Ship ahoy matey; EXTREME makeover

[FJ and G]

Well, every time I come up with a cool idea, my toy train friend does me one better.

Recall his harbor layout I posted a few weeks ago?

Well, he’s moving the entire layout into a much larger room (fortunately, it’s modularized). And, he just installed a new backdrop in that room of the NYC harbor.

He writes:

“Here's a look at the waterfront backdrop I've installed for the Port of New York & New Jersey Railroad, courtesy of "Backdrop Warehouse," a relatively new company. The scene comports beautifully with my layout's industrial-port theme.

Each of my three high-resolution photo panels measure 3 ft by 13 ft, and I have a total run of 34 feet--the scene continues to the right from where I took this photo to curve around the other corner of the room. The scenes (made of a heavy-duty, nylon-reinforced material) are mounted with rubber cement on masonite panels framed with 1 by 3s, so it's sturdy. Yet, by running a razor knife down the seam for each masonite panel I could dismantle the backdrop in less than an hour should I wi***o do so. This design comports with my goal of a modular layout design that can be dismantled and moved relatively easily with no damage.

Each panel is mounted to the wall with one-inch corner angles screwed into wall fasteners--three on top and three on the bottom. I curved the backdrop around each corner using flexible acrylic light panels cut to size, covered with poster paper to absorb rubber cement better, and mounted to curved supports fabricated from 3/4-inch plywood. The backdrop scene transitions beautifully to make the turn. The eye is deceived, unlike a transition with a square corner. Hanging the support panels level was the most challenging aspect of construction, but expert assistance from my son in law, Ian, and use of both laser and bubble levels as well as frequent doublechecking of all measurements did the trick.

Using "daylight" bulbs, the fluorescent lighting is actually much brighter than it appears in the photo, reproducing colors very accurately with minimal shadows. It's also perfect lighting for non-flash photography. The backdrop will add an incredible sense of depth to the PONY & NJ RR. I am cautiously optimistic I'll relocate the layout to the new train room this weekend--Ian's help permitting!

Then it will be time to build two new modular sections for the layout to take advantage of the room's 20-foot length. A 40-inch twin-track Pratt truss bridge will grace one of the new port modules.

For non-modeling readers, I apologize for the technical details of construction. Other model railroaders will understand!

All the best, Gordo”

BTW, is that BB the beagle I hear knocking at the door?

[dwiemer]

Very, very impressive Dave.
Thanks,
Dennis

[FJ and G]

Dennis,

Here's a follow-up he sent me...

" I went to great lengths to build stable, solid framing for the masonite mounting boards. I relied totally on a very in-depth installation article posted, with illustrations, to the Backdrop Warehouse homepage. Rubber cement (three wide stripes at the top, middle, and bottom of the board plus at scene ends and seams to new panel) worked perfectly. Far better than a wall-papering technique. With either Diana or Ian helping, I would glue two feet at a time as they helped unroll the scene. I used a new paint roller to flatten it as I went along. There are absolutely no bubbles or other distractions.

This is not an inexpensive backdrop, mind you, but I now feel it will be well-worth the substantial investment given its importance to the overall appearance of the layout.

I'm taking a day's leave tomorrow. Hopefully I will have a new photo to forward on Monday showing what the PONY & NJ looks like in its new setting!"

[dwiemer]

Dave, having lived very close to the port up there, it is something I am enjoying seeing the progress on. One thing I did notice, that may help you one up your friend. They have hard corners (read 90 degrees), recently I saw a article on using a method to round the corners of a layout to keep the lighting even and also to make the appearance more realistic. Of course, depending on available room and layout limitations, he may not have been able to do this, but what he has done does look great. ( I don't mean to be critical, just thinking out loud).
Dennis

[1688torpedo]

Dave- Your friend sure is very talented with that Backdrop. Looks like BB wants some Jif Peanut Butter to go with her Fish Platter.[;)][:D] Take Care.