Product Review - Bendy Board - A great product for your model railroad fascia

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Product Review

Some Thoughts about using Bendy Board For Your Fascia and Valance

I followed Lance Minnheim’s www.shelflayouts.com advice about using ¼” Neatform Bendy MDF (Rockler® Item # 27827) on my Oahu Sugar Company layout. I used it for both fascias and valances. Manufactured in the United Kingdom, it comes in 24” x 48” bendable sheets.

Before you decide to use it on your layout, bear the following in mind:

Bendy Board has some drawbacks though for your model railroad.
  • Its kerf gives it a serrated appearance  when used as a fascia. Will its serrated appearance bother you? Do you remedy it somehow?
  • Not available locally (I ordered it several times from Rockler).
  • Sometimes it arrives damaged .
  • Bendy MDF installed has more seams than an eight foot long Masonite® sheet would yield.
  • Might be more expensive than Masonite®
As to positives …

  • Easier to handle as a 2x4 foot board
  • It comes to your house, I don’t need to go to Home Depot® with a buddy’s van to get Masonite®
  • Seems to take paint better than Masonite®
  • Bends easier than Masonite® and less prone to return to straight form
Here is how Neatform describes themselves: “Neatform is a high quality bendable sheet material. It is a processed sheet of MDF, which is used by woodworkers where top quality curved shapes or surfaces are required.

Neatform has a smooth surface, which makes it ideal for painting, veneering or laminating.”

This product can be ordered at

Rockler® Woodworking and Hardware
4365 Willow Drive
Medina, MN 55340
1-8oo-279-4441

There you have it, make a choice that works for you. 





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