I just received my new backdrops today. For the main layout room. There are two of them 24" x 12' each. Got them from Backdrop warehouse.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Hello very nice. I have not been hanging out here much. Been working on the house so you may have covered this. It looks like are moving stuff around ? I see track missing and line's drawn through your road. But the backdrop is cool are they your photos' or did you pick from there's. Have a nice day Frank
very nice Mottley, how bout a "back a room shot" to see the hole pict. I always have trouble trying to vision what 24'' high and HO look like....that is ho background yes /
and how did you apply ....don't see any wrinkles....Jerry
Looks great Michael. Worth the investment, to be sure.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Michael,
Good choice,on your part,,blends in very well with what you have..I'll bet the bridge scene and water will look great.
Cheers,
Frank
Thanks everybody! I'm happy with it, much better than the cornfield backdrop, never really like it that much anyways.
I used double side tape. The reason there are no wrinkles, is the paper is very heavy. My old backdrop had thinner paper and had wrinkles in it.
Yes the trackwork is being redone here. New river, new bridges, etc. Still a lot left to do before this is all complete and scenery done.
Here is the overall view.....
That looks absolutely great Michael!!!
ChadLRyan That looks absolutely great Michael!!!
Thanks Chad I appreciate it brother.
Michael : could you give the stock or Item # ,that would really help to see how the pict looks on the site compared an installed on a ho layout as on your last pict. I myself have a little trouble navigating the backdrop warehouse site ,its a very busy setup ...Jerry
I'm guessin but that's north calf. and funny that's the same one I was looking at if it is.
BIG JERR I'm guessin but that's north calf. and funny that's the same one I was looking at if it is.
Yes Greenville, CA. Here's the stock # BG HL 296Aw, BG HL 296Bw
Tell me about it, their website is crazy to try and navigate.
BIG JERR very nice Mottley, how bout a "back a room shot" to see the hole pict.
very nice Mottley, how bout a "back a room shot" to see the hole pict.
If you notice, BIG JERR, Michael ignored your request for a back room shot.
That's because Michael has a split personality.
He spends all of his time and money on the main room and ignores the back room.
He does that to torment me since I know what he eventually plans to do in that back room and he just won't get to it. I can only tell you that if and when he ever gets to work back there, it will be extremely cool, even cooler than the main room. But, he just won't get to it.
Rich
Alton Junction
Maybe,He doesn't want to show everyone,the Roulette Wheel and Black Jack,tables,He has back there..
Actually its a strip club.
Rich I didn't know I was torturing you. I feel bad now. I better get working on it soon. And I will. The Oil Refinery is next.
Motley Actually its a strip club. Rich I didn't know I was torturing you. I feel bad now. I better get working on it soon. And I will. The Oil Refinery is next.
And the crossover tracks in the coach yard.
How about a preview of things to come, Michael?
Amazingly good choice in matching the backdrop so it blends with your foreground. That's often the toughest part, getting the two, 3-D and 2-D, to merge so that the viewer can't tell the difference.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
thanks Michael .: looks great and a good choice ...Jerry
Michael, awesome backdrop. Looks great. Really nice choice of backdrop to go with your layout.
I also use a backdrop from Backdrop Warehouse (desert scene). Here's a pic:
Yesterday I removed all the old lichen and I'm replacing it with Silflor tufts. So I'll have to get a new photo
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Hello
That's a very nice drop. I too have one from Backdrop Warehouse. A beautiful autumn view of Western Pa. Isn't the owner a trip? If I may say though, a better color blend of green from your backdrop to your layout will really benefit your continuation between the two. From your pictures, it seems that your layout has a more robust green as opposed to a very light, almost black & white shade of green on the backdrop.
Joe C
dominic cIf I may say though, a better color blend of green from your backdrop to your layout will really benefit your continuation between the two. From your pictures, it seems that your layout has a more robust green as opposed to a very light, almost black & white shade of green on the backdrop.
Joe,
I thought the "match" between the two was enough of a mismatch to work for me. The backdrop looks derived from the foreground, but washed out by distance. This is an effect often used in painted backdrops.
What it does is it causes the viewer to concentrate on the foreground and ignore the distance, although remain conscious of it. The foreground "pops" out and hold the attention of the viewer, which you want on your 3-D models, not on your nice, but still 2-D backdrop.
