What is a good distance from a backdrop to your first track. I am planning on putting a mainline about 4" from the backdrop with a siding in front of that. Is 4" to close, or can I go closer yet? Will it look OK at that distance? The closer I can get will allow me to use bigger curves.
Thanks
Ron
It depends on what you want to do between the backdrop and the track.
If you just need room for the train to pass, 3 inches will work. If you want to install some backdrop buildings you should test fit.
If you want to put rising terrain, then you might need more or less.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
It also depends upon the objects in the backdrop and the scale. 4" is fine in N or HO but probably the minimum in O. Also, it depends upon the lighting. If you have overhead lights (track lights, for example) that are pointed more or less directly towards the backdrop you have to be careful of shadows of the train on the backdrop, unless you are going to blend some vertical scenery into the backdrop. I find that the backdrop should begin about an inch or two above the line of the tops of a passing train with scenery rising to the backdrop behind the track.
Jim
I should also mention I model HO scale, benchwork is at 42" from floor and approx. 12" wide at this location. Prairie scenery, few hills some clumps of trees.
Thanks again
I generally like to put something on the layout near the backdrop that would disguise the transition crack from layout to backdrop. Like a wood fence or shallow hills, or something like that. Even a row of low bushes, small trees, or building flats. So whatever I have figured out to use determines how close the track can be. So based on that, four inches should be adequate.
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.
In HO 4" should be plenty of room. Walther's background building flats are about 2" (or less) wide, they're designed to have the backdrop on one side of the building and railroad track serving the industry on the other side.
Plant No. 4
Lauston Shipping
Centennial Mills
cncarinspector wrote:I should also mention I model HO scale, benchwork is at 42" from floor and approx. 12" wide at this location. Prairie scenery, few hills some clumps of trees. Thanks againRon
Given your situation (12" deep benchwork) I think the 4" ought to be ok.
Aesthetically, if it's possible I'd recommend doing 4' of mock-up before committing. At 42" high the joint between foreground and background may be very apparent. Actually joining the backdrop to the foreground unobtrusively is one of the major problems. Being able to see what this will look like may help you decide.
However mechanically, your trains will run fine if they're as close as 1.5" from the backdrop (assuming the backdrop is flat - nothing protruding from it like building flats - and you have gentle curves leading the track up to the backdrop so long equipment doesn't try to chisel away the backdrop with their grab irons).
Good luck,
Charlie Comstock