Backdrops

A couple updates on this topic:

1. Rolled vinyl is no longer available through Home Depot, but Michael Petersen of Iowa Scaled Engineering shared that the 24"x50' YorkShield white vinyl flashing is available from MasonPro by emailing Tony Decia < tony@masonpro.com> .  As of February, it was $56 plus $23.75 for shipping (but like everything else, that's probably gone up since then), or you can get the 18"x50' at  https://www.walmart.com/ip/York-RESYSVN12-50-WH-Vinyl-Multi-Purpose-Flashing-Roll-12-W-x-600-L-in/390502128 .
2. I finally got around to installing the 24" wide vinyl flashing I bought from MasonPro recently, and it worked exactly as Bernie said.  For coving, it couldn't be simpler, and it went in really fast.  You just measure the height of the scene, cut the vinyl to length with scissors, apply the cove base adhesive, and position the vinyl.  Here are a few pics:

(And yes, I wish I'd thought about the coving when I had the cold air return placed there.  It's frustrating when you're building a layout that's intended to correct the mistakes you made in your old one...but then you just find new mistakes to make. )

Finally, here's the peninsula backdrop, built with the same vinyl.  I forgot to take in-progress pics of the support system, but it's just 1x2 and 1x4 vertical supports (the latter only because I ran out of 1x2s and wanted to use up the material I had on hand), with 3"x8' Masonite strips running horizontally along the top and bottom, attached to the vertical supports using adhesive caulk.  I got the idea for the latter from Rick Gartrell ("HN1951" here).  I attached the vinyl to the Masonite using the same cove base adhesive used on the coved corners, then clamped as it dried.

I'm currently mudding and sanding the points where the vinyl meets the wall, then plan to finish the priming and painting over the next couple days.  I hope to post an update at that time.

Looking Good!

Joe, that look really good.  Nice job!

How did you keep the vinyl from falling over or bending as you installed it?  Did you progressively unroll the vinyl as you attached it to the supports?

Michael

Michael

Thanks Michael.  My method was to unroll several feet, rest the roll standing up further down the benchwork, then clamp the vinyl to the Masonite strips.  I'd then spread more cove base adhesive down the next few feet and repeat the process.

I have to say, though, while the coved corners can be done easily by one person, the peninsula backdrop would have been much easier with one or two helpers.  I underestimated how difficult it'd be to position the backdrop and apply the clamps while trying to prevent the roll from throwing things off.

Do you have any photo's of

Do you have any photo's of the support structure for the peninsula backdrop?  I will need to be installing something like that.  I was thinking of hardboard but not sure how curve-able it is

Jim

Hi Jim - I forgot to take in-progress pics of the support system, but it's just 1x2 and 1x4 vertical supports, with 3"x8' Masonite strips running horizontally along the top and bottom, attached to the vertical supports using adhesive caulk.  I got the idea for the latter from Rick Gartrell ("HN1951" here).

Finished

I finished sanding, priming, and painting the coving, peninsula backdrop, and cold air returns literally the moment that visitors starting arriving today.  This is the OS Omaha op session weekend, and my goal was to have the backdrops done for the open house.  Mission accomplished!

Backdrops Looking Great

Hey Joe,

Backdrops look great and they make a huge difference in separating scenes around the layout.  

-Neil Schofield

Neil

Thanks Neil.  Nice to have that step behind me.

Now if I could just solve my ballast problem!  I finally got my AR&M order, but the "white limestone" was...orangey-tan. 

I'm hoping they'll take care of it and that they have something much closer to very light gray or white that I can exchange for. 

What's in the foreground was what I sifted from bulk limestone purchased at a local landscape rock supplier.  While I love the color and variation, it took 90 minutes to sift enough for about 3' of track, and I think it's still too large.

Installing peninsula backdrop

When working with a long sheet of thin material like vinyl flashing, my choice for background covering: First I would (re-)roll it face side in in a roll about 18" in diameter.  I would then simply strategically place a pinch clamp, or even a couple spring clothespins along the top end of the roll to keep it from unrolling or falling over as I applied it from left to right (counter clockwise) around the support Moving the clamp in towards the center of the roll one layer at a time. If the surface in front of the support was too uneven for the roll to stand, another way to work with it is to find a cardboard box about 12"- 16" cubed, tape all the bottom edges securely with clear or tan plastic packing tape. Slit one side from top to bottom about 2" from the corner. Roll the vinyl flashing backside out. Stand the roll in the box allowing it to unroll until it is snug in the box and feed the end out the slit so you can pull it out like a roll of aluminum foil as you work around the support again left to right. If the roll still wants to fall over, tape a larger piece of cardboard. say 24 x 24" to the bottom of the box to give it a larger base.

Arizona Rock & Mineral

Joe, 

When it comes to light gray rock, I get AR&M's Northern Pacific Medium Gray Granite, No. 130-x. 

Looks really good!

Joe

The backdrop certainly came out looking good.  Thanks for the shout-out and I'm glad I was to help with the hints.

Thank you

Thanks Jeff.  That looks really good.  I think it might be a bit too dark to represent IAIS ballast, but something I'll definitely keep in mind.

Thanks very much Rick!  Your tips were a huge help on the peninsula.

Ballast

Just so you know, the ballast along Highway 6 (Anita to Wyota) Has been kinda a pink/red color for as long as I can remember (Probably about 2009) so that gives it 3 years to change but still good to know.
By the way great progress on that, can’t wait to see how the Bridges go, there’s a lot of them along the stretch between Wyota and Adair, The most interesting most likely being kinda near where the train robbery happened. 
Anyways if you need anymore info on stuff, just let me know, I will be back in Iowa In December, So I’m not sure how much I can go look around in the winter but I will try!

Cameron

Thanks Cameron.  Agreed about that "Pink Lady" ballast being around for a long time.  However, I've never seen any evidence of it existing back in my 2005 era on the IAIS.

And thanks for the bridge tips.  I'm thinking I'll likely just have one small one east of Anita.  I know the one you're talking about by the train robbery marker, but it's too big for the space I have.

I appreciate your offer to help!  Have a nice Thanksgiving.