Has anyone used the white presentation cardboard as a backdrop. My son uses them for presentations of science fair projects etc and can be purchased at Staples and Walmart. I am thinking of using them, cut to fit and attaching them to my sheetrock wall with double sided tape or something similar. I can not attach it to the wall with screws etc. My wife would have fit. So it has to be lightweight. When I built the benchwork, I didn't leave a way to attach the backdrop to the back. I am too far into it money wise to redo it. I have decided this the next project while I can easily reach the back of the layout. I have two walls, One has a window in the middle that won't be covered, need the access. The other wall is 8 feet long. What is a good way to 'splice' the pieces of cardboard. I plan to paint it Carolina Blue (Tarheel fan) to simulate the sky and might try my hand at some clouds.
Does anyone have a better idea, masonite just won't work. I would rather have to replace the tape over time than permanently attach it. I don't want to fight that battle. Also, how high should it be? I plan a few low hills but no massive mountains, maybe a ridge along the back wall hiding part of the track.
Linoleum is an option used for backdrops. The plain backside is the surface used to paint the backdrop.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Well you can use foam core board which is available in most craft stores it's intended use is for mounting photographs etc. but now you will still have seams to contend with. By mounting your backdrop with double sided tape or Velcro or any other such method I would be concerned with it coming loose over time and falling onto the layout or wrinkling up etc. I would opt for the Masonite and attache photographic backdrops to it using spray glue or someone suggested to me wallpaper paste. Tell the wife to relax and not worry about the holes in the wall. If by chance you ever have to repaint the room a little quick dry spackle and the holes are gone. I have to do it everytime I paint a room in my house no matter what the room is used for. you get cracks here and there and nail holes from hanging pictures etc. It's just frustrating to spend time and money on your back drop and have it come loose after a few weeks.
Don't quote me on this as being fact but I heard the height of a backdrop should be around 18". If you look back a couple of issues MR had a cover story on adding a backdrop to your existing layout. Nice article with lots of good ideas and information.
I went to Staples today and found some project board that is 20" wide by 30" long. It is very lightweight, fairly rigid and designed to be painted and mounted to walls and is dirt cheap. Six dollars for 3 sheets. I am going to try some Elmers putty (new product I've never seen before) that is designed to hang pictures on drywall with flat head tacks pushed thru to hold it. They can be painted also. Not sure if this will work and I still don't know about the splicing, maybe drywall tape with filler and painted. Decided it was worth a try and if it doesn't work, I only have about 20 dollars in it. What i bought won't cover it all,but is enough for a good test.
If this doesn't work I will try the linoleum idea as I have quite a bit left over from remodeling our bathroom
Interesting this should come up - I just bought a bunch of the 20x30 foamcore boards at WalMart. One long section of my layout is against a sloping ceiling. Far in the back I have 2 staging tracks, then I want to put a removable backdrop to hide the staging. I measured the clearance - if I cut the 20x30 boards into 3 equal sections 30" long, it will be the exact height. My plan is to put some small blocks of wood along the staging tracks and attach some of that magnet tape to them and to the back of the foamcore. I may use the boards full height, or possibly cut in half, with blocks along the back edge of the layout to provide the remaining backdrops. I don't want to attach anything permanently to the benchwork since I designed it to be taken apart in sections small enough to fit through doors in case I need to move again.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I think it should work. You may be able to see a little of the seam, but if you can put some eyecatching area near it, it will draw the attention away.
As for height, I always think it should at least be above eye level to block your view. If you are against a wall of the same color, just enough to get your hills and a little sky above them.
Good luck,
I did about half of the layout tonight and painted the backdrop with some sample paint from Lowes for only a dollar. I really like how it looks, the color is perfect. I turned the sheets sideways so they are 20" tall and 30" long. I have used the putty and thumbtacks to hold it into place. Time will tell if it stays. If it doesn't I have some dry wall screws that will go in and be painted before the wife sees it. Hopefully she will never notice. This board is coated so the paint went on very well with only one coat. Next up, my 12 yr old artist is going to draw some clouds on it so it will have his stamp. If I put the boards tight together, the seam is not that noticeable. Its close enough I can live with it for now.
I used 1x2s as furring strips attached to the walls with hollow wall anchors-- such as used to hang pictures. When the assembly needs to be removed, just leaves a few neat fixtures that can be plastered over if needed. Or kept to hang pictures and knick-knacks
Then styrene plastic sheet with painted background is tacked to furring strips. I hung a piece of background right across a window hanging on nailheads on the furring strip. It can be easily lifted out of place when the window needs to be opened.
This scene is sort of in the mockup stage. The elevator headhouse is cardboard with computer printed plan glued to it. Pieces of PVC tubing which will become silos are just sitting there. I shot a digital photo of the tubing pieces and printed out a picture which is glued to the removable background piece over the window. Since this picture, I have pasted in the ship picture printout at left, and am about to lay the track.