Has anyone used these. They look pretty decent for certain area's. But looks like it would be a pain in the butt to cut out around all the features. Seems like they should have made the background blue instead of white. Thanks for any help.
Jim,
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I have used these on all the layouts I have built.
Since I currently do not have a layout, I am using them as props for model train photography.
They are easy to use. I secure them with wallpaper paste. Cut them out carefully and then use a fine tipped black marker to color in the white line along the edge.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
They are easier to cut out than you might think. More importantly, they seem to have a cool vintage matte painting effect in steam/transition era layouts—like those old movies, the painted backgrounds aren’t photographic, but they have some weird sort of charm.
While I prefer the Kingmill background flats....
....(unfortunately discontinued), I've found that a utility knife with a fresh blade, along with a good straightedge, gives the most consistent results.I prefer to do the cutting on a hard surface (glass), as it doesn't allow the material to deflect, ensuring that the cuts remain true. Others may prefer a cutting mat.
Wayne
Box cutter is overkill. Use a hobby knife (aka Xacto knife) with a fresh blade. The Walthers backgrounds are on a good quality thick paper stock, but it is, in the end, paper.
SeeYou190 Jim, . I have used these on all the layouts I have built. . Since I currently do not have a layout, I am using them as props for model train photography. . They are easy to use. I secure them with wallpaper paste. Cut them out carefully and then use a fine tipped black marker to color in the white line along the edge. . . -Kevin .
Wonder what sort of variety they have,...or others? I could use something like a selection of these for my 'Baltimore City' backdrop.
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
DrumguyBox cutter is overkill.
Hi Drumguy,
I don't believe that Wayne meant to imply that you absolutely need a utility knife to cut the backgrounds. That is simply his tool of choice, as it is for most of his tasks where we would use a #11 blade. I don't think we can argue with his results (I know it was not your intent to do so).
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Wayne could probably do more with a rusty box cutter and a sledge hammer than I could do with a laser scalpel and military grade CNC machine.
DrumguyWayne could probably do more with a rusty box cutter and a sledge hammer than I could do with a laser scalpel and military grade CNC machine
Yeah, no kidding. Wayne's work is both inspiring and intimidating.
If I accomplish half of what he has done I will be amazed.
Thanks for the kind words, guys, but the utility knife is my choice for long cuts and repetitive ones mainly because it's less likely for me to accidentally twist it, as I am sometimes wont to do with an X-Acto round-handled knife. For long cuts on thick material such as sheet styrene, it allows better control to keep the cut vertical.The other plus is that the blades are much cheaper and can be more easily re-sharpened than the most-usually available X-Acto ones, which are stainless steel.
I do, however, use my X-Actos for all sorts of stuff, sometimes having little to do with cutting.As you can see, there are currently six X-Actos available, along with the older-style cast-metal utilty knife - at just under half a pound, it's a very comfortable handle to use, whether cutting .060" sheet plastic on the layout room floor, or trimming excess film from decals prior to wetting them. The latter is done on the glass work surface, in a very precise chopping manner....
The right tool for the job is the one which works best for the user, even though it might not be the normal choice for a particular task. For example, when I have a lot of #79 holes to drill, I've found that my impact driver is as accurate as a pin vise, but much faster and way easier on the fingers, too.
The Background Buildings are part of the Walthers SceneMaster Instant Horizons series. There are four styles available: Main Street Stores, Back Street Structures, Industrial District and Old West Frontier. They are thick paper, almost thin cardboard in texture, and are easy to cut and trim with an Xacto knife. The coloring makes them a bit cartoonish in appearance, but they can work with a little imagination.
The Walthers SceneMaster Instant Horizons series also produces a number of Background Scenes, seven in all, including Hotel/Business which is a generic set of large downtown buildings and skyscrapers. Background Scenes are produced on durable paper, though thinner than the Background Buildings series. The coloring is more believable than the Background Buildings series.
The Background Buildings are larger structures in appearance than the Hotel/Business structures, so what I did was to use the Background Buildings in the foreground and cut and paste the Hotel/Business structures in the background.
Rich
Alton Junction
So, I picked up a variety of these sets recently. Before thinking everything through (like I am sadly wont to do all to frequently) I mounted them all to the backdrop. They are most certainly an improvement but the surreal comic book look doesn't really blend in well with my other buildings. I am contemplating adding a wash of some type to darken them some. I used some Vallejo black shade wash on a extra piece and it is an improvement but I would most appreciate any other suggestions.