I've used this material very successfully for my curved backdrop on the layout. I used a j-channel to support it at the top, making installation extremely fast and easy. Once installed, we painted it blue with a subtle lightening at the horizon.
Greg Shindledecker Modeling the =WM= Thomas Sub in the mid-70s
I have used 24" x 50' aluminum coil stock for many years with no issues. It's top mounted in a plastic strip made specifically for aluminum sheet metal used in roofing applications. You will also need a crimper and a good metal cutter. Check with your local dealer or large roofing wholesale supply... Reynolds or Noranda are two. The sheet stock can be painted with any latex paint. I use white at the bottom horizon and blend darker blues toward the top. REL
Ed,
I've had no issues with my NCE wireless throttles or using the wifi WiThrottle program via JMRI interface. I think both operate in differfent frequency ranges than the Digitrax system, but not sure.
Here's a couple of pics of my install a few years back.
After some scenery and paint...
I didn't take it all the way to the top for several reasons generally irrelevant other than to using the stuff in my basement, but you can easily do that.
Lots more pics of my backdrop going up on the Cascade extension here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/219241.aspx?page=1
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
gmpullmanIf you use wireless throttles you may find that the aluminum "barrier" will be impenetrable by the radio signals, especially the weaker 2.4 Ghz bands.
I've operated on multiple layouts with aluminum roll backdrops, no problems with wireless NCE DCC.
True, that is in the 900 MHz frequency band, so likely better than some others at 2.4G. Also, often a good idea to mount transceiver on ceiling (or at least high). Humans (water-filled bags) absorb RF really well, placing transceiver high helps.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
One word of caution:
If you use wireless throttles you may find that the aluminum "barrier" will be impenetrable by the radio signals, especially the weaker 2.4 Ghz bands.
My Digitrax duplex system has trouble "seeing" through 1/2" drywall! I can't imagine the restrictions a sheet of aluminum would cause.
On the other hand, it may act as a ground plane and actually help the signal?
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks to both of you I'll check these articles out.
A number of folks have used it successfully.
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/sr201202_alumback.pdf
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/174496.aspx
Google search "aluminum roll backdrop railroad"
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Has anyone tried aluminum roll flashing (sometimes called coil stock) for backdrop? The thought is one could buy the 24 " high x 50 foot white painted roll, there would be no seams up to 50 ft unlike masonite that does every 8ft, it would be self supporting, could be curved in corners, then paint backdrop on that. Would it be rigid enough (attached at bottom to benchwork)? Would it unroll flat enough? Would it take latex sky blue paint ?