Backdrop Tutorial

Some of you may have heard on the last Model Rail Radio "live" show (11 August 2012) that I got some of my priorities wrong and got into running some trains and doing foreground scenery before painting my backdrops.

So I sought help from BJ (our Guru) and the Monday round robin group to get the problem addressed.

Scenery Tutorial

BJ and I discussing what kind of scenery I want on the backdrop of  Sandgate.

Barry deep in thought  re Sandgate backdrop discussion.

Barry,BJ and myself discussing how we will bring Arlington and Carbondale together while Jim climbs the stairs and takes the shot.

Jim takes a photo of Barry, BJ and myself discussing a scenery backdrop for the un named station and yard, which at the moment is loaded with locos and structures.

Barry and myself discussing  the removal of rolling stock and structures for the proposed backdrop installation.

A draft of  the western wall track ( a no name station at the moment ) might link Arlington.

Jim, BJ and myself discussing the west wall track plan while Barry takes the shot.

Barry playing trains,testing a re-railer.

BJ and myself  deep in thought after the discussion re the scenery and bridge linking the helix.

Photo of  bridge and freelance snow shed linking helix behind stairs.

A photo of  hook up wires connecting Sandgate.

BJ, checking out where Arlington meets Carbondale.

BJ, showing us the artist pastels that he is going to use to mark the backdrop.

BJs  box of  pastels.

BJ drawing an outline from existing scenery at Arlington to match the scenery and backdrop at Carbondale.

Till next time....

August update

The activities since my last post have included:  moving locomotives and rolling stock more than once to allow work in a number of areas, filling and sanding back drop mounting screw holes and backdrop painting.

Moving locomotives & rolling  stock

I spent the best part of a day getting structures,locos & rolling stock off the layout in preparation for filling up screw holes and the backdrop joints.  Seen below is the gear" stacked up on the top level of the western wall.

Back drops

I made a fatal mistake after the track went down by running trains and my imagination kicked in and I forgot the rest for quite a while.

I finally made "the right" decision and got to do some work on  the backdrops before I did any more scenery at track level.

Filling & Sanding

The Monday night group boys Jim ,Barry & Chris came over to finish some filling and sanding down some bog in the joints.

Painting

Barry & Chris Put a splash of blue paint on the backdrops, what a difference it makes!.  See the photos that follow below.

Tunnel cut out

I thought  that I had better cut out the tunnel openings on the Sandgate & Southern end of the layout before I snag myself again regards the backdrop, at the moment clamps are holding it all tight while the glue goes off.

Radius Rods

Jim and I have cut out some radius rods for the folowing radii 42", 40", 38", 36", 34",30", 28", 26", 24" which will help with laying out the track work on the top level of the western wall.

Supervisor

Romeo, my sulphur crested cockatoo performs a racket for the naboure hood if he can't be with me.so I have him down in the cellar with me while I work,( we are both happy campers )

Sandgate

Sandgate at the moment has only been bogged up and sanded.

Western wall upper level

Painted back drop at the moment but is used for storage while we come up with a track plan & how we incorporate the scenery.

Northern wall

Looking over the island behind Sandgate to the northern wall can be seen in the back ground, is the station of Arlington.

Northeast corner

Eastern wall

Sky blue above Carbondale makes a difference

Sky blue above where Carbondale crusher # 2 would sit and start of helix which is on the right hand side.

Southern wall

Painted southern wall sky blue and stairway wall but for got to bog up screw holes

Painted east wall back drop where coal loader meets helix top

Until next time....