I’m still experimenting with the use of backdrop buildings, photos that I’ve mounted on GatorBoard.
below is the general area, across the tracks from the engine service area
Simply by proping a section of track in front of the buildings, which are leaning temporarily against the backdrop, I can see that a small fence would be a useful tool for ‘breaking’ the view of the area the buildings are sitting on. What are some other methods of hiding, or disguising this area?
Do you have any tips on how to position the buildings you’ve used, things that experience has shown what works best, i.e. do you overlap the buildings, print several in one photo, stand them side by side?
You might try a second layer of slightly taller buildings in smaller scale on separate backing behind the first - ‘downtown,’ beyond the trackside warehouse-industrial belt. That should add depth and push the hills farther back.
I intend to use a variation of that - multi-layer hills, possibly with space between for lighting to shine up on the ‘sky’ for special effects.
Those buildings look great! The perspective is right on and that is the number one important thing in making background printed buildings look like they fit in is the perspective. I don’t know how much room you have between the farthest track and the backdrop but you can also use some small bushes or trees and pucklebrush to break up the joint of backdrop and layout. The fence is a good idea but I wouldn’t run a solid fence all the way across. Maybe make it look like several different fences at different distances (forced perspective). Your imagination will begin to run once you turn it on. – Jim
Thanks Chuck, I think that second line of buildings is whats missing! Now to find some taller ones. Maybe I’ll print them a little lighter or more grayish to ‘push’ them back more.
Jim, I have only a couple of inches between that track and the backdrop, but that’s enough for some bushes and maybe even small trees. Thanks for the suggestions!
You might want to check the articles by Don Spiro in the December, 2005 issue of Model Railroad Craftsman on pages 91-99 in which he describes his methods for using building photos for background behind building flats.
If you want my honest opinion, I would not hide a single inch of those excellent backdrops you’ve painted with those paper buildings. I’m not saying the buildings look bad. I just don’t think they look like they fit in against that part of the backdrop.[2c][:)]
That looks fabulous, Jarrell. I’ve never really seen that technique before with the Gator board…but I like it. [^][tup] I look forward to seeing more pictures whenever you have a chance to post them.
Now I have no experience with this, Jarrell, so this is just MHO. Upon contemplating your next move, I think if you do go with a second layer of taller buildings behind your Gator board buildings, they should be very thin in comparison to the buildings in front. It seems to me that if they are of the same (or close to the same) thickness, you’ll lose the illusion that you already have.
Equally so, if you go with adding the fence (which I think is a terrific idea), I think it’s imperative that the fence stand out in front of the Gator board backdrop a distance greater than the thickness of your primary backdrop. Again, this is important for retaining the illusion of depth that you are trying to achieve with the backdrops themselves. The closer things are to the viewer; the more distance between the “layers” in front need to be to the successive layers behind them.
Jarrell, you and others are welcome to argue against this point, if you feel I’m wrong. Thanks again for posting the pics and keep up the good work. [:)]
Nice looking background! I think a mixture of different fence styles/colors and some bushes etc. and the taller buildings behind will improve an already great looking background! Good job! [tup]
