The best backdrop material is 1/8’ masonite. Usually found at Home Depot in the pre-cut 2x4 sections. Make sure you get the masonite panels that are smooth side on both sides, some have irregular backs, used for backing on shelfs and cheap desks. Make sure when attatching the panels to the wall, you hit the studs and use small brads, that you can countersink. Small dab of compound over the holes and then onto seams - I hate seams - seams suck! Seams should be tight and filled with spackle or other compound and sanded. I have a small roller and a cheap gallon of latex interior blue paint. Use the samples that best match the sky in the area you are modeling.
Here’s the backdrop panels on my N scale Fresno District SP layout under construction.
Just a smooth coat will do you. After it dried, now is the best time to apply the cloud stencils. Made by New London Industires in San Antonio, TX or homemade stencils will work great. Cheap 99 cent spray paint with a handle (to keep the spray consistent) does the job. Vary the pattern and overlap and you will have great looking clouds. Keep the horizon line as the focal point. Clouds just don’t pop up everywhere. The idea here is to keep the clouds from looking unrealistic. I don’t have any photos of the pattern being applied to layout backdrop, only these boards I made for a fellow modeler.
This picture shows the finished product with backdrop, clouds and digital pictures cut out and applied to the backdrop: This was a test area.
Other forum posters are right; you need the best quality printout of the picture you can get. I took this scene of Fresno from Wikipedia and had someone at work print it ou
Looking great Chuck! I’ve been playing around with the cloud stencils this week. They’re turning out real good but I need to practice blending them together like yours. Great thing is if you screw up, just roll on another coat of blue and start over.
Everyone, forget about my thread and come take a look at Chuck’s backdrops! They are really good!
I really like your clouds. I’m for sure going to try your technique on my layout when ever I build one because the Montana sky has some fantastic clouds in the summer. Man do I miss those Montana summers.
“I hate seams - seams suck” [tup] while at depot, buy a 4x8’ piece of masonite/hardboard, and have them cut it into 2 - 2’x8’ pieces! If you have a lot of backdrop to do, buy 2 pieces - the first 2 cuts are free!! (I work there). Aside from this, a great lesson for us all!! Keep the brown bags coming!![:D]
Chuck-Wish I could. I gave my brother his camera back.(maybe I’ll go buy a $10 one?[:-^])
Zgardner18- I will NOT forget about your thread! Those mountains and trees look great! I tried some today but there is a definite learning curve there.
Ivenhen-Great idea unless you can’t fit a 2x8 in your car.[sigh] Guess I’ll have to live with the seams.
chuck and zgardener, great topiics my hat is off to you BOTH, i think that between the two of you, you have convinced me enough to have a back drop! great articles
Chuck, thanks for the clinic. All three you have done so far have been very helpful. That’s right, three. I consider your link in a WPF many moons ago to an online highway signmaker a clinic on its own.
Chuck, do you have the best results with the cloud cutouts by laying them flat onto the backdrop board, or hold them a little away from the board. Yours look great!
I’ve noticed looking at real clouds that the tops are more puffy and more well defined and the bottoms are flater and fuzzier. I’ve been holding the top right against the board and the bottom about 1/2" away. Working pretty good that way but all clouds are different.
I have used a technique very similar on a former incarnation of a layout currently being dismantled. Masonite panels, “tape and float” like gypsumboard, spray can stencil clouds the John Lowrance way. Hand-daubbed pine trees in the distance.
Just over the pointed tower on the courthouse is the corner of the room, with a curved wall background. Background is some 4 feet behind modeled tree line.
The Clouds Walthers Part # 519-1, p. 388 Walthers 2007 HO Scale Reference A scale, $9.98, currently in stock at Walthers Crate a unique background scene. Stencils are cut from heavy cardstock and can be used over and over. May be used for various scales. Includes instructions.
