Hello everyone, can someone recomend a good heigth for the back drop for an N scale layout? I was thinking about 12" or so, but im not sure. thanks!
Is this a module? Is this a back drop in the center of a layout to use for a view block? Personally I think the higher the better. I would use the whole 8’ wall if I could.
Unless you are putting it on a module which will travel, I suggest that it go above eye level, if you are going to host outside operators, think about how tall most of them will be. If you choose a high layout, it need not be too tall, a low one because, you have youngsters that want to operate the layout, it needs to be higher. Having the wall behind your backdrop painted the same color as your sky makes the top edge less noticeable.
Have fun,
I’m with Tex. The backdrop should top out well above eye level, or it isn’t a backdrop. A scenic divider can be lower - but that serves an entirely different purpose.
If you’re looking at something underneath an upper level shelf or valance, the backdrop may be coved over to the underside of the overhead obstruction. At the least, it should extend to the level of that overhead obstruction.
Then, too, what are you planning to put on your backdrop? Just the bluish white of humid air on a muggy late-summer day? The purple mountain majesties (AND the fruited plains?) A photo mural of Beautiful Downtown Burbank? All require a horizon at eye level. The horizon is ALWAYS at eye level, even if you’re viewing the world from a helicopter, or from a U-2 at Angels 80.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with dark green hills to the ceiling)
thanks guys for all the input, the back drop in question is going to be on my 4 x 8 layout. i live in a trailer, so all i have is one room and i need to be able to get the layout out of the room if i move.
Is this a backdrop or scenic divider? If you plan to move your layout in and out of a room, make it removeable. I cut a slot for my scenic divider in a piece of 2x4 and attached the 2x4 to the table. It is 1/8 masoite and it stands up fine, built the scenic base up around it. If you are putting it on one side of the table you will have to have it at a height you can reach over, because you will not be able to reach parts of the table from the front, 32" is about all you can hope to reach without damaging things. I would bolt it in place rather than screws, because if you take them out very often the screw holes will begin to wear out.
Lived in a trailer as a kid, could have barely gotten a 4x8 in the living room/dining room area. The whole place was only 8x35. A travel trailer by todays standards. Had a garage that we used for a family room, hard to heat, but the Lionel lived there and did all I asked of it.
Good luck,
well, thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions. after much consideration, i think i will make my back drop 24" tall and removeable. this should go pretty well with the 50" table height that i have.