Backdrops on the Newberry-Columbia Line, SC

[robert sylvester]

That is a great scene, the depth and detail is wonderful. I plan on building a new layout when I can in a building 20X30 which will have larger yards and city scpes like you have. You have really set a goal for me. Currently the layout is only 12X12.

Thanks,Robert Sylvester

Newberry-Columbia, SC

[mbinsewi]

Nice work Robert.  I did something similar, but I used the actual DPM building fronts I had in my "left over" box,  along with some kit bashing with Walter's modular parts.

The off-white colored building and the deep red with green trim building, at the far left, (across the street) are just flats.

I love Evans Designs, as I buy most of my LED's from them.

Mike.

[robert sylvester]

I was trying to think of a way to place flats against my blue foam core backdrop just to give my towns some depth. I know I could use DPM building front as well as other styrene facings but I wanted some variety. I came upon Evans Designs which produces all sorts of lighting, detail stuff and printable buildings. It also has a program, simple to use by the way, where you can design your own different buildings. 

You can build the buildings after you print them out, I use photo paper because it is stronger, and for background buildings not bad. I then realized I could also design fronts of different industrial buildings and maybe place them on the layout as flats.

 

Like this picture above.

 

I did recently read an article on this very subject but I had already disigned this concept before seeing the article. I cut Gator Board to fit the picture, covered one side of the Gator Board with full strength white glue let it get tacky then pressed the picture to the surface of the glue then I placed weights on the picture for a day or two and let it dry real good, no warping or wrinkles.

I then cut some small squares of double sided 3M tape, attached it to the back of the Gator Board then placed it on the backdrop. By the way I printed the pictures on photo paper, better strength, but not on the shiny side but the back side of the paper, it's dull, so the picture looks better.

I even found some pictures of buildings on the web; one sight is the Illinois historical society page where they have different pictures of the building from Abraham Lincolns' home town, and they are still standing today and they were free.

I think they make pretty good flats and backdrops and they were cheap and easy to do.

Thanks,

Robert Sylvester

Newberry-Columbia Line, SC