I was sitting here thinking about how to attach a masonite backdrop to the walls around the layout. I haven’t decided whether I’ll go with masonite or not-- but as a cheap & easy method of fastening, it occurred to me that I could put a line of screws w/ washers along the bottom and tops to fasten the sheets to the walls and form kind of a poor man’s track for the sheets. Thus no need for (any/many) fasteners through the sheets. Has anybody tried that?
I’ve also been thinking about a roll of something-- aluminum flashing, vinyl flashing, plastic-- whatever-- and how to fasten that. Again thinking about some sort of track top and bottom. Or maybe just sections of half-round or something…
I used masonite. I cut a 31/2" cut out where it curves so it bends over the 1x4 benchwork. I attached the masonite to the 1x4s with10/32 machine screws and “T” nuts. It stands straight and tall, all on its own.
You can also get the tub and bath vinyl for the enclosures it has its own track, corners and double slotted for the sheets to fit together thats what i used on my last layout works great and you can get textured and smooth sided in 4x8 sheets
I have hung masonite before, but by nailing (stapling) it to vertical stringers along the wall. I was just thinking about a method of securing it along the top and bottom that would not require putting holes through the main portion of it.
Not really that concerned, just thinking about it. Have been really thinking about using a roll of vinyl or some other plastic and using some sort of track to secure it.
I use 1/8" Masonite attached to cleats (screwed & glued) that are attached to the studs with drywall screws if for any reason it ever has to come down the original wall in the room aren’t compromised and will just need a little spackle on the holes left behind by the dry wall screws. My reason for using 1/8" is that it bends real easy giving you seamless inside curves to hide the inside corners of the room. If you desire to paint the Masonite use a little drywall compound on the screw heads & seams but if your using photo backdrops etc. this may not be necessary. If you have a some what of a free standing layout you can attach the back drop via some 1x3 strips. Andy did a ice article in this months MR on exactly how to do what your asking check it out a good read. I did see one modular layout that had a pretty neat idea of using hollow core doors instead of making frame work etc. It turned out the had a member who worked in a building supply so the got them for something like $5.00/ea. they just used 1"x2" legs on the back of the doors that slipped into pockets on the back of each section. Each section was half the size of the door so the over lap was not right on the seam. They just primed and painted them sky blue and added clouds and trees etc.
