Making Backdrops

[alans]

All,

Does anyone have any available resources, suggestions or information available on making backdrops? It's time I get rid of the blue walls. Thanks.

Alan - Valdez, Alaska

[Jeff B]

Someone makes cloud masks so some sky blue paint and using those make you look like a real artist.

More and more, folks are using real photos of whatever area they are modeling, or you can by them from a few vendors.

[alans]

I found a couple of references for using stencils for clouds and background mountains. I have the fronts of several buildings I'm going try incorporating into it.

[Jeff B]

Flats, perhaps with real photos of buildings in the background can really add depth to the scene.

[Russ C]

What area are you looking at doing? Industrial / yard, countryside / flat/ hilly /mountainous? Do you have any prototypical photos of the real area you're looking at?
There are some companies that do photo backdrops but it'll halp to define just what you're looking for prior to searching.

[Russ C]

Some ideas;
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/28579748...kaAnh8EALw_wcB

http://backdropwarehouse.com/
https://railroadbackdrops.com/Home/Category

That's just a couple of examples if you want a premade example.
I hope this helps.

[alans]

Thanks for the suggestions. Nothing prototypical here. I may end up buying some backgrounds, but hopefully I can do some of myself. Planning to try some thin masonite cut to fit and paint it away from the layout. The eBay site has great panels!

[Russ C]

Yes, I liked the stuff on that Ebay site and am comparing them with real photos of the area I'm modeling. I have to make up some lightweight backdrop panels and thought about all the ways to make it (them). I've decided on the blue extruded foam sheets as they're light and self supporting and readily available.

[Warren K]

I have been finding images on the internet, bringing them into photoshop and then printing them on card stock paper on my inkjet printer. I then cut off the sky portion and throw it away. The land portion will eventually be glued to the backdrop. In the photo below they are just taped up so I could see what they look like.

[Russ C]

Looks good Warren.

[Allen]

Nice Warren!

[michael13j]

As Russ C said, more info needed. Specific location? N S E W view? Type terrain desired? Foliage/ vegitation. Even era enters in for some folks. Then any nuances w/ color palette. Winter, Spring Summer Fall. One of the admins; Allen had a area of his layout that I admired. Basic backdrop then filled the scene out admirably

https://realisticmodelrailroading.ne...2&d=1710991140

michael

[alans]

Michael,

At this point I'm digging for ideas and gathering materials. Living in rural Alaska, I need to plan ahead a little. I'm looking to paint some backdrops and see how it goes. I have four walls and they will all be different, a mine, a town, mountains and something else...

Alan