Well I need a backdrop for my layout. I dont think Ill be painting any land on the backdrop. I need just a sky backdrop. What color of blue should i use? What do you paint it on? I need 3 sides of my layout to have it behind.
Whatever material you use, the fewer seams you have, the better. Get some paint chips from your local store and see which ones look more like the sky in your area. It will vary according to clouds, temperature and mist. Keep in mind that it is lighter on the horizons and darker overhead.
For a backing material I’m using vinyl roof flashing from the local home improvement store. What I got was 20" tall and 35’ long and .060 thickness. It holds it’s shape well and goes around curves smoothly. I made a framework of 1x2’s and just stapled it up. Then I covered the staples with some joint compound. I’m now sanding that out and then I’ll prime and paint. Here’s what it looks like right now so you can get an idea (the big putty spots are a joint between two sheets):
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-073.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-075.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-076.jpg
I’m using .060 thick polystyrene. I buy 4X8’ sheets and cut them in half lengthwise. A couple sheets are installed, but not yet painted. Here they are, shown clamped in place before they were permanantly attached:
This stuff bends easily into curves at the ends of benchwork.
I used 1/8" masonite board cut into 2’x4’ sections. Just used some interior house paint I had laying around for the blue. Printed out cloud pictures off the web. Cut then out like a stencil and used flat white and grey spray paint to do the clouds. Masonites about $10 for a 4x8 sheet.
I have ZERO talent when it comes to art things.
Are you looking to do something like I did here?
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1246385/ShowPost.aspx
The paint is from Sherwin Williams and it’s called Universe Blue. It’s a bit deeper than is sometimes used on backdrops and that’s fine if you’re going to use cloud templates for you r clouds. It’s easy to do, you just need to practice a little before doing them on the real thing. Well, on second thought… if you screw up just paint over them with the blue, let it dry and you’re good to go again. I never thought backdrops could be such a huge subject but there are many ways to do them, running from my simple one to what some of our resident artists turn out. If you choose the spray can route be sure to ‘overspray’ the bottom area a little to get more of a feeling of depth. It’s easy, come on and jump in!
JaRRell
jacon12-I need to overlay some of my clouds like you did. Yours look A LOT better!
[quote user=“loathar”]
I used 1/8" masonite board cut into 2’x4’ sections. Just used some interior house paint I had laying around for the blue. Printed out cloud pictures off the web. Cut then out like a stencil and used flat white and grey spray paint to do the clouds.
Your backdrop looks good. I`ll try to do it like yours with the masonite.
I followed a process I saw in MR mag some time ago and it turned out great. Buy three blue colors of latex paint… darker to medium in color. Paint a band of darker blue at top, while still wet, paint a band of lighter blue below it and blend together, and while wet paint a band of the lightest blue below and blend in, and leave aband of white at bottom. Works great.
Have fun! Hal
Thanks! Now if I could only paint believable hills and trees I’d be able to move on to laying the torn out track and RUN TRAINS!!
Jarrell
WP & YR,
I have zero talent but practiced extensively and created a simple but I believe effective backdrop. I used a 4x8 sheet of .06 (I believe) styrene ripped into 2x4 sheets and fastened to a frame make out of 1x2 pine per David Popp’a article on p. 44 of the Mar 2006 MR. I coved (bent) the corner per the technique posted on the backdropwarehouse.com website and used 1/4" plywood positioned horizontally in the corner and cut to the cove radius to support the coved piece top, middle, and bottom. Those supports are secured in the corner by placing and screwing them on top of 1x2 blocks screwed into the frame from behind before the frame fastened to the wall.
I used the wet-on-wet painting technique described in Volume 1 of the Dream, Plan, Build MR video series to paint the sky and clouds. I used Muralo Pure Pure White latex ceiling paint for the clouds and Muralo Viva la Bleu (#249-3) for the sky.
I found the key to be taking my time to level and square the frames, especially where they meet in the corner, and practice-painting extensively on Masonite before taking the plunge. As I said, I’m pleased with the result and even more pleased it’s done!
Rick Krall