Bending Backdrops Around Corners

[Anonymous]

Help! I am ready to make a backdrop for my railroad, but don't know how to bend masonite (or tempered hardboard) around a corner. I went looking for styrene sheet instead, but couldn't find a supplier.

Do you have to "wet" the masonite first? Do you make curved forms, lots of them, and screw it tightly every few inches? I am trying to achieve a 22 inch radius with a 30 inch hig backdrop.

Can you advise me?

Jim Hunt
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Can't help you with masonite bending but United States Plastic has large sheets of styrene at good prices. This is where I'm going to be ordering my backdrop styrene:

http://www.usplastic.com

-Click on Sheet , Rod, Shapes on left side
- Click on Styrene
- Click on High Impact Styrene Sheet

Wayne

[Tim_Seawel]

Bending 1/8th in Hardboard couldn't be easier. Rip the 4X8 sheet to 30inches. Also cut a peice of plywood, possibly roadbed, to the curve radius you want the backdrop to conform to and use that as a guide to bend it around. Secure the backdrop 18inches from corner of the benchwork and every 18 inches on out to the end of piece of hardboard using vertical 1x2's and wood screws and countersink the woodscrews to later be filled in with sheet rock mud. Fill and tape the joints as you wood a plaster board(sheet rock) wall.


Hope this helps

Tim