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Backdrop blend on a small layout

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  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Backdrop blend on a small layout
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Monday, October 10, 2022 10:47 AM

Hello, 

As some people know, I am attempting to crate and build an N scale table layout in the Idaho mountains. as I am building tall mountains, I have come up with the question of: How do I blend the backdrop with a layout so small? if I find enough space in our in-progress barndominium, I may be running with a 110" x 80" layout instead of my currently planned 80"x30".

Thanks!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, October 10, 2022 10:50 AM

I am a big fan of cutting trees into half profile, and gluing them to the backdrop.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

That whole scene is less than one inch in depth. Any kind of built-up ground cover can work.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Monday, October 10, 2022 1:10 PM

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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    February 2008
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Posted by kasskaboose on Monday, October 10, 2022 1:59 PM

My layout is uses the rolling hills of Virginia.  I depict them with extra foam sheets that I carve out with a drywall saw.  Another idea is using similar with broken ceiling tile stacked together.  Hope that helps.

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
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Posted by hornblower on Monday, October 10, 2022 3:56 PM

Assuming you plan to have hills on the backdrop, a very relistic looking transition is to place 3D hills in front of the backdrop with steep drop-offs on the backdrop sides of these hills.  The resulting gap between the tops of the 3D hills and taller 2D hills painted on the backdrop give a pretty good illusion of greater depth.  Trees and shrubs planted on the steep drop-off side of the 3D hills further enhance this illusion.

Hornblower

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Monday, October 10, 2022 5:00 PM

hornblower

Assuming you plan to have hills on the backdrop, a very relistic looking transition is to place 3D hills in front of the backdrop with steep drop-offs on the backdrop sides of these hills.  The resulting gap between the tops of the 3D hills and taller 2D hills painted on the backdrop give a pretty good illusion of greater depth.  Trees and shrubs planted on the steep drop-off side of the 3D hills further enhance this illusion.

 

So, for clarification, have a gap between the modeled hills and the backdrop with trees on the backdrop?

  • Member since
    October 2020
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Posted by NorthBrit on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 4:27 AM

Hi there. 

My layout is 11ft x 8ft  (give an inch or two).

Here is a picture of my country section.  Beyond the fence  behind the train is backscene.   It is a painted hills  scene,  then pictures of trees and bushes collected from old magazines etc.  made into a collage.

 

 IMG_1969 by David Harrison, on Flickr

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
  • 5,449 posts
Posted by mobilman44 on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 5:01 AM

Hi,

My "go to" method was to put in stands of trees or shrubs where the horizontal layout meets the vertical backdrop.  This was always a countryside situation vs. a town or city.

If I were to by trying to blend an area of structures against the backdrop, I think using some of the many "flats" would work.  If the distance was far enough, perhaps flats in a smaller scale would look good as well.

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Thursday, October 13, 2022 12:29 PM

OERRFailRanner
So, for clarification, have a gap between the modeled hills and the backdrop with trees on the backdrop?

 

Exactly! This gives you a 3D ridgeline in front of your backdrop. The gap doesn't need to be very deep, no more than an inch or so.

Hornblower

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • From: Idaho
  • 35 posts
Posted by OERRFailRanner on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 10:37 AM

hornblower

 

 
OERRFailRanner
So, for clarification, have a gap between the modeled hills and the backdrop with trees on the backdrop?

 

 

 

Exactly! This gives you a 3D ridgeline in front of your backdrop. The gap doesn't need to be very deep, no more than an inch or so.

 

Thank you! I do remember seeing something like this for a city blend, but i have always wondered what to do on a mountain in th country. Thank you again!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 10:48 AM

NorthBrit
 It is a painted hills  scene,  then pictures of trees and bushes collected from old magazines etc.  made into a collage.

I have seen this done on other layouts, but never as effectively as you have accomplished.

Bow

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 3,604 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 7:50 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
NorthBrit
 It is a painted hills  scene,  then pictures of trees and bushes collected from old magazines etc.  made into a collage.

 

I have seen this done on other layouts, but never as effectively as you have accomplished.

Bow

-Kevin

 

 
 
Thanks Kevin.   Really a trial and a lot of errors.
 
 
Here is a warehouse scene done the same way.   Beyobd the platform is a collage of warehouses.
 
 
 
 
David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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