The Empire

[deemery]

You'll need an extra set of hands (preferably attached to long arms...) to hang those backdrops.  I'm using the Deluxe Materials backdrop glue, it works pretty well, but you have to get good coverage, particularly along the edges.  Then I use a rubber roller to seat the backdrop.

dave

[jbvb]

At the moment, my backdrops are all painted: A pale blue at horizon level (up to 5-6" above landforms or buildings). I have another can open with a darker blue; I paint a band of it above 20" over track level, then blend the two blues up/down in the intermediate area.  You could adapt this to paper backdrops by starting with the backdrop's sky color at the top edge, then blending the darker blue from above it.  I don't think you'd even need clouds; people's eyes are drawn to interesting things, and they'll all be below the transition.



This shows my most advanced painted backdrop, done about 10 years ago. I graded the blue base coat as above, then added a few off-white clouds. The actual painted backdrop involves a couple of shades of green to differentiate tree shapes; conifers have different shapes than deciduous trees where I'm modeling, and are darker green, closer is darker than distant.

[Zephyrus52246]

Dave, the Trackside people use the spray 3M adhesive in their video to attach the backdrop.  I'll certainly look into the Deluxe Materials adhesive as well.

The buildings (except the FSM kit on the left side) are still all removable, the streets/sidewalks are glued down, but I can still get up on this area if need be.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Very nice backdrops, James.  I don't have your artistic talent.  The series of backdrops I'll use in this area don't have any clouds, so if I need to paint over the top of the bluff (versus cutting up a backdrop), I won't need to add clouds. 

Jeff

[Rick]

Jeff, thanks for the additional pictures.

[Zephyrus52246]

I first washed the in place backdrop, not as dusty/dirty as I thought it would be.  I then painted the top area with black paint.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

After drawing a base level line and a perpendicular one where the edge of the backdrop starts, I started placing the backdrop.  Using less sticky tape than the blue painter's tape, but it still held.  a piece of foam with a weight to gently keep the rolled up portion in place helped.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I got the entire thing up, and miraculously the left edge was still perpendicular to the base line.  I let it sit like this for a few hours to help flatten it out.  I did have to reattach some of the left edge over that time, but the tape held pretty well.

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I then rolled it back, leaving about 15 inches or so taped.  Then sprayed about 18 inches of 3M number 77 adhesive to the wall, using a piece of cardboard over the top as a mask so the black paint didn't get adhesive.  I also covered all the layout with newspapers.  Let the adhesive set up about a minute, gently roll about 18 inches of backdrop and then go over it with a soft large paint roller.   I used some paper as  block on the left edge of where the backdrop ends.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I was most worried about the edges holding, especially where the tape holds the mask.  Spray the adhesive into a cup and use a brush and brush the edge of the backdrop.  I then removed the mask, and finished rolling it out.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

There were only a couple of "bubbles" which smoothed out with the roller.  I'm surprised as the backdrop isn't quite flat (it's a roll of aluminum), but it looks OK and has stayed up 3 hours.  The edges are also still flat and haven't curled.  

There was only one spot I had a problem taking off the tape, more from my fingernail trying to get under the tape.  

Overall, it went well.  The adhesive stinks to high heck.  I probably should wear a respirator next time.  I have an exhaust fan going, but I don't think I'd hang more than one a day due to the adhesive smell/toxicity.

The site instructions note since the patter repeats, you can match it by overriding the next sheet, but you lose about 18 inches of backdrop doing it that way.  I don't think it would be easy to make the edge match exactly, so I may override it about 1/4 inch or so,  There will be a bit of a bump in the hill this way, but it should look OK.

Tom, I know you used these backdrops, how did you match them?

Jeff

[deemery]

It's quite an accomplishment to hang backdrops by yourself!!

dave

[Zephyrus52246]

Dave, hanging the original metal backdrop, 60 feet in this case, was harder.  This went well, but required a lot of planning.  I hope to add the second tomorrow, but it's supposed to rain all day, and I'd rather not open the one downstairs window if it is. 

Jeff

[Jerry]

Jeff you did a great job!!

Jerry

[PRR Modeler]

Great job Jeff, you are much more talented and patient than I am.