I use 1/8" Masonite for back drops attached off the wall with 1x2 firing strips to give it sort of a 3D effect when needed. I have painted the entire room walls that is my sky blue color and coved the inside corners using 1/8" Masonite and hid the seams with dry wall compound. One section has a small crack in the compound totally my fault but not even noticeable behind a structure.
jwhittenI've read a little about using styrene sheets and aluminum and nylon "flashing" but what I *don't* know about those is where to buy in quantity and typical costs. Any pointers on that info?
I suggest that you get yourself a copy of the January 2010 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. There is a very interesting article on the use of aluminum flashing for backdrops. Apparently you can get this stuff up to 2 feet wide and up to 100 feet long. The article describes how to hang the flashing, plus some other interesting tidbits.
Regards
I used styrene for my backdrop and I am very happy with it. First I screwed thin wooden strips (paint stirring sticks) to the wall and then I glued the styrene to the wood with silicone glue. I bent it around some corners that have about a 4 inch radius. To help it bend while I was attaching it, I warmed it with a hair dryer. When it cooled it kept its shape nicely. Before painting I washed it to remove any oil on it.
I obtained it from a company that sold plastic to sign makers.
What can I say? Drywall (sheetrock) goes up with nails or drywall screws. You tape and mud the joints and it looks seamless. It won't cove (bend) around corners. It crumbles if you try to bend it.
Masonite will bend and has a nice smooth surface. The dark color will bleed thru all but the most opaque primers. It want's a coat of light gray primer followed by a coat of sky blue. Goes up with nails or screws. Every lumberyard carries it.
Styrene. Nice paintable surface. Comes in sheets. I can get it from an glass store (auto glass, plate glass, storm doors and windows). Far as I know, styrene is styrene, stiffness is controlled by the thickness of the sheet. Thickness is sized in mils, thousands of an inch. Will bend nicely for coved corners. Never heard of flashing. Was it me, I'd put the stuff up with adhesive, probably latex caulking compound. Styrene is the only readily available plastic that will bend around corners. Plexiglas and acrylic are too stiff to bend. I wouldn't mess with anything that came on rolls for fear it would wrinkle and never lie flat.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I can't take credit for this idea, it comes from Joe Fugate.
Joe uses rolled vinyl flooring, (linoleum) for backdrops. He uses the smooth back side as the finished side.
It takes paint well, it's strong, yet flexible and cuts nicely. Joints can easily be feathered out with drywall compound.
Joe looks for end of the roll remnants on sale or if you are lucky and know an installer you can get all kinds of usable scraps for free!
Joe describes how he does it on his scenery DVD's available from Model-Trains-Video.com If you just want to see the backdrop segment you can download it for less than $3
Hello-
I will soon be ready to start doing my layout's backdrop and am looking for pros and cons-- (I will also be digging through the old posts so you don't need to repeat anything that's already been well-discussed.)
Masonite / Drywall
I feel like I'm reasonably well-informed regarding masonite (or similar) and drywall methods of doing a backdrop.
Aluminum / Nylon "Flashing"
I've read a little about using styrene sheets and aluminum and nylon "flashing" but what I *don't* know about those is where to buy in quantity and typical costs. Any pointers on that info?
Other "Roll" or "Sheet" Product
Is there anything else out there? Pool liners? Shelf liners? Something else?? What is cost? Effectiveness? Ability to stand by itself (reasonably)? Thickness? Stiffness? Paintability? Etc.
Plastics In-General
I am also looking for information about "plastics" in general:
-- How do you typically specify its thickness (I'm assuming "Mils" or millimeters "mm") ?
-- How do you normally specify its "stiffness" ? And what do various amounts of "stiffness" compare to in terms of commonly encountered items? (I.e., hefty bag, etc-- trying to get a sense of how well it will stand / hang / drape / etc)
-- What types of plastics are better for painting?
-- What types of plastics come in sheets, and which types in rolls?
-- What, typically, is the cheapest / most useful plastic(s) for model railroad backdrop use?
-- What about weight?
Thanks for your answers!
John