Added another section of Masonite hardboard to create more backdrop along the staging freight yard lead which will complete this area of the layout for the background base. The image to the left highlights the seam that was made using spackling plaster as well as patching a crack that occurred with the previous section. Once this has dried the Spackle will be sanded smooth and then the fresh areas will be painted with the light blue interior latex paint then more clouds will be added. The main reason for this project is due to the continued work on the locomotive servicing facility and backdrop structure progress. The Walthers Cornerstone Series(R) Background Building - Kit Bud's Trucking Co. (Walthers Part # 933-3192, 19" x 1-1/8" x 4") was completed a few weeks ago and needs to be moved to an area just in front of the new backdrop area. Once the new Masonite backdrop area is completed the scenery base for the area between that and the benchwork will be added to support the background structure. This kit is built as part of an Auto Plant, however, I have seen similar wall and foundation construction for cold storage facilities, I just need to get some roof top details such as compressors for industrial grade coolers and freezers to complete the model.
Currently the model sits in the original proposed location, however, the width of the rubber gaskets that surround the loading doors encroaches onto the rolling stock clearance. Thus, the need to move the structure to the other location and contributing to and necessitating the backdrop work required prior to the move. I also have the Lauston Shipping model kit from the Walthers Cornerstone Series(R) Background Building - Kit Series (Walthers Part # 933-3191, 19" x 1-1/8" x 4") which still needs to be built, and it will likely be able to kit near the original section that the cold storage was to be placed. These kits are quick and easy to built and I recommend them for anyone who has backdrop requirements on their layout.
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
SS,
Nice job on the backdrop. What is the height? The building flat looks very good. I purchased the Lakeside Manufacturing kit from Walthers. When I received it, it felt like it weighed about two pounds. I realized then that all I wanted was the exterior walls since it was going to be a shallow building. I wasn't going to use the interior. I finally sent it back and built my own from scratch. Keep up the good work.
Larry
Larry,
Thanks for the comments on the backdrop, the backdrop height in the photos is approximately 14".
Cheers,
Ryan
Is it just me, or do backdrops see to take a lot longer to do as you get older? Seems that you're just a little ahead of me but I've been working on mine for like an eternity! I don't remember the last one taking this long!
BTW, your looks great!
And goodness sakes man! How many tracks do you have in front of that plant?!?
May be my backdrop looks it, but I did it with a "Sky blue" from Sherwin Williams and a rattle can flat white from Home Depot. That's about as simple as you can get.
PC, you are so right, I have been holding off completing this section until it was necessary and I should have done it a long time ago. I think it just reinforces the theory of working from back to front and in that order makes the most sense.
In answer to your question, this is the dual function staging / freight yard with 11 tracks from 3' on the front side to 16' on the back side. Here is an older image before the passenger siding track was put in:
Larry, keep it simple is my motto, and your method is about what I have been doing. Light blue interior latex paint coating goes on first, then a thinned out white latex paint coating on the bottom half, then clouds with some templates with the spray brush. And then a light gray/black on the bottom portion of the clouds for the shadow effect.
You're going to be able to shuffle some cars in that yard!
I need to hit your website again. I haven't been there in a while. Gotta catch up with the latest, ya know?
PC, I update the site many times a week. Most of my current layout work is documented and posted in the PD Blog section of the site for more detailed information, and I have added another gallery page for recent photos too. Thanks for visiting!
I was asked by someone on another fourm how I do my foam core images for backdrops so thought I would post that response here too!
This is a short mini-clinic on how I mount images on foam core board for backdrops on my Piedmont Division HO scale layout.
I collect photographs and images from my own collection and from research on the Internet. I have found a few great sources of free images on the Internet that include buildings, structures, landscapes, and industrial subjects that make for good backdrop candidates.
So what makes for a good backdrop image? I try to pick images that have as straight an alignment with the front of the subject as possible; it has few shadows, and few if any foreground and obstructing objects such as trees, telephone poles, people or vehicles.
Besides my own images that I have taken there are two sources that I have used for free images on the Internet. They are Flickr.com and FreeFoto.com, both have search functions that allow you to find just about any image you want. You just have to sign up for a free account with a valid email address. For example, the tank images that I found for my backdrop behind the staging/freight yard were found in the Business, Industry, Oil Refinery section of FreeFoto.com. (Click that link to view that page.) I also found images of North Carolina buildings by putting in a keyword search such as North Carolina, brick, buildings on Flicker.com. (Click that link to view that page.) Then the search process continues until I find candidate images that might make it to the layout. However, you can use any combination of specific search keywords to find your own images.
The materials that I use for building the backdrops includes the inexpensive foam core found at Michael's or A.C. Moore Arts and Crafts stores, a typical 2'X3' sheet of 3/16" thick is usually around $1.00 +/- each. Sometimes I have seen them on sale for under a dollar each. I also use 8 ½" X 11" glossy photo papers to print the images from my color photo ink jet printer. The adhesive I use is the 3M 77 spray adhesive for attaching the printed images to the foam core sheets.
After I have selected the image I will crop it and resize it with a photo editing software to the dimensions that fit the HO scale scene. For most of my backdrops I am trying to give it a forced perspective of distance. So sizing them to actual HO scale dimensions is not really necessary, I want them to look like they are further away than the actual structures in the foreground on the layout.
Once the images are printed out I will take them to the layout room and cut out any sky or sections that will not fit with a sharp blade of my X-acto knife and also use a metal straight edge to assist with making the cuts. Once the outline of the image is cut I will place it on top of the foam core board and then I trace the outline with a #2 pencil. Then I cut out the shape of the image outline from the foam core. I will match up the image to the foam core shape and make a few adjustments here and there to ensure that the foam core is not showing through.
Now that I have the foam core cut to how I like it in reference to the image I place it onto a large piece of scrap cardboard and spray it with the 3M 77 adhesive to give it a nice even coat. Allow the 3M 77 adhesive to set up for a minute or two and then gently line up the image and place it on top then I gently press the image and slide it around a bit to fit the cut out shape. I allow this to set up for 5-10 minutes.
I then take some painters masking tape and attach a few pieces to the back of the foam core/image and make temporary placements on the Masonite backdrop until I like the way it looks. Then I will Elmer's Glue to make the permanent placements of the foam core to the backdrop.