An old N scale layout from

An old N scale layout from years ago

Phil

Chocolate

@Phil - I may have chocolate on the brain but is it black or dark brown? I really like the contrast. 

What did you do where a town or yard occurred? Are there diagrams on the face, jacks or plugs, buttons or knobs, or car card boxes??

@Phil - I may have chocolate

Its a dark warm brown. I think it was called Mondo (Dulux colour I think from memory) 

Never got that far re buttons car card boxes, Only got as far as flush mounting UPT5 ports and a shelf for throttles.

Phil

Pick of another Layout. Same fascia. yes the contrast is pretty good. Warm hues of colours

Phil

The CB&Q in Wyoming

My tan fascia with cutouts for access to a staging yard beneath, on a prior version of the The CB&Q in Wyoming.
The color was chosen to closely match the color of the dirt in this part of the state.

KP and ATSF

First is the Kansas Pacific that I have worked on for 7 years. The fascia approximates soil color in much of Kansas and is a neutral color. I had first tried a tan shade but didn't really like it. Much of it is covered with car card sleeves, throttle mounting (Velcro), coupler picks, and power switches.

Second is the Santa Fe, McPherson, KS, TOMA module. The fascia is a lighter warm grey more like the ground around the tracks in McPherson. Also, I was out of the paint I put on the KP layout. I mostly use mis-tints from Lowe's or leftover paint from the Boulder County recycle center. 

Track Diagrams

I’ve seen some examples of town diagrams mounted on the fascia or a string line approach - Irv Shultz comes to mind. The idea of having a small diagram appeals to me.  It would serve as a guide to new operators and have industry spots noted. Does this seem necessary with our walk around style now? Do we need switch machines and indication lights when manual uncoupling and ground throws are used? 

I added a trim along the bottom with a foam strip from an automotive shop to hold car cards. The clean lines and wireless controls really only leave the need for cards and uncoupling picks to be mounted somewhere. Even these might be mounted on the operator in the form of a vest or apron. 

I admired Rick’s rusty fascia similar to Tim Waris’s Brooklyn line but only ended up using the trim and “rivets”. 

Fascia from my previous Richlawn RR - Edited 4-22-18

***Edited 4-22-18 - I removed the pictures of my fascia of my current layout to keep the thread on track instead of a debate on "invisible" vs decorative fascias.

This is in the alcove area (under construction).  The color is "Arizona Stone".

MDF

Using 1/4" MDF with a peaceful shade of green.  

My "fascia" is simply 3/4

My "fascia" is simply 3/4 inch ply, which is part of the module's outer frame that is screwed and glued to a hollow core door.

The ply extends 2 1/2 inches below the door to create lips so it can be placed snugly on this table:

The top of the fascia also serves as a lip so the other module can fit on top of it.

The terrain on the layout is just slightly higher than the ¾ inch lips on both sides. The edges of the layout's terrain consists of dense homasote strips hidden by being scenicked, e.g., gravel lot, edge of a road, uneven terrain, etc.

This enables me to stack one module on top of the other and prevents it from moving side to side; kind of locking it into place so to speak.

The 2 ½ inch overhang creates a clearance when stacking one on top of the other. This is just a scrap piece to demonstrate the clearance.

When I had them in storage, I fastened them together with temporary wood braces and stored it on its side.

When I removed the braces, which were fastened on with wood screws, I simply filled the holes left with wood filler.

I would like nothing better

I would like nothing better than for my fascia to go unnoticed. It is eggshell finish latex paint that I had mixed at Menards. I am very happy with it.

Jim Six, it certainly is nice

Jim Six, it certainly is nice and does not draw the eye to it.

I haven't figured out a colour for mine to do the same thing, but I'm open to suggestions.

James Six - what fascia?

I like your understated fascia as it's not very noticeable so the focus stays on the top of the layout.

JamesSix is on target IMO!

I haven't installed the fascia on mine yet, but I'm with JamesSix philosophically.  If the fascia takes on the color of the layout ground, it disappears and the railroad becomes the star.  Thanx Jim for posting yours.  It reinforces my thinking about proper color.

I admit a varying layout floor color can make it a challenge to select a color.  Figuring all of this out is part of what makes Model Railroading fun.

+ 1 for Six

I am another in agreement that the fascia should have a finished look but should be a blur to the real attraction of the layout

Steve

Rick, You summed up my

Rick,

You summed up my philosophy perfectly. I hope for people's attention to be focused on what is on top of the layout and not the fascia. Remember Model Railroader's project layout with the bright red fascia? That was the worst I have ever seen. The fascia blinded the eyes from seeing the actual layout!   

LOL  

Also the shadow box is contender

I will add the that the shadow box affect serves the same objectives of keeping the focus on the real star

Steve

This is as neat as it gets on

This is as neat as it gets on my layout.

Some great photos, and great

Some great photos, and great ideas. one of the reasons I enjoy this site.