is also a tool in that it holds buttons, switches and your throttle.  Still, I think the fascia can be a work of art in and of itself to help portray the layout it holds up.

Case in point, the Statue of Liberty.  In and of itself the statue is magnificent.  But what about the pedestal she stands on?  It portrays strength and power, ascension, and probably some Masonic ritual of one kind or another like the dollar bill.

Let's find some other fascia-nating fasicas!

Allen McClelland hung ribbed outdoor carpeting as fascia.  It looked very elegant, absorbed sound and was a match for anything with velcro on it.  Can't find a picture.

C W Howell's Fascia with drink and throttle holders

Interesting Cast Metal Look Plate
Here's how he made it!

Gloss Black

Olive Drab 

Wood Stained

Big fascia

The fascia on my swamp layout http://swamplayout.blogspot.com/ is going to be corrugated tin roof that has rusted.  It will be fiberglass panels cut to shape and painted/weathered.  This will give the Southern tin-roof feel of the shacks in the swamp.

Got ideas?  We'd love to hear them!

You can always write me at scottgperry@comcast.net.