Lightweight backdrop material

David,

There are a number of choices for lightweight backdrops.  I personally have used 1/8 termpered hardboard (Masonite) with good success.  I've also heard of people using styrene - that's right, sytrene.  One supplier in our area sells it in 4ft x 8ft x 1/6" sheets.  It's not cheap and runs about $40 a sheet.  Vinyl flooring can be used with the back side out.  Since you can get it in long rolls you don't have to worry about joints; however, since it is somewhat soft it requires more support.

Rick

I use...

 I use 1/8" Masonite as a backdrop.  It's not overly heavy, is stiff enough to support itself and flexible enough to make curves with.  It's a little bit tricky to mount as nails and screws tend to go right though it, I get around this by gluing 1x2 strips to the back and using those as the mount points.

In Joe's videos he demonstrates using the back side of vinyl flooring.  He uses offcuts from a flooring store to keep the cost at a minimum.  I've also heard of people using metal roof flashing.  Being metal it is very smooth and comes in various widths, although it's probably heavier than the vinyl.

Hardboard

Although it is not up yet, 1/8" tempered hardboard is also my choice.

Have used vinyl, now use styrene

I originally used vinyl flooring for my backdrop, but unfortunately I underestimated its ability to hold its shape over time. I found that if you use vinyl flooring, you must insure that it is properly supported at the top, or it will sag and bow out, which makes it a challenge when you're trying to use flat background buildings against a rounded backdrop.

This past winter I got tired of looking at my vinyl backdrop, so I ripped it all out and replaced it with .080" sheet styrene from a local plastics distributor. They cut the 4' x 8' sheets to the proper widths for me for free. I screwed 1x2 strips horizontal strips to the concrete block walls at the top and bottom of the backdrop and nailed the styrene pieces to those with small wire nails every 12" or so. I used pieces of .060" styrene as splice plates and used MEK as adhesive to bond the pieces together. While MEK is nasty (open your windows for ventilation if you have to use it indoors), it's a lot cheaper than buying a dozen little bottles of Plasticweld or similar. I used pieces of 3/4" foam insulation cut to fit between the 1x2 strips to give the styrene some backing (and eliminate the large hollow places behind it where critters could live), and used Squadron White Putty to fill in the gaps at the splice plates. (You could use Green Putty as well, but the white putty was easier to paint over.)

The only downside of using the styrene is that it's not cheap. A 4' x 8' sheet of the .080" styrene cost me about $50 each, and I needed three sheets of it. On the other hand, all of the leftover material can be used for scratchbuilding!

Background

Good suggestions. One thing I have run across is something called "gaterboard." Although pricey like styrene, it looks promising. Has anyone had any experience or more information on this material? The material called E-flute that they make mail tubs out of looks sturdy and lightweight - does anyone know if they make the same material with a smooth surface?

Styrene comes in 4x8 sheets

Styrene comes in 4x8 sheets at your plastics/sign dealer, in a variety of thincknesses; he can cut it into a roll 2x8, and you have 16 feet of backdrop for about $20.  It's light, flexible, and easy to manage.  You'll might not be able to use latex on it so easily,  but you can tack on your photomural if you have one.

When you get to the corners, you simply make an arch with about a 1' radius and you have an instant curved corner. You'll have to work on how to support and hold it in place of course!

Using styrene

I use artist canvas panels for backdrop myself, but if you first paint on a layer of Gesso, the latex or acrylic should adhere to the styrene OK. I never tried it so I could be wrong, but I think it will work.

something called "gaterboard."

There is another thread somewhere on the MRH forums discussing the same thing.

Gator board and its more robust big brother Sintra board are both used heavily by print shops for mounting. Either should work well for backdrops.

This time around, I found

This time around, I found white marker board very inexpensively at Lowe's at something like $12 for a 4' X 8' sheet at their every-day price.  It is easily bendable and already painted white.  You do have to find something to dull the shine.  A light sanding with a palm sander did the trick for me.  It takes paint very well.

It set the backdrop pieces into S- channel pieces bought from a vinyl siding supply house.  These are used to start the siding pieces around windows and doors.

Scott Groff

Backdrop Choices

I like to use aluminum coil stock, it comes in different widths 12"-36" and 25' to 50' long rolls, and different colors, a 24" x 50' roll the last time a puchased some was $45. I use liquid nails and clamp it into place.

backdrop material

Whats wrong with plain old sheetrock? Its smooth ,Theres a conventoinal way to cove corners and hide joints and screw attachments. Its supposed to be hung vertically so theres no sag. One can get 1/2 sheetrock at HD for around $7 a sheet,they also carry 1/4 inch stuff. Its easy to cut, just need a good knife and a good straight edge and its easy to paint. BILL

Here are some step by step of my basic Back drop

I built My back drop By first adding 1X2 furing strips to the walls and then using a Brad nailer I nailed 1/8 inch Hard board to the walls Go to the following url for photos from my blog here at MRH on how I did the corners and walls.

