OK, benchwork is 90% complete and I am soon ready for homosote and a backdrop. I'm looking for ideas for a lightwieght, low cost backdrop surface I can paint sky blue and airbrush clouds while adding cut-out scenery to the surface for depth illusion. Some have suggested luan and others are proponents of thin plywood - but that seems a bit heavy to me. The layout is a point-to-point which covers 20 feet  with a gentle curve to the right after 8 feet.

Along with trackwork, one of the things to consider early is a choice of power from the many options out there. I'd like to hear from advocates of any system and any "cons" about DCC choices. My concerns are:

Ok, an overview is in order. I like the new design as it serves "an end point" for a single track railroad which is 30 inches wide and covers an "S" curved railroad extending to 20 feet to the other end (a port and small yard area). A diesel switch engine serves each end and  2-8-0's with a max of 6 cars or so run from end to end. There are no interchange tracks and the railroad doesn't serve as a feeder to any other road. It's just for me. . .

Hopefully this is a better design, given that your comments made a lot of sense. There are a few comments and concerns:

I believe I have finally settled on a yard design off the main with an engine facility and caboose track. Your comments are appreciated. The layout is a single track, point-to-point with emphasis on switching (1940's - 1950's) with steam and early diesel.

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