I use half-inch extruded foam (the pink stuff). Great for dividers and straight lengths and you can glue it right to the wall or the back of a vertically thick module. But it can't handle curves lke vinyl, etc.
One more cheap option.
Home Depot has a standard El Cheapo wall panel (ugly whitish wood color) that costs about $5.00 a panel. Because it's cheap, it's thin and flexible and curves around corners beautifully. You mount it back side forward, of course.
If you'd like to see how it looks, I just put up a new web page showing my progress on my new N scale layout.
http://www.ironpeng.com/nscalelayout/nscalemain.html
Oh, did I mention it was cheap?
Mike Tennent
To all those who replied to my questions, thank you for the information. I'll be looking into the various options.
Bob
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
RFinch wrote:To CSXFan: I'll be very interested in how this works for you, especially with regard to it's ability to take and hold water-based paints and its structural stability, i.e., how it must be supported, etc.. Can you give us a website for the supplier. What was the cost of the 30' x 20" roll? Is it available in widths wider than 20"? I was planning to use 1/8" Masonite cut to 24" width for my backdrop. This would result in seams at least every 8'. 30' without a seam would be a very attractive feature. Let us know your experience with this material. Bob
To CSXFan:
I'll be very interested in how this works for you, especially with regard to it's ability to take and hold water-based paints and its structural stability, i.e., how it must be supported, etc.. Can you give us a website for the supplier. What was the cost of the 30' x 20" roll? Is it available in widths wider than 20"? I was planning to use 1/8" Masonite cut to 24" width for my backdrop. This would result in seams at least every 8'. 30' without a seam would be a very attractive feature. Let us know your experience with this material.
The 30' by 20" roll (white) is $29.86. There are many different widths to choose from and they all come in 30' or 50' tan or white rolls. The widths vary from 10" to 24” Here is a link to the website I ordered it from. http://www.diyhomecenter.com/products/building_supplies/flashing/duraflash/duraflash.aspx One of the main reasons I choose roll stock vinyl flashing was because I wouldn't have to worry about hiding seams. I will let you know how it goes, though it may be a while.
To Hal:
How much was the 8' x 10' sheet? Was the your local plastics dealer an independent store or part of a chain. I'm in the Martinsburg, WV area and have not found a plastics dealer in our area. Perhaps there's one closer to Baltimore or Washington, DC.
Have you ever had a problem with the joints between adjacent pieces of your Masonite cracking over time when you don't use tape on the joints?
I'm going to use 20" vinyl flashing for my backdrop. I ordered a 30' roll of it last week so it should be coming in soon. Its made out of a material like PVC so it should be easy to work with and paint. I choose this because it was a lot less expensive than styrene, masonite or anything else I could find. I ordered it from DIY home center (free shipping and no tax, unlike Home Depot) In a few days I'll tell you how it goes.
Material for backdrops has been the subject of several recent threads in this forum. I'm sure you'll be getting feedback on your question. What thickness Masonite (hardboard) are you trying to use. The usual thickness for use in backdrops requiring bends is 1/8". I think I remember reading in this forum that you can get it down to approximately a 12" radius without a problem if it's properly suppported. With regard to it not taking paint very well. I'd not heard this, but perhaps it will need a prime coat before you add the painted scene.
Other materials people have reported using, in addition to the bathtub enclosure liner mentioned by MisterBeasley, are rolled aluminum flashing (18" wide?) and long strips of vinyl plastic sheet. You might want to check Dave Frary's book entitled, "How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery", 3rd. Edition, pp. 98-111 for additonal materials, ideas and methods for doing backdrops and background scenery.
I'm going to be starting a new layout soon and have similar questions about what is best to use for backdrop material.
For weight and ease of use, 1/4-inch foam board is nice. I just got a couple of pieces at a craft supply place for a couple of dollars. However, it doesn't bend well either. You might try some heavyweight poster paper, a little thicker than cardstock, just to go around the corners.. (A long time ago we used to call it "oaktag," but I don't know if that was a real name or something the kids made up.)
If you need something more solid, go to Home Depot and buy a sheet of bathtub enclosure liner. A 4x8 foot sheet will cost under $10. Your choice of decorator colors. (No, Martha Stuart's choice of decorator colors, actually.) I use the white stuff for making control panels.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
What is the best material anyone has used for backdrop creation. I'm in the process of re-doing our layout and I'm rethinking about using masonite (or is that hardboard, the brownstuff) again. Not exactly very flexible especially in very tight corners. Didnt seem to take paint very well either. Very fiberous. Formica counter top material is very expensive and hard to cut. Any thoughts out there?
(ps purchase location?)
New to this forum. Please excuse