My background adventure

[labdad]

I spent the last few weeks working on the backdrop for my 1/16th operational diorama. FWI 1/16 is 3 times bigger than O scale. My diorama is 24' long and 2' deep.
Below is the finished backdrop. This is about 10' of the diorama in the middle.

I will explain the steps I did in following posts

MJinTN

[labdad]

I started with Behr "peaceful sky" latex interior paint (thinned 50%). 
I used a cheap HVLP spray gun.

I then used chalk to sketch the mountai silhouette.
I highly recommend this. I also copied a nearby mountain range.

For the mountains I added 20% of Behr "green black" for the farthest mountains. The lower got more green black.

By using spray it made the edges fuzzy like atmosphere
does.

Step 3 next

MJinTN

[deemery]

Nice!   Your mountains 'finesse' the tendency in sky to change color, or at least tone, closer to the horizon.  

dave

[labdad]

I was able to use our cricket machine to make stencils for the trees. I was able to get 195 different evergreen tree files for $2.20. The stencils were reusable numerous times.

[labdad]

For the trees, I added the blue to the green black, making the initial trees darker than the mountain behind, but lighter than the forthcoming trees. The second row had less blue added, and the final/closest trees were done in pure black. I use my airbrush to spray the stencils.

By using only two colors I think it helps the scene more realistic.

[labdad]

The last thing was to add the fog.
Grey airbrush primer also thinned 50% to make it somewhat transparent.

The final image -again

MJinTN

[friscomike]

Wow, the backgrounds look amazing.  That's some excellent work and so realistic.  Have fun, mike

[Philip]

  amazing!

[ReadingBob]

Very informative.  Thanks for sharing! 

[Rick]

Marty, thanks for the how to.
The backdrop looks fantastic.

[Jerry]

WOW!!  That is one of the most realistic backdrops I've seen.
Excellent work Mr. Jones.

Jerry

[craftsmankits]

Nicely done, sets a mood of its own.  Can't recall seeing a backdrop dappled in mist/fog before.  Mark