Paul:
You mentioned using "store fronts" along a section of the backdrop. My suggestion would be to consider using store "backs" in the first row instead because there isn't much space to model the roads or sidewalks that the store fronts would normally face on to. That might also be more in keeping with any industrial buildings in the backdrop because their loading docks would be on their back walls as well.
For the second row of structures you could indeed use actual molded store fronts impling that there is an unseen street running between the first and second rows of structures. You could even leave a small space between two of the store "backs" to allow you to see a partial view of a car or truck (in low relief profile) theoretically driving down the street. Maybe you could even squeeze in an operating traffic light or a street lamp.
You said that you have 1 7/8" available space. By my rough calculations you could build the first row 3/4" - 1" deep, leave 1/2" open for the theoretical street, and then have 1/4" left for the second row storefronts, with whatever printed scene you want on the actual backdrop.
Another possibility to explore would be to use N scale storefronts for the second row to give a bit of forced perspective. Some people don't agree with this approach so I would suggest using printed mock ups to see if it looks acceptable or not. I bought a bunch of N scale Walthers Modulars to build the tops of three background 'skyscrapers' which will sit behind the first row of HO background buildings. The windows on the N scale walls are fairly large and the structures themselves are on the large side so when I did a test mock up they blended in well with the HO City Classics buildings in front of them. The concept might not work as well with smaller windows on the N scale walls.
You don't have a lot of vertical space to work with but I think three rows is possible.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks, Elmer, I had overlooked Scenic Express. I also came across the existence of Model Tech Studios 3D background items when looking through the MBKlein site. Their deeper (1-2") items look like a good alternative to the Cornerstone items. Not sure the two types would mix well as the Cornerstones are precisely detailed (e.g., brick) and the MTs deeper items look a bit more rustic / rough (like lasercut). Not sure I understand what the "thin" MTS items are...they just look like black sillouettes. I need to study the details more or talk with them.
http://modeltechstudios.com/hoscale3-dbackgroundscenesandstructures.aspx
But I think I can come up with a multi-layer approach with my sky as the back layer, Instant Horizons and/or Scenic Express printed background detail items as the next forward (need not be everywhere), Cornerstone/MTS items in front and yet-to-be determined thin flats as the 2nd layer (from the front) in some places.
Any other hints are welcome! Thanks again to all.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Yes, I use a sharp x-acto knife with a #11 blade to cut the sky off of paper backdrops. Take your time and don't try to do it all in one sitting if you are cutting around trees and lots of detail. Sometimes I just cut some details off because they won't be noticed and would look funny due to their location on the paper. Sometimes I leave the 'smoke' on also and cut around it. Sometimes I will cut a building in half if I am going to hide part of it with a relief structure.
I also use backgrounds from Scenic Express.
http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1100
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Thanks for all comments. I've sepent some time today constructing some paper Cornerstone background building shells. The photos below show these and some (Smalltown USA) store fronts (from across the next street, behind the track buildings).
Gandydancer, I take it that you successfully can cut out (with an Xacto knife?) the structure images from the Instant Horizons background and glue them to your background. That would greatly reduce my concerns as I believe I can handle the image interfaces, the sky interfaces between sections concerned me most. Are there other background scene sturcture images to consider as alternatives to the Instant Horizons 949-711, 712 & 713? Are your other structure images hand painted or from another supplier? Can folks make suggestions for what else might be used for "flats" that can be used to represent the middle layer between the trackside background buildings and the truly flat ("distant") structure images glued to the background. I kinda hate buying whole kits just to get the needed front! SO far, I've found some DPM, Lunde Studios, Kingmill Enterprises and GCLaser items. Please advise on others. I appreciate all the help in developing a plan! EDIT: I can't figure out why my text paragraphs below a photo link is underlined and made part of the above photo link. I'm ensuring a space between the photo link and paragraph below. I'm stumped!
Gandydancer, I take it that you successfully can cut out (with an Xacto knife?) the structure images from the Instant Horizons background and glue them to your background. That would greatly reduce my concerns as I believe I can handle the image interfaces, the sky interfaces between sections concerned me most.
Are there other background scene sturcture images to consider as alternatives to the Instant Horizons 949-711, 712 & 713? Are your other structure images hand painted or from another supplier?
Can folks make suggestions for what else might be used for "flats" that can be used to represent the middle layer between the trackside background buildings and the truly flat ("distant") structure images glued to the background. I kinda hate buying whole kits just to get the needed front! SO far, I've found some DPM, Lunde Studios, Kingmill Enterprises and GCLaser items. Please advise on others.
I appreciate all the help in developing a plan!
EDIT: I can't figure out why my text paragraphs below a photo link is underlined and made part of the above photo link. I'm ensuring a space between the photo link and paragraph below. I'm stumped!
I painted the whole wall as a sky scene, which I'm happy with. In the past 2 years they have come out with LED strip lighting that changes colour, so after thinking about it I decided to pull the layout away from the wall (all 24') and will lay the LED lights in between the layout and wall. I'll use this to simulate night, twilight and dusk/dawn.
BTW I like your back drop as it has nice colouring, which gives a nice effect.
