Panel numbering?

Al,

I love the fact you show the frustrating side of building a model railroad empire as well! It gave me some good laughs in recognizing that frustrating situation.

On the failure: I'm assuming those panel numbers that were printed on the left hand side of each back drop likely were supposed to go in an ascending sequence from left to right or right to left? If so, the fact they didn't line up scene wise wasn't too surprising. You started with panel #2, then had another panel (unknown number) and replaced this second panel with panel #5.

Now, why the *bleep* are the panel numbers printed on the part you unroll last. To me that makes not that much sense. I'd expect the first part to unroll to show me which panel number I have in my hands.

Anyways, I'll be waiting for take #2 on the backdrop.

Hilarious and distressing...

Al,

Thanks for posting your experience! As an architect that works with large format prints like that regularly, I would agree that it is a huge pain in the a**. I laughed, I cringed, you have my sympathies. I went with an all paint backdrop and I'm very happy with my sky portion and I'm ok with my structure and vegetation portion. Had you considered just using a printed landscape over a painted sky? It's what I plan on pursuing next time. Transitions are easier to hide, too. 

Thanks Al for this stark reality

I agree with Sean that rolling out a panel is nearly impossible to keep it on the layout without climbing.  Personally I would paint the sky and cut out the landscape in shorter sections which would be easier to work with and match up.  Unfortunately you will loose all the great looking clouds.  Before starting the application lay out  ALL  the panels to determine their intended order.  I would try and find some spray adhesive that went on more like spray paint rather than that stringy stuff you were using.  If you choose to paint the sky, please, spray the panels away from the backdrop to avoid getting glue on the sky or adjoining landscape pieces. At least now you know the shortcomings of using large full panels.  Best wishes with your next attempt.  Thank you for saving a lot of us the frustration and financial loss we could encounter following your first idea for a backdrop

Backdrop attempt.

I watched your attempt at applying the backdrop you were looking forward to. Sorry it didn't work out. I have had the opportunity to apply wall paper many times and swore I would never do it again. Do some searching on painted backgrounds and I am sure a person as talented as you would complete a painted background which will give you what you want.

I really enjoy your videos and I learn a lot.

Good luck.

Wayne

Don't we moderate language on

Don't we moderate language on this site?

Your Mommy said that you were

Your Mommy said that you are a big boy now and are old enough to watch a video with some swears in it and move along or you can choose to cry over it and look for this to be removed by the moderators for some weird reason. We see which childish choice you made. LOL. Haters gonna hate. 

Example "1"

Big Al,

Thank you,

When I smash a finger,  I too use my moderated  language,  sometimes in  French,Korean,German, Spanish and a little English.  lol  m*@c#AS*/xp

This is an example of what a lone wolf has to look forward some times,  but it does make us feel prouder that "I did this".  My football,  my rules!

My blue and white painted backdrop looks fine,  but thought long and hard about painting birds in flight,  no,  not for me.

Boudreaux,  B.C.E.  R.R.

Thanks for keeping it real Al!

Were there instructions?

Amazing they don’t put panel sequence numbers on the edge you’d unroll first.  
 

Somehow, I have to get my BFA daughter to paint my backdrops, or do my own photos and photoshop stitching, and get them printed on one of those endless roll printers.

Glad to see I’m not the only one who deploys the #&$$#@## this and heaps it all into the trash strategy!  With me it’s usually a decoder!

Thanks Al

Another option

Use removable poster tape printed on vinyl

@Al  ..It's the denegration

@Al  ..It's the denegration of women (mothers) in your cursing that is offensive.

Reminds me of ABC's Wide World of Sports...

"The agony of defeat!" I guess I'm showing my age here with that one. I used to love watching that show on Saturdays.

Al - thanks for being willing to share something that turned out less than perfect. Sometimes these are way more instructive than only seeing the grand finish of a project.

Learn from it and keep moving forward!

A well done video

I found the whole backdrop hanging thing quite informative and a great chuckle at times as I understood Big Al’s frustration and pride in what he is wanting to accomplish despite the challenges. I’ve got about the same amount of patience at times and loathe anything resembling wallpaper.  

He was a lot better than I would be unfeeling the clear plastic and I looked like the paper was actually quite adjustable for a while.
 

The layout looks big and fine!

I may try this style of backdrop so speculating/wondering here if:

• Is the colour match issue is due to the panel sequence, or is there a colour quality control issue on the backdrop printing?
• Is the deck on a descending grade leading to the “rising” backdrop?   If so should the alignment be made with the top of the presumably level backing structure and and undulations at the bottom concealed with scenery?

Hey guys, Joe, my two longest

Hey guys,

Joe, my two longest runs are about 32ft, then the penenusula is about 25ft on each side then you have the two end sections that are about 18ft each. They are very long and those sections need to be seemless. I am thinking I am going to paint the backdrop a nice blue then do the trackwork and in that time before I get to scenery I will plan to either paint terrain or buy photo printed terrain to glue onto the painted blue sky. 

Hey, He's Genuine !

It's not nice to laugh at others misfortunes (but I did), BUT lessons learned and he probably helped more people than he knows with this video.

Hang in there, we are all with you.

Espee over Donner

Did not look like fun

I have a painted backdrop right now but have thought about a photo backdrop if I get to move and expand the layout. Not so sure now. I think right off the bat, I'd go with a non adhesive and your experience seems to bear that out.

Thank You

Always enjoy your layout updates, and I appreciate showing the mistakes.  Too many are perfect in every possible way in this hobby or so they say.. 

I speak fluent *&%$-anese.

I speak fluent *&%$-anese. This video had me cracked up from the very start. I have a morbid, twisted, military sense of humor in my back pocket as needed. Its called life.

Question for the moderator's. At what point do you consider a video improper according to your standards? This is your forum and you do a great job of moderating the daily activity. There must be a threshold somewhere. 

What I am upset about is everyone asking who is the manufacturer of this product so they can avoid purchasing from them. This video was about a man trying to do something and failed. This is not the manufacturer's fault.

I have watched the backdrop installation video, published by the said manufacturer, several times. The steps are provided in a logical sequence for a successful installation covering both self-adhesive and no adhesive. I did not see these steps followed during the failed installation video and the results were as expected. 

If you can't follow the installation information provided by the manufacturer, don't blame the product for not working.

We, collectively, have the capability to promote or destroy a company with our comments about their products. We do not need to lose any more hobby products. 

The product?

Other than the color mis match at one point i thought it looked decent.  Not the worst commercial backdrop I've seen. ....DaveB 

Listen, if I was given longer

Listen, if I was given longer sections (Let's say 12ft-16ft sections) of the NON-adhesive backdrop with seemless transitions then I would have managed the install with the 3M spray adhesive. Yes it still would have been a bit of a pain regardless and it would have taken a very long time to do the 120ft job, It would have likely turned out fine but I wouldnt have called it easy and fun either. If I had a team of 3 to do the install then I am sure I would say it was easy, but I do not have a team of 3, I have just me.  

The good and bad

give us the useful.

Thanks Al!

I have just me

Lesson learned. I'll get some help with mine. One thing I noted that had forgotten was that spraying only one side allows you to remove and relocate the print. Spraying both sides and waiting a bit for each to dry is permanent and a PITA to change, if possible at all.

Back drop

Prime the masonite, use the non-adhesive back drop and (duh) wall paper paste.

I admit in the video that the

I admit in the video that the 3M spray actually works pretty good, it gives you plenty of time to make adjustments before it becomes real sticky. I would use the 3M adhesive again if need be it.