New Layout for LASM

[montanan]

That's a nice build. I cobbled a few different truck chassis and bodies together go get what I wanted.

Here's an Alloy Forms Mack cab spliced to a Herpa chassis to make a logging truck for my era. The second logging truck behind the trees is an Imex '48 Peterbilt cab on a chassis from a couple of different truck chassis.

 

[logandsawman]

Your trucks look nice, Chet--


I need to get more of these of these older road tractors. I decided I needed at least one stock truck so will be puttingthis kit together pretty soon:

 

[logandsawman]

Time for a new backdrop!! I could use some feedback on my new backdrop installation. There is currently hot water heat baseboards along the back of the layout.

My plan is to add 4 x 8 sheets of hardboard along the back, but attached to the benchwork. I can get a little more space for some new features.




Along this area I will add a service road along the edge of the layout. I would like the backdrop here to have some landscape in it, like distant hills or the edge of a village or rural.

Would it be smarter to go with just sky?



Over by the coal tower I have more room and thinking about adding some other (backdrop) structures to parallel the track, like grain elevators. Then just sky behind, does that make sense?



Along this edge I will be adding a few inches which will be wooded rocky hillside transitioning up to just sky. I think this is my only option here since the existing hill is in place. There will be Hardboard attached to the back of the layout along here as well. The space varies from 12" to 18" wide. This area is pretty easy to access.


Here is a broader photo of the layout:




THANKS for any/all feedback.

 

[montanan]

Sounds like a good idea. Are you going to link this to your new layout ???

 

[logandsawman]

I decided to get some of these finishing touches done before any work begins on the new layout. This may take me all winter, since I will be putting some slopes along the back of this one to transition to the backdrop.

Still not too keen about linking the layouts.

AND if I can incorporate some of the elements into this layout, like the grain elevators, I will be rethinking the new one; maybe go with a mine scene rather than the rural one.

 

[Motley]

Can you afford the photo backdrops? If so, I highly recommend those, they look really good and create a realistic scene.

I got mine from Backdrop Junction. For 24" high and 12 ft length for Vinyle paper (highest quality) for around $168.00

 

[montanan]

Those are some fantastic backdrops. I had looked into them and after a lot of thought I passed. I had started with Walthers Instant Horizons over 20 years ago. I had blended the hardshell scenery into the backdrop also. If I were to replace everything it would have taken eight backdrops to cover the length of my entire layout. Talk about sticker shock. Got real close to putting in the order but sommon sense took over along with my wallet.

 

[Boris]

Michael, they are fantastic backdrops, worth every penny. However, like Chet, I decided not to order.

 

[logandsawman]

Can you afford the photo backdrops? If so, I highly recommend those, they look really good and create a realistic scene.

I got mine from Backdrop Junction. For 24" high and 12 ft length for Vinyle paper (highest quality) for around $168.00

Michael, Chet, WJLI--thanks for the feedback. Here are some pics of the ones I have been looking at. From their website, I think they match Backdrop Junction in resolution and fabric, also give the option of continuous scenes that would cover the entire 32' of wall that I am looking at covering:



These two hill scenes I am thinking about putting behind the maintenance area

Here is their website. It takes a while to figure out but after looking at their products for over a year I have gotten pretty good at it!

http://backdropwarehouse.com/images01/HL-SKL-80C.jpg

THANKS for the feedback!




Here are two cloud scenes that will go behind the hills and rocky ledges on my layout, I will transition up to them.






This product is made to create a continuous scene which is very appealing.

The backdrop junction ones look very nice but will not extend the entire length of the layout, which is 14 x 16. Also, I am adding a foot and half of yard at one end of the layout and would like it to wrap around the other end of the layout a little.

I am going with 42 or 48" height.

 

[Lynnb]

Nice job on the truck and nice photos of the layout.

 

[wombat457]

Your backdrops, or thoughts for them, look excellent and will certainly compliment your work Want to thank you for the "broader pictures" of your layout as well ... it now comes together for me with a lit more clarity and just emphasizes how good it all looks!

 

[logandsawman]

Tony and Lynn, thanks for the feedback!! I know stuff sometimes gets lost in threads so the broad photos posted at #563, I hoped, would be benificial.

When taking photos I am usually getting a smaller area because the details get lost otherwise.

 

[wombat457]

LASM,

Know what you mean, you post your entire layout at the start of a thread and then focus on the detail which is normal I'd think. I guess sometimes us "oldies" forget what we have read/seen a thousand or so posts ago

 

[logandsawman]

I made some progress on the backdrop project yesterday, was able to pull the table out to make more room to work and also geting a good idea on how to apply the backdrop.

In the first shot I moved the layout 1' away from the back wall. You can see the baseboard heater. I think I will be moving it out another 6" or so. I will be adding about 4" of scenery.




Here you can see how the whole thing looks before the new backdrop goes in



I took off everything not glued down, in order to minimize the damage.



On this side of the layout I will be adding about 6" of scenery to the back, will be trimming off some of the foam sticking out; also add more vegetation to the hill.



The backdrop will be applied to Hardboard and be free standing on 2 x 2 pine supports, which will eventually attached to the back of the layout. I am also going for curved corners in the back and on the two ends. I will have to figure out something other than hardboard for that because there is only room for about 12" radius.

 

[montanan]

That should make a big difference. Waiting to see how it comes out. Good Luck.

 

[DairyStateDad]

On the coved corners -- here's an idea to look at http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/realistic-scenery/2010/02/compact-coved-backdrop-corners

 

[logandsawman]

Hi Erik--It is good to hear from you!! Great idea, will save a bunch of work. I was going to curve some formica but this is a way better way to get around the corners.

Thanks for the great information!!

 

[wombat457]

LASM,

That is a big undertaking but am sure it will look great when done.

 

[logandsawman]

Thanks, Tony--One problem I am running into right away is the temptation to add all sort of stuff now that I have easy access to the back of the layout!

Grain elevator?

Gravel road, bridge and stream lining up with RR bridges? Along the back side from the loco maintenance shed all the way to the other wall.

More landscaping. This will happen for sure because the backdrop has to blend in

Also thinking about redoing the yard to lengthen it about 1' also taking out the end 3 tracks and cramming 4 or 5 into that space.

Then, of course, I have to build the framework to hang the backdrop on.


When all this is done, I can start on the layout for the other room

 

[montanan]

David, when it came to corners, I used a heavy piece of construction paper or poster board which I taped right to the walls in the corner to round off the corners.

Here are a couple of examples. The corner is above the right side of the roundhouse.



In this picture, the scenery isn't complete, but I try to work the hardshell scenery into the backdrop. Here the road will continue into the backdrop when completed.



In this picture, the same was done in the far left corner, working the mountain backdrop into the hardshell scenery.



Ii was a bit of fun to work things together.

................................................................... Chet