Fergie
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
On a small layout like yours, I would use the Walthers Instant Horizons scenes. I also use them in various selected places on my room size layout. I paint my sky back drop color to match fairly close to the same sky color they use. Then I cut the sky from all the scenes and glue them to the painted backdrop. If you can remove your backdrop from the layout it would make things easier. You should mark lightly in pencil where you want the bottom of the scene to be.
You will have a seam between each one. To hide my seams, I use either a group of trees or a building close to the backdrop.
I use 3M 77 spray adhesive on the back of the scenes and spray it heavily out doors. Then I bring it in and put it on the backdrop. (I do not spray the backdrop.) These scenes will be the distant background. Then in front of them you can put building flats and low releif structures.
The link below will take you to sets of photos (albums) as I am building my layout. You should be able to find some photos of my different backgrounds if you want to look.
http://picasaweb.google.com/104096518001579642033/?gsessionid=hHNQG6N3t2WnSMOmmTEq8w
My Dad is doing something similar with his 4x8 layout, currently painting the cornerstone background structures that you mention while an artist friend is painting his backdrop. And we had a good discussion on how to merge everything together when I visited over the holidays. I think the cornerstone buildings should work well against your sky. The only question is how well the Horizons backgrounds would layer behind the buildings (not familiar with the Horizons backgrounds.)
I spent some time the last couple of months working on blending my layout to my new backdrop. And happliy surprised by how well some areas are turning out and not-so-happily surprised by other areas. Unless you have an artist's eye or maybe a lot of experience its hard to predict the results. I would start with some of the cornerstone buildings and just place them where you think they should go. Then experiment with printed photos of buildings similar to the Horizons backgrounds that you mention to see if you like the general effect, and go from there. I wouldn't tie anything down permanently until you are satisfied though.
By the way I enjoyed going through all your layout photos in Photobucket. Looks like a very workable figure-8 style layout and very neatly built.
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/
Apologies for not putting this in the Layout area. I was too focused on the content.
I posted my prior note before you had finished the original message as there was only 1 image at the time. I need to look up the specific items you mentioned and ponder about this a bit.
I was hoping the moderate height Walthers background structures that are only 4-8" high would allow doing this with the existing 14" high masonite backdrop. Intention would be some remaining sky color at the top.
So are you wanting to raise it higher, make it something other than a "sky" color, or both?
I'd like to get some advice on the feasibility of a (currently sketchy) background plan aroung the sides and back of my 5-1/2 x 10-1/2 ft HO layout. There's a 14" high masonite backdrop along those sides, with a 2nd base layer of varying sky blue shades.
I've read a number of threads that have helped me narrow down some preferences. There's 1-7/8" useable clearance along the back stretch of track (shoulda made it bigger). What I would like to do is use thin background railside structures (like the Cornerstone ones) along the back stretch, with perhaps a 1/8" second layer of "structures" (photos on masonite?), behind which perhaps apply additional structure images using the Walthers Scenemaster Instant Horizons Hotels/Business 36" wide item (or something similar, or individual building images. Behind that would be the sky. Similarly, I'd like to use the Instant Horizons Docks behind the left corner refinery and perhaps the Rail Yards item in the back right corner (with buildings in front of it. Where I'm really confused is whether all this can be integrated effectively. For instance, should I attempt to cut out the Instant Horizons structure images and apply them to my sky background? If not, don't the different Instant Horizons backgrounds have non-similar sky interfaces at their left and right edges (except the landscape ones that have transition scenes, but I don't want to use them. EDIT: I'm assuming the sky variations are too significant to put different Instant Horizons items next to each other as the catalog colors look significantly different such that placing many next to another will have an objectionable transition. http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/949-712 I'm not inclined to order a custom single photo backdrop but won't rule that out at this point. So my questions include: a) can the items described above be integrated effectively? b) what is suggested for the 2nd structure "layer" (building photos??) c) Ditto the 3rd structure images (if not the Instant Horizons) applied directly to the backdrop Thanks for any advice offerred.
I've read a number of threads that have helped me narrow down some preferences. There's 1-7/8" useable clearance along the back stretch of track (shoulda made it bigger). What I would like to do is use thin background railside structures (like the Cornerstone ones) along the back stretch, with perhaps a 1/8" second layer of "structures" (photos on masonite?), behind which perhaps apply additional structure images using the Walthers Scenemaster Instant Horizons Hotels/Business 36" wide item (or something similar, or individual building images. Behind that would be the sky. Similarly, I'd like to use the Instant Horizons Docks behind the left corner refinery and perhaps the Rail Yards item in the back right corner (with buildings in front of it. Where I'm really confused is whether all this can be integrated effectively. For instance, should I attempt to cut out the Instant Horizons structure images and apply them to my sky background? If not, don't the different Instant Horizons backgrounds have non-similar sky interfaces at their left and right edges (except the landscape ones that have transition scenes, but I don't want to use them.
EDIT: I'm assuming the sky variations are too significant to put different Instant Horizons items next to each other as the catalog colors look significantly different such that placing many next to another will have an objectionable transition.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/949-712
I'm not inclined to order a custom single photo backdrop but won't rule that out at this point. So my questions include:
a) can the items described above be integrated effectively?
b) what is suggested for the 2nd structure "layer" (building photos??)
c) Ditto the 3rd structure images (if not the Instant Horizons) applied directly to the backdrop
Thanks for any advice offerred.