control pannel
I have usually used masonite, which you can get from Lowe's or Home depot, on a wood frame,. Some panels are integral to the fascia, my main panel is hinged, so it can be opened up to allow access to the spaghetti bowl of wiring behind it. The main panel is painted glossy black, and then I used masking tape to mask off a diagram of each block. each block was then painted in in the distinctive color which is used to represent that block on my tab on car operating system, so that the colors associated with the different ares of the railroad are reinforced between the block system and the tab on car operating system.
I use DC, with a block system. . the blocks are controlled by rotary switches, which I got years ago from radio shack, back before their main business was selling cell pones. My RR is extensively documented in the logging , mining, and industrial section, and there ares some pictures in there. check out that thread, and if you have some specific control panel questions, ask them there, and I will drag my camera up there and take some more pictures to help explain my answers.
Bill Nelson