Automate Your Layout
Tame Your Layout with a Custom Panel
Alex are you tired of walking the line to check point positions, struggling with complex wiring, or trying to manage a large layout from multiple places? Our bespoke Layout Concepts control panels are designed to make operating your railway simpler, smarter and more enjoyable.
Every panel is tailored to your layout, from simple mimic panels through to fully wired control panels with professional enclosures, custom graphics, LEDs, switches and route setting.
- Bespoke Design: We create a personalised panel based on your own layout, even from a simple sketch or basic track plan.
- Professional Finish: High-quality acrylic panels, aluminium frames and Layout Concepts blue enclosures are available.
- Super Panel Control: Ideal for NCE PowerCab and ProCab users, allowing multiple commands from one switch.
- Route Setting: Set the route into a fiddle yard and light the relevant LEDs with one button press.
- DCC Compatibility: We can work with 99.9% of current and previous DCC systems, including NCE, Digitrax, Gaugemaster, ECoS, Bachmann, Lenz and Hornby.
A bespoke control panel makes operating your model railway simpler, faster and far more enjoyable. Instead of manually checking points, wiring switches across the layout or relying solely on a handheld controller, a panel gives you clear visual feedback and centralised control of your entire railway. With LED route indication, mimic diagrams and automated route setting, you can confidently control complex junctions, fiddle yards and storage sidings with the press of a button, helping your layout run more realistically and efficiently.
Choose the Level That Suits Your Layout
| Option | What You Get | Guide Price |
|---|---|---|
| Option 1 | High-definition 1:1 scale custom panel artwork supplied as a PDF. | £149 + VAT |
| Option 2 | Laser printed and laser cut acrylic panel based on your finished design. | £299 + VAT* |
| Option 3 | Acrylic panel supplied with a high-quality aluminium frame. | £349 + VAT* |
| Option 4 | Fully functioning control panel with acrylic, components and required connection cables. | POA + VAT |
| Option 5 | Fully finished panel with enclosure, available in Layout Concepts blue as standard. | POA + VAT |
*Prices are guide prices and depend on size and specification. Final cost is based on your exact requirements.
Mimic Panel or Control Panel?
Mimic Panel: Contains LEDs but no switches. It shows the direction of points or accessories selected from your DCC controller or another external controller.
Control Panel: Contains LEDs and switches, allowing you to control your layout and view point or accessory positions. It usually works alongside your DCC control system.
Custom Graphics Included
Your panel can be designed around your railway, not the other way around. Track colours, line thickness, fonts, nameplates, totems, logos, buildings and other graphical details can all be customised. We also have a library of high-quality vector graphics already available.
Recent Customer Panel Examples
Panels can be built to suit layouts of different sizes and complexity, from compact control panels to larger complex projects controlling 500+ DCC accessory addresses.
- Panels with Alpha Encoder Units and Alpha Mimics.
- Panels with Super Panel route setting.
- Custom connection plates for lighting, decouplers and external control.
- Enclosures available in multiple sizes to suit different layouts.
Payment, Delivery and Time Scale
For bespoke panels, staged payments are available depending on the option selected. Fully built panels are normally delivered in a 12 to 16 week window from the initial panel discussion, depending on design approval and acrylic production times.
Worldwide delivery is available, and collection from the Layout Concepts showroom in Settle can also be arranged.
