Hi everyone

We are considering putting perspex sheets at the front of our club layout based on Bodmin Road.
Do people have an opinion on this ie is it a good idea?
If so, what height and what thickness of perspex ? We're initially thinking about 6 inches in height and perhaps 10mm thick?
And has anyone got any experience of doing this?

Thanks
Martin

I've seen this used on exhibition layouts with mixed results. Think of 'Exmouth quay' many years ago where it was used to help frame in almost a television style view of the layout.

It keeps errant fingers off the scenery, but unless angled correctly, it gives off a lot of odd reflections and can make the layout difficult to see. It also doesn't look very good if it gets cracked or crazed. It also gives youngsters the chance to grab something and pull themselves up if they can't quite see the scenery...........

I do use it over part of my fiddle yard at home to keep at least some of the dust and dirt out, but not over the scenic bit.

martyn

Those measurements  would work. . Do you have a diystore, b and q, wickes. Etc?

Its a very good idea, as we know from exhibiting.  The mounting is important as if it's rigid it will get cracked.

We use 50mm sticky backed 3mm thick foam on the layout and we mount the perspex with nylon washers and bolts or similar (that are not tight).

The effect is it gives a little if pressed or pushed, as they will at any show.

I'm afraid in the "not totally convinced" camp to be honest.  I do find it can disrupt the view of an otherwise excellent layout at a show, it ruins photos etc.  and yes it gives youngsters something to grab onto and haul themselves up for a better view over the top.

I use one small length about 2" high along the front of my harbour edge to try and discourage little fingers from prodding the "water", but otherwise I simply try and ensure the scenery at the front edge is mostly well hardened "grass"  (ie. soaked in diluted PVA)  with minimal fine detail.

I would rather the show organiser place barriers in front of the layout to keep visitors back a little, than obscure the scene with perspex.

Personally when viewing a layout, I dislike because as other have said it disrupts the view (especially if scratched,chipped,grubby), gives odd reflections and is terrible to try and photograph through.

As an Exhibitor, it becomes a "necessary evil" at some shows where barriers aren't provided and the audience are shall we say less-considerate...

For most of our layouts we have removable sections that can be bolted on when needed, but spend most of their time stored safely in cloth covers.

I wonder if the risk from errant children is overstated? While operating James Street, which effectively has 60' of layout frontage to protect and lots of track adjacent to the baseboard edge, we have had no significant incidents in three years. Ive exhibited with other layouts over the last 30 years and the same applies. The worst culprit recently was a child grabbing a tree, for which he was immediately chastised by his parents.

There used to be Perspex along one edge of James Street but that was removed because of the poor viewing effect as noted by others above. Is this risk really worth downgrading the viewing of others for?

Another vote against from me, just based on my own experience - it really spoils the viewing experience for me when looking at layouts, to the extent that I often won't bother.

I don't have perspex on Deansmoor or Lofthole, and in many exhibitions over the last few years I haven't had any problems with poking fingers. 

I don't even have "please do not touch" notices as I feel these are a little unfriendly as the first communication between public and layout operators.

Maybe I have been lucky!

Cheers Jon 

No. Putting perspex on the front of a layout ruins it from a visitor point of view. I don't use it and would never use it. I have exhibited at a number of shows where there are no barriers and have never had a problem. My tracks run close to the viewer edge of the baseboard so there is potential risk but the worse thong that happens is people feel the static grass and I have no problem with that because exhibitions are about sharing knowledge.
I tend not to bother to spend many seconds looking at layouts with a perspex front at exhibitions. Putting up a screen is an insult to the paying visitors.

My layout is not for exhibition so this is perhaps of no use.
I have bought perspex for the front of my layout and obtained it from a marine repair place (barges & boats). It's 7mm thick and wasn't cheap! While the layout is being built I am just using some cheapo stuff called 'Liteglaze' which is thin and easily snapped but also easy to cut with a razor saw and is better drilled with a hand drill rather than a power tool.
To be fair, mine is to stop anything plunging to the floor rather than protection from me.

Keep tracks away from baseboard edge, Mick..... especially straight ones. 

Quote from: Bealman on August 08, 2019, 12:35:13 PM
Keep tracks away from baseboard edge, Mick..... especially straight ones. 

Now where have I heard that before........................

Well, thanks for the replies and suggestions folks.
We'll certainly give it a lot of thought before proceeding.