Layouts and layout building

 I am not sure, how high a backdrop should be. Layout height is 54" above floor, the tallest building abou 8" high. I was figuring on something like 18 - 20" - is that enough?

Layout is to be viewed and operated by people ranging  from app. 5´ 4" to 6´4".

Ulrich,

  That can vary depending on the layout height!  My 'benchwork is 45" at the top of the joists, and the backdrop rises 24" above that.  The actual track is anywhere from 48" to 54"...  I made the backdrop from 24" wide strips of 1/8" Masonite and it wraps 51' around the layout room.

Jim Bernier

 Jim,

the track is on a uniform 54" height, maximum depth of the layout is 30" . It is planned to have some sort of a valance above the layout which "houses" the lighting. 24" seems a lot...

Hi!

I have recent experience with the topic, so for what its worth, here it is...........

I'm  building a "replacement" layout for an 11x15 room filling HO pike that lasted 14 years.  The original layout had a 24 inch painted backdrop which extended about 22 inches or so above the main level benchwork.  The walls/ceiling above the backdrop were painted white.  The overall effect looked great, and got a lot of positive comments.  However (there is always a "however"), there were times I wished it were higher, especially when taking pictures. 

Soooo, on the new layout, I opted for a 30 inch backdrop (with about 29 inches above main level benchwork), and that seems to work out pretty well so far.

ENJOY,

Mobilman44

I agree, for imaging you will want about as much height in your backdrop as you can get, and the minimum ought to be about 24".  For example, if you want to image your yard from one end so that several parallel tracks show the impressive distance down them, you are likely to show the top of the backdrop if it is less than 24".  You would have to crop your image to make the top of the backdrop "disappear".  

Ulrich, if you have the room, go high.  Anything higher than about 18-22" is likely to be just a plain sky blue anyway, so a roller would have it done in seconds.

-Crandell

I used Masonite panels cut in three 16" strips for my background.  I needed the wall space above the layout for a number of railroad paintings.  I have been satisfied with the 16" height.

 I used 36 inch light blue craft paper for my backdrop.  So allowing for a 3 to 6 inch drop below the layout top, my backdrop is 30ish inches tall.

Nick

The top should be at least several inches above eye level unless access over the backdrop is needed.  It should be high enough so when viewing the layout (particularly during operations) a person isn't distracted by an absence of sufficient backdrop.  I'd suggest trying some mockups before making a final decision on the exact height.

Mark

I used an acrylic sheet called Optix by Plaskolite, Inc.  This comes in 4' x 8' sheets, and is available through a plastics distributor (I looked in the yellow pages under "plastic").  I think its 3/32" thick.  This bends very nicely around the corners and is very smooth - no need for sealer paint as on masonite.  I had the distributor rip the sheets for me...   3 eight-foot lengths of 16" high backdrop out of one sheet that way for economy.     For me, with the track height at "breastbone height", this 16" works fine.

Bill

My track height is 56" and I used a backdrop board that is 24" above track height.  It was cut from 4' x 8' sheets of 1/8" hardboard.  The hardboard was mounted on a 1" x 2" frame attached to the wall as described in Jeff Wilson's book on benchwork construction (Kalmbach).  The wall above the backdrop board, up to the ceiling, was painted the same color of blue that the upper portion of the backdrop board will be painted.  The backdrop board that runs down the center of a peninsula in the center of the room is 30" high to block the operator's view of the layout lights on the other side of the peninsula, but still leave enough space between the top of the backdrop board and the drop ceiling for air circulation.  The balance of the hardboard sheets remaining after the 30" boards were cut from it will be used for the fascia.  I primed both sides of the backdrop boards to seal out moisture.  One coat on the back side and two coats on the front to cover the brown color of the hardboard.

Bob 

Nick

Where did you get this craft paper from? Is it continous or in sheets? And how did you put it up?

thanks, Jack

I use foam core, which comes in 30"x40" sheets.  I glue them to dowels, which fit in brackets on the benchwork (so that I can remove them to fix derailments or scenery problems at the back of the layout.

Because these rest on the edge of the benchwork, some scenery extends up over the backdrop, it gives me roughly 24 - 28" above the scenery in most places. 

Here you see how tall I made this backdrop. It is made of Linoleum carpet spiked to 1"x 2" framing.

It´s not easy to judge the height if you don´t have some references. I´m 6´8" and on this pic I´m standing on a beer-crate .

Jackh:

Nick

Where did you get this craft paper from? Is it continous or in sheets? And how did you put it up?

thanks, Jack

Jack,

 I picked it up at Staples.   It's a continuous roll, but I forget how long it is.  I use thumb tacks at the top to hold it up.