hi i am doing my first ever HO scale layout, and i am adding a back drop to make it look twice as big!!! ok heres the specs on my layout:
size: 10’x19’
depth: 4ft.
ok what i want to do is add the back drop 3’ in so on one side the bigger side i have my yard/city areas and on the other mountains with coal mine and small town. so what im asking is what will work for a light weight,thin, and easy to paint back drop??? thank you
A friend of mine just bought .60 sheet styrene and used them for his backdrop and it looks great. I will be seeing his backdrop for the first time tomorrow (New Years Eve) and if my memory isn’t to bad, I’ll report back to you. I know he used a kind of auto body paste for his joints and sanded them smooth.
There is a product available at Home Depot called Polywall. It’s used to cover dry wall in high moisture environments like bathrooms. It’s 1/16th thick with one smooth side and one finely textured side. It comes in 4X8" sheets and is very flexible. Cost is about $15 per sheet.
Some supportting structure would be needed if used in the center of your layout, but it takes paint great.
I used it for my back drop by attaching it to the wall. I used construction adhesive and staples to mount it to the back of 4" base molding and mounted the base to the wall with drywall screws. Putting duct tape on the back at the joints to hold the pieces together and 3/4" invisible tape on the front. Painting after the tape was applied makes the joint almost dissappear. Very important note, be sure the pieces are level when mounted, to prevent buckling. That’s the only caution I can give, other than that the stuff is great.
After the sky color dries, I used stencils to add clouds.
My layout is an “L” shape, 10’X14’ in N scale. The corner of the backdrop curves at a 12" radius and looks really good.
I hope this helps,
Mike
St Louis
Sounds like yours will be free standing. I had a similar situation, and used regular masonite (I used two pieces back to back, but understand you can get shiny on both sides)
I didn’t use an wood supports, but set it between some of the foam for scenery for support. Its enough.
I have a 10x10ft c-shaped HO layout. I want to take photographs on this layout and have a backdrop, but I don’t want to lose the easy access to the back of the layout. I also don’t want to lose the other photograph angles. How do you guys think I should work this?
Reed
Reed,
I’m not sure of your question. You have to have access to the back of your layout. Sorry I can’t visualize what you are asking, perhaps some more info or a diagram (nothing fancy) of what you are proposing.