I bought my 1/8" masonite today. I’m getting ready to do my plaster contours around the back and sides of my layout.(mountain and some hills) I’m figuring that you don’t attach the screen, foam and plaster to the backdrop itself.(right?) Do you attach a first layer of masonite to your frame work, use a marker to draw where you want your hills and contours to be, cut it with a jigsaw, then attach your screen, ect. to that? Then put a second layer of masonite behind that for your backdrop? (blue sky and clouds for now). Is this correct? Am I missing anything? Any helpful hints would be great.
There’s no need to cut the masonite and place the “sky portion” after, unless for some reason you would want the remove the backdrop in the future.
The basic landforms can be drawn on the backdrop after painting sky. Any distant hills/ mountains can be painted at this time and then finish blending the sky to horizon. Add clouds etc.
To attach your scenery base, just hot glue/ staple for screening or cardboard strips. If using foam cut a piece to the contour in either built up layers or use as a form for any screen or scenery support. I don’t know exactly whay method you would like to end up using as there are many different ways to accomplish this.
Cutting of the 1/8" masonite as you mention would affect the strength and integrity of the finished backdrop, especially on anything curved.
I guess I do want the "sky " portion to be removable. If I get good enough at painting trees and mountains I’ll want to put it on an easle so I can sit down and take my time. Doing that part in 2’x4’ sections so it’s managable.(forgot to mention that)