I finally got to the point of installing the photo backdrops I purchased from Trackside Scenery last year. I went with their Valley Flats series to provide a generic wooded backdrop to the paper mill.

After painting the "ceiling" of the benchwork sections with a blue that roughly matches the top of the sky line on the prints, I used 3M 77 adhesive spray to secure the prints directly to the hardboard. I used some spare cardboard to prevent over-spray and a small foam paint roller to roll out the backdrop as I went. I used a sharp hobby knife and straight edge to trim the prints to the correct height and to re-cut the section joints of the layout where the print overlapped.

I secured one end of a tightly rolled print with painters tape along the seam of the bench work, making sure not to press too tightly so I could remove the tape without damaging the print after (I tested this first with left-overs from trimming the print to size). Then I would spray on about 2ft of adhesive spray and slowly roll out the print using the paint roller.

This process worked well except for the last print. I couldn't stop it from creeping up the backdrop and after two attempts of slowly peeling off the adhesive and re-positioning, the print ripped near the top. You really have to make sure that you start square to the backdrop, take your time, and keep everything square as you go. The prints aren't cheap, so I'm not ripping that 8ft section off, and the rip / bumpy scar on the backdrop is large and obvious.

Luckily for me the rip is across the tracks from the wood yard. I can add a wood chip powered power plant that just so happens to be a tall and wide structure that will extend to the top of the backdrop and cover my mistake.

Another learning point - make sure your arms are covered when spraying in such a confined area. I lost a lot of arm hair trying to remove the over spray adhesive on my forearms.

Some photos of the process:

1. Trimming the Prints to Height.

2. Installation.

3 / 4. The Final Product with Fascia and Valence Painted.