I have a section on my layout that I want to divide in half by putting a sky blue “scenic divider.” I already have the paint but I don’t know what material to use for the divider. I don’t want it to be real thick or difficult to put in place. I have seen MR use things like a prefab door (more than I need) before. What material would be best for this?
Sheets of 1/8" Masonite are pretty popular. Might need some sort of frame if it’s going to be very big.
Well, how about somewhere around 2’ x 8’?
Same size as my free-standing 3mm thick MDF backdrops. I plan to attach them either side of flat brackets, making a sandwich. The base leg of each bracket will be buried under my foam base. The MDF will be Araldited to either side of each upright leg of the flat brackets. I’d use screws but I don’t want to have to patch the holes which would probably show in the sky.
That’s the plan, anyway [:)]
Mike
Wal-Mart sells a product called foamboard. It’s a thin sheet of foam with poster paper on both sides and comes in sheets the same size as poster paper. You can join together as many as you need and it’s very light.
Idea although limited experience. I am planning to use flat plastic sheet for backgrounds. I bought a 4x8’ sheet, about 1/16" thick, from a plastic dealer out in the industrial area of my city for --well it was under $20 when I bought it 2 or 3 years ago. Probably has gone up. Cost $25 or $30 then if I had found it at an art store, hobby store. I have used a little of it to cover a yucky plywood background on a portable layout with a smoother more sky-like surface. I plan on cutting the 48" sheet into thirds-- 16" high backdrop and putting them around the walls of my train room. They will curve OK for corners, and are a lot lighter than Masonite(r) board. They will basically be “hung” on the wall-- very little support needed.
For my 7’ long rollaway bridge access section, the plastic will be prettymuch freestanding. I plan to cement or bond some upright lath strips on the back to support.
As I say, I haven’t done this yet so I cannot say how well it works. But I’m going ahead with it when my apartment-challenged stepson moves out of the trainroom.
I chose to use 2 mm thick plastic sheets 4*8 that are available at industrial suppliers. The sheets takes paint well and curve easy around corners without cracking.
Here are a few shots…
I agree with Jeffrey. Foamboard (sometimes called foam core board) is extremely light weight and easy to use. It comes in sheets as large as 4’ x 8’, which can usually be found at art supply stores. It’s very easy to cut with a hobby knife.
One more point about foamboard - it’s fairly stiff, so you could probably use it at 24" in height without any framework. If by chance the surface of your layout is extruded styrene, you could probably just cut a groove about one inch deep in the surface, and wedge the foamboard in place without further support. Just my thoughts.
use 1/4" luan board here. It inexpensive, but comes in 4 by 8 sheets. When painting only one side its necessary to make certain that its nailed to a surface( I use panel nails that are easily removable), othewise it wil bend as the paint drys. Once dry remove nails and place where you need it . It nice becasue it cuts easily and you can bend it for curved areas.
Its handy for other projects as well
bill d
NY Central1: I have a divider and I framed 1/4 inch plywood, braced it at the bottom and on the ends, then took a piece of blue foam, 4’x8’ sheet, cut it in half. I then liquid nailed the cut halves on each side of the wall and there is was a center divider that was already blue. I also lined the room with 2’x8’ pieces of blue foam, it sure made a difference.
That is the blue foam divider and it is not painted except for clouds.
Robert Sylvester, WTRR