Michael's making this call, so he knows what effects he is he trying to achieve. I know it's a matter of taste to a certain degree, but everyone does pretty much agree it works visually. Just wanted to explain why it worked for me.
mlehman dominic cIf I may say though, a better color blend of green from your backdrop to your layout will really benefit your continuation between the two. From your pictures, it seems that your layout has a more robust green as opposed to a very light, almost black & white shade of green on the backdrop. Joe, I thought the "match" between the two was enough of a mismatch to work for me. The backdrop looks derived from the foreground, but washed out by distance. This is an effect often used in painted backdrops. What it does is it causes the viewer to concentrate on the foreground and ignore the distance, although remain conscious of it. The foreground "pops" out and hold the attention of the viewer, which you want on your 3-D models, not on your nice, but still 2-D backdrop. Michael's making this call, so he knows what effects he is he trying to achieve. I know it's a matter of taste to a certain degree, but everyone does pretty much agree it works visually. Just wanted to explain why it worked for me.
Mike, I agree with you, and I am sure that Michael will too. He wanted that background to have a muted effect so as not to take the viewer's attention away from the layout itself.
That said, take a look at the fifth photo of Michael's backdrop. The contrast is stunning!
Mike
I see your point. It's a good technique. And I will consider it on my new layout. I purchased the A & C from Backdrop Warehouse to complete the scene. Please understand me, your layout looks remarkable with that backdrop! If that's what you were going for in terms of technique, you totally succeeded. The owner, Norman, who took the picture for my drop really captured the picturesque scene of the autumn in my area. I can honestly say that I live less than an hour from where my scene actually is and visit there quite often. So I tend to want to include the background a little more than conventional ways. And since there is not much division, I will create foam board or plaster hills with the appropriate ground cover and trees.
JC
I went back to take another look at your pictures. This one really caught my eye. It's outstanding! JC
Yep, that's a good one to show how that works, as well as the one right above it that Rich mentioned. Yes, it's not what we would really see, but it's closer to real than what would happen it depended on one set of color toning prevailing from near to far.
Like a lot of artistic tricks in the scenery toolbox, it's both hard to explain and easy to do once you do figure it out.
That looks great, might be the way I'll have to go. Sure looks way better than just a plain blue backdrop, which is about all I'd be able to do myself. That exact one is almost not too far off for many areas around here, although it would need ot be a little more distant. I know they have lots of options there, I'm sure they have one that will look right for my area.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
This thread is very inspiring. The backdrops from Backdrop Warehouse was discussed in an earlier thread and I believe that'll be the way I go. All of the photos in this thread show some great scenes.
I think Joe, Mike, and Rich all make good points. All of Motley's scenes are great, but I think the scenes that show a pasture or field before the mountains emerge are the most effective. The transition helps to push the mountains even further away.
Another thought about pushing something into the distance. Even in home landscaping, a neighboring house appears further away if the homeowner can plant even a small tree in between the two houses. Just having something for the eye to see, even a young tree, pushes the other house into the background, even though the houses, especially in new subdivisions, are quite close.
On our layouts, small trees or tall shrubs in between the tracks and the background will help push the hazy backdrop photo even further into distance. Maybe even photos of trees that match more of the foreground colors.
- Douglas
So here I am browsing their web site, thinking, it's a shame all the ones that are actually FROM anywhere near me are all fall scenes. Then I found the ones that are literally just a few minutes from my house, the shots from Krumsville and New Tripoli. Nice, to have an actual local area backdrop without attempting to make my own panoramic phot and getting some place to print it out. Owner is definitely on the 'eclectic' side. Crazy web site, but if you keep looking you can find nearly anything you could ever want for a backdrop. And I see they offer two styles, one at a lower resolution so it appears more distant and less distinct. I'd have to try both styles out - in a photograph it might look great, but in person, the higher res might be distracting.
While the backdrop is hazy looking, it looks better than the photos. I just quickly shot these with my camera on auto. And my layout lighting isn't that great. I will be adding another flourescent fixture soon.
I played around with my camera settings, and took this one. I think it looks better now.
Motley I played around with my camera settings, and took this one. I think it looks better now.
Hey, now you are cheatin'. Everyone knows adding Grande SDs to a pic will make any old thing look outstanding
Mike I did that just for you man. Thought you'd like it.