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/1328

Dan

Aluminum Flashing

David,

I just put up my backdrop last week and used 'aluminum flashing'.  I bought a couple of small 10 foot rolls at Ace Hardware for about $7.00 each or so.  Mine are only 10 inches tall.  I comes in 50 foot rolls as well, with many different heights.  A Google search brought up Lowe's showing 50'L x 14"W for $35.00.

I bought the 10' length for ease of handling...if getting away from the seam is important, the 50' rolls would do that.  Since mine is only 10" tall, I just mounted it with sheet metal screws into my plywood roadbed.  I'm painting it this week.  Just for me, I wanted quick, easy and inexpensive...along with being light enough to install it myself.  Installation of both rolls took about 45 minutes.  For the price, I thought it was worth trying.

I think there was an article in the last few months...maybe RMC...about the same method.  I couldn't locate the article so I just stumbled along on my own....

Enjoy,

Gary Herron - Omaha

BACKDROP CHOICES

Ok for me the only thing i will use is DURA FLASH VINYLE FLASHING.  This is awsome !!! paintabel ,bendable, curves and come in 10 to 24 inches X 30 or 50 feet from 20.25 to 59.98 .  I used the 24 x 50  

Neighbors

Gary I see you're from the "Big H". We're neighbors. My best friend that we both model train lives in Hialeah and I spent more time working on his layout than on mine.

DURA FLASH VINYL FLASHING

Same as Sentra Board except available in only one thickness - Duraflash 3mm versus Sintra available in 3-24mm.

Vinyl flooring

I like vinyl flooring. NIce to paint on. Doesnt hurt when I drop it on my foot. Masonite hurts. Ask me how I know. Can get nice scraps for free. Must be supported well. At the expense of sounding like a fan boy, Joe has a great video covering this. It may convince you if you like the idea or not, well worth it.

Chris

Sign Board / Foam Board

Check with local sign makers.  I've salvaged sign board from signs at the office.  I've seen it called "foam board". 

At the office we have used them for signs at trade fairs etc.  Our logo changed so the old signs were redundant.  There are two types, one has corrigated plastic inside - this one has ribs and is not what I would recommend for backdrops as these ribs would likely show.  Good for signs to be viewed from more than 10 feet, but up close you can see the corrigation.  The other type looks very much like gator board.  Smooth surfaces - takes paint very well. 

It is a laminate with some kind of hard foam inside - it is less than 1/4" thick, and if you check around I'm sure there is a free supply of it.  A sign maker would probably sell you what you want.  

One of the signs I have is 12 feet long - it has no joints so it obviously comes at least that long.  Sadly that long one is only about a foot wide and I'm looking for 18" - 22" high. 

I've also seen it sold in smaller sheets (30" x 40" approx) to be used for science project displays etc, sold at craft shops and Staples etc.

Shorter Backdrop

I would respectfully disagree with you here Dan.  Backdrop height is entirely dependent on variables in layout design the biggest one being your benchwork height.  The closer ot eye level your layout is the less depth in your background you need as you are looking at the world from ground level. 

My layout is roughly 45" off the ground (too low in retrospect) which I've built a 2' high backdrop behind and in my view it's too tall.  I think 18" would have been more ideal.  From your post it appears your thoughts are from your specific situation so your views are valid in that situation but are far from universal. 

Looking at your layout the height is in the same range as mine so a 4' high backdrop would make sense givne the high mountain vistas that you are looking to create.  But if someone is going for a different look that might not be the best approach for what they are after.

Just my $.02 and others are free to disagree.

~rb

Vinyl Flooring is great stuff for back drops

On my 20 X 20 foot railroad I built while living in So.Calif I used Vinyl flooring 32in high X 20foot long. To use the Vinyl flooring I flipped it over and put the shiny side against the wall and painted the back sky blue. It worked very well and lasted for 5 years and would have lasted another 10 years or more had the 1994 double 6.9 earth quakes in So.Cal not dropped the roof of the garage My railroad was in on it.

I got the remnant for $5.00 from the neighborhood Vinyl and Carpet store.

Dan

Big "H"

Hi Nick,

Did not know there were other within 50 miles of here !!!!! Just joking. What do you model.  HO here and not very complicated just simple layout but much on scenrey and details.  Check it out.

Gary

http://photobucket.com/GARYS_TOWN

Backdrop

Somewhat off topic, but can't keep my mouth shut. I recall seeing in a mid 70's Model Railroader about somebody who rounded the backdrop corner into the ceiling. Did anybody else did it?.

Sheetrock does not curve in

Sheetrock does not curve in the corners.  And by curve, I mean a circle with a 6-12" radius.

Backdrops

 WOW! Some great choices/comments. Am looking for a "real lumber store" in my area (believe it to be Carter Lumber) as the local DIY's don't carry homosote (some never even heard of it - that's local "help" for you) or some of the other materials mentioned in your responses. What I wouldn't give for the return of good 'ole fashioned hardware stores with potbellied stoves. . . .ah, giving away my age. . . 

Thanks for all the comments and reads - hope they have helped others. This is a great web site and as my railroad develops, I'm sure that continued input will help me produce one that is really great and meets or exceeds my expectations.