The Empire

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Curt and Jerry, we'll see how the second one goes.  

I'd PMed Tom about how he did his and he just matched the edges.  I think I'll try it that way, as I think if I overlap them, the slight white edge can be seen, as well as a slight bulge.  I'd also need to hang it differently, starting at the meeting edge, as the chance of it aligning perfectly starting at the other side is probably nil. 

It will be in the 60s this week, and I don't want to cool off the basement with the open window, so this will hold until it gets over 70 degrees again.

Jeff

[Rick]

Jeff, interesting that it's metal and not paper.
It does look very good.
Maybe at the mis-matched joins can be hidden with trees?
Not sure if trees that tall would be appropriate.

[Zephyrus52246]

Rick the "blue sky" backdrop is metal, the one with the trees is paper, unless I read your comment the wrong way.  I need to put the next one up to see if I can match the joint exactly.  

Jeff

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

Excellent job on the backdrop. I like the tip about spraying into a small cup to touch up the edges/ends.

Again, excellent job and the section you did look great.

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks, Tom.

 It got into the 80s today, so I was able to open the basement window and turn on the airbrush booth fan to ventilate from the spray adhesive.  I did wear a respirator this time as well.  

I had hung the backdrop 2 days ago so it would settle out.  This one was reverse wound (the printed portion on the outside of the roll), so it's edges didn't seem to want to lift.  However, it was more difficult to maneuver to get into place.  I even got a small amount of spray on the surface, hope that won't be an issue in the future.

It managed to come off last night so was quickly rehung and realigned today.  I used paper to mask the previous one and covered the layout with newspapers (yes, we still get the printed newspaper).     I even put a drop cloth on the floor, as I noticed last time my shoes were a little sticky.  

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I first sprayed and attached the edge where the two meet.  I left it dry for 10 minutes or so and then unattached and rolled up the rest of the backdrop.  Then worked it in about 18 inch increments to the other end.  

It's still up and the edges are flat.  The joint isn't perfect, but not bad.  I tried some colored graphite pencils on the edges as a tiny bit of white showed, I think it may have helped a little ( I did get a mark on the surface as well  , I may try using a gentle eraser on it, but I'm worried it will lift the print.  Yes, there's a small lift at the corner, I should know better than to put tape on a corner.  Otherwise, just one small tear on the bottom.

I think it looks really good from the sides, from the front the seam is more visible.  

Anyway, I'm calling this a success and will probably order the rest in a few days. I'll need to paint the top black over the rest of the backdrop.  

I'm going to get some matching blue paint at Lowe's for the sky, it will cover the boo boo and I need to paint the one area with scenery with it as well.

Jeff

Jeff

[Rick]

I'd call it a success as well.

[Jerry]

Very well done.

Jerry

[Larry C]

Looks good to me; good job.

[ACL1504]

Jeff,

The backdrop looks great, well done. It changes the entire look.

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

Thank you, gentlemen.  The saga continues.  

The next section is four foot wide, but 36 inches high.  Mr. Picard can do "custom prints".  It is used on an area where the scenery drops down for a creek.  This one was a bear to put up.  I think partially as it was taller, I couldn't roll it up and out like the others very easily, and the bottom got crumpled up in the mailer.  Also, the tube I rolled it up with kept falling down and the tape gave way a couple of times, causing the thing to fall off.  The bottom crumples don't really show on the printed part. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Placed a board across the next section and built a stand to hold the rolled up backdrop.  This one is 8 feet long and goes around a curve.  I first hung it up and then spray glued the left 18 inches or so and then rolled the rest onto the stand. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

I had originally used a piece of cardboard at the top edge (where the black paint is) to block the spray glue, but i got some carboard residue, so I cut a piece of gatorfoam to use as a blocker.  It won't work in the curve so I used tape instead.  The yellow tape is less sticky and I've only had 2 very small pieces of the top of the backdrop tear off with this tape. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

The piece went up fairly easily, though I was working in a tight area (the open hole above the curve in the one picture above).  There's a small wrinkle at the right edge and it won't show as a bluff goes in front of this.  The last 6 inches of wall won't show, either.  The edge is at 89.7 degrees.  Not perfect, but good enough.  The seams on the taller piece aren't perfect, either, but I can live with this.  There's a couple of glue spots on the front as well, but not really visible if your not close and looking for them. 

Jeff

[Zephyrus52246]

Twenty four more feet to go.  The next piece is another eight footer, hopefully I can get it closer than 89.7 degrees as it may show up by the end of the wall.    It's lying flat in the next room (I like to have them lay flat with books on them to flatten out).  It's been about an hour since I finished the last one and there's a slight trace of odor from the spray adhesive which I like to have cleared before I work out there).  Yes the room is a mess, it will get cleaned up when this project is completed.

Jeff