Any ideas on dust covers for your layout?

How large and fragile is your layout? 

I just vacuum mine every once in awhile. 

Well this is kinda something you probably thought of but when I installed a drop ceiling over my existing layout a few years ago I bought a roll of plastic like this. 

It kept all the dust and debris off the layout.

I'm sure this could work for you and if you need to you could reuse it..just keep the dusty side up.

Mark

The plastic suggested above would certainly work. It's available in much smaller rolls at much less cost - I've picked up pieces big enough for a small layout at Ace for a buck, on sale. The very lightest plastic would also have the advantage of not being heavy enough to disturb anything on the layout, except maybe the tops of trees. 

My preference, however, is old cotton bedsheets, at least for the kind of seasonal storage you seem to be suggesting. They are more substantial and therefore less likely to get knocked out of place. If there are streetlights, treetops, antennas, etc. sticking up, it would be easy enough to make some small frames out of 1x1 to support the cover. The frames could be made to fold up so they wouldn't take up much storage space when not in use. Or, just pile up some train boxes on the track wherever something sticks up and needs to be protected. 

Exactly what my wife does for our layout. If the idea bothers you...spend the extra cash for brand new. The new ones will cost around, $60.00. The used run less than $20.00. Four of the King Size just covers the top of the layout. Thought about the paint protector, gave the plastic a try. To much moisture gathers under and drips onto the layout .

I use old bed sheets the wife "retires" out of rotation and donates to me for covering the layout.  It's easy to cover and uncover, and they can be easily cleaned.  Haven't had any issues since I gently cover/uncover everything myself, but it goes much faster and even easier if you have one other person.

Like Paul, I used old bed sheets discarded by my wife, but my layout is of a size where it was a pain to put them on and off regularly.  So, I just use a vacuum cleaner occasionally and don't cover it.

.....

Dennis

I use giant foam blocks (about the size of a cinder block) which I obtained from a farm supply store (they are used in shipping tractors, etc. as protection while in transit).  I stand them up in the corners and place 2x4's on them on 4 sides and then drape a bed sheet over the top.  Adding some clothes pins around the bottom of the sheet with strings attached to them to which some light weights are hung, helps to keep the sheet taut and avoids buckling in the center.  The foam blocks are high enough so that there is no interference with the buildings on the layout when the sheet goes over the top.  This is what I do for periods of time when the layout is not in operation.

I found out that just using a vacuum works well.with 25+55 layout it is hard to cover.

i use some attachments for made for computer cleaning.work well.

I use banjoflyer's plastic sheets and 'UP' written with a permanent marker at strategic locations so I know which side is which. 

The problem with using a dust cover, it makes the layout less available for fun on short notice. When I was a kid my dad decided to start using a drop cloth over our 4x8 HO layout, and it was cumbersome.

I live with dust on my around-the-room O-gauge layout, and multiple smaller layouts, but I run home-made track wiper cars on most trains to keep the track and wheels clean for reliable operation.

For some situations, maybe a room air filter setup would help. Ideally, the layout room would be well finished and sealed, with a quality air filtration system.

For smaller, narrower layouts along a wall, I've considered the idea of using a hinged cover that easily lifts up, sort of like a piano keyboard cover, only larger.

Too many towers and other pointy objects to use a dust cover.

Maybe a turntable style acrylic dust cover for the layout is the way to go.

Dan

Dust covers? Really? 

living in the wonderfully humid Deep South one would think that that might be a good

idea, but then the 'redneck' kicks in and so no, I just 'runnimwhenicanem' !!

However the bed sheet idea sounds easy. Reminds me of an Estate Sale I attended once

where everything had been covered with sheets for 60 years. what was uncovered was

very interesting, and then the fight began over all those antiques!!

drop clothes, or large sheets of plastic

What Popi says....

I buy CHEAP plastic drop cloths ($1 or less) which are the thickness of a dry cleaning bag so they weigh next to nothing and won't damage your layout.  Re-useable, yes but for what I paid; just pitch them when you're done and buy new.  When you want to remove it, just have a friend help you by each taking a corner and doubling the drop cloth over onto itself a few times thereby trapping the dust within.

Best,

Dave

These answers are what I was looking for. My layout is rather small (8 x 12 duck under) and I am usually by myself so I've been trying to think of something that I can handle alone making removal a real task. I've even contemplated an elaborate plastic covered frome frame and pulley system. My favorite pipe dream however, is using spring loaded vertical shades but pulling them horizontally across the layout.