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Backdrops. Photobackdrops Scenery and structures
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Active Member 74 posts Seepy Creek Active Member 74 posts
Seepy Creek

Backdrops. That's the topic that sends chills down my spine. I can have at a loco, turnout or stucture and get away with it, but backdrops? Hmm. Different caper altogether that. I have painted some pr-etty ordinary scenes in the past.

I have seen the beautiful examplesin recent articles utilising photos as part of a backdrop. There's just one niggle to my mind in this regard. You see super detailed photos and no matter how crazy-keen you are at detailing models, they still look like,well, models. Very good ones, but when you see New England in the autumn up the back, there is a difference.

So here's the thing. What about photos of model scenery?  For example, a nice low shot of the F&SM's tall structures for an urban layout (such as mine). Your mind knows that the photo is of a model and accepts that ,so in theory should blend in more readily to the viewer's eye to the 3D model foreground.

It also aids in keeping the foreground to the fore.What say you?

 

Lesson # 465.2

Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.

 
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wp8thsub MRH Author 3,348 posts
wp8thsub

I've Seen it Done

I visited a layout in California where the photo backdrops were mostly of model structures, with some editing for aerial and linear perspective.  They really worked well, since the colors and textures matched those of the 3-D buildings.  The backdrop artist, who created both the photo and painted areas, was a guy named Glenn Shimada.  I haven't seen many photos of his work online, but here are a few http://cs.trains.com/mrr/m/mrr-layouts/2244446.aspx  http://cs.trains.com/mrr/m/mrr-layouts/2244445.aspx  http://cs.trains.com/mrr/m/mrr-layouts/2244443.aspx .

Rob Spangler MRH Blog
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Dave K skiloff Prolific poster 4,031 posts
Dave K skiloff

That is very cool

I've never seen that before, Rob, thanks for linking those photos.  Perhaps there is a market for someone like Backdrop Warehouse to make photo backdrops of model buildings.

Dave
Playing around in HO and N scale since 1976
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dantept Regular poster 265 posts
dantept

Backdrops/Photo Backdrops

Cool indeed!  Makes great sense.

Dante
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UPWilly Prolific poster 1,965 posts
UPWilly

Another suggestion

Have you considered Backdrop Junction? They were (and may still be) sponsors/advertisers in MRH.

http://www.backdropjunction.com/

They have large format backdrops, cutouts and waterslide decals (the decals offered are just rolling stock graffiti). I believe that they at one time would take suggestions, so you may get your design idea into their product line.

 

Bill D.

egendpic.jpg 

N Scale (1:160), not N Gauge. DC (analog), Stapleton PWM Throttle.

Proto-freelance Southwest U.S. 2nd half 20th Century.

Keep on trackin'
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Thanks for the idea!

I really like that idea! With permission you could take pix of other modeler's structures and using photo editing software assemble backdrops only limited by your imagination.

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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BackdropJunction Active Member 43 posts
BackdropJunction

Hows this look?

%20shift.jpg 

Hey guys, I saw the posts and wanted to see what you thought of this.  It is a rough job but ifits something you like I have anumber of scenes that might benefit from the treatment.  The original is on my website under IND006.  This effect is called tilt shift and tends to make the image look more model like in some ways.

Mountain scenes would likely not benefit much from the effect but certain industrial and maybe city scenes might.  If you like it I may try a few more.

 

Thanks

 

Dave Burgess

For the finest in Custom Photo Backdrop

http://www.backdropjunction.com

1-800-615-3423

 

 
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Seepy Creek Active Member 74 posts
Seepy Creek

how's it look?

Yeah Dave that's on track with my train of thought.

I think the trick is to at least smudge out some of the detail of the real photos at least.

I've got a few pics of the F&SM which I'll try to tweak. I don't want any trains or high aerial shots as my layout's already 54" or so up and I can't see the tops of my 3d flats now. But just to fill in between my flats would be nice.

cheers

Andrew

 

Lesson # 465.2

Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.

 
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Tomkat Active Member 32 posts
Tomkat

My links Back drop

My links

Back drop buildings http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/190349.aspx

 

Signs:  http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/162879.aspx
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