Backdrop on blue foamboard? Update-it works

Hi Don, good idea relating to foam insulation. I just bought a tube of foam friendly adhesive today at Home Depot, the tube goes into a caulking gun. You can adhere the foam to cement wall using this also.

I would adhere the Masonite to the foam board using the foam friendly adhesive then mount the backdrop to the Masonite. I think adhering the backdrop to a hard surface would be better IMO. I used 3M spray adhesive for backdrop.

TEX
Steve

I'm painting my backdrop directly on the blue foamboard.

John

If your painting on that blue foam, make sure you use a paint that will stick! I think I found acrylic works good. Also, I found that you can peel off the plastic film covering the board and it adheres even better!

The only downfall for foam back drops is it is a fire hazard. In some states extruded foam has be banned from home building insulation due to its burn rate.
Some fire-fighters I have spoken with have said that fires can build inside a wall due to an electrical short and you won't even know it or see it, but the wall is hot to the touch.

Now for a train layout the above is probably not even an issue. But after finding this information out, I have limited my foam use to scenery only.

quote:

You can adhere the foam to cement wall using this also.

You may not be able to if the wall is painted. I had my downstairs remodeled, professionally if it matters, and the had to put up studding because I had painted my cement block.

They claimed that not even the adhesive (sorry, drawing a blank on the very common name brand) for construction would hold.

Not saying that I know, just saying.

- walt

quote:

Originally posted by walt rapp:
They claimed that not even the adhesive (sorry, drawing a blank on the very common name brand) for construction would hold.

Liquid nails?

I will agree with JDaddy's post above. Leaving exposed foam like that is asking for trouble. Studding the wall and insulating, then following up with drywall is a much safer option.

My 2 cents.

Chris
LVHR

quote:

Liquid nails?

Yes, thank you. Can't believe I couldn't remember it!!!

- walt

I prefer backdrops that are attached to the benchwork, not to the walls.

Benchwork with backdrop supports installed. Would work with either masonite or thick foam backdrops:




I don't like attaching anything directly to basement walls. Of course, if I had the means to finish my basement, then my ideal would be backdrops painted on drywall over studding for an around-the-walls layout.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by tackindy:
If your painting on that blue foam, make sure you use a paint that will stick! I think I found acrylic works good. Also, I found that you can peel off the plastic film covering the board and it adheres even better!

I did and it does. Also the foam is glued to painted/sealed cement block and it's been holding for ten years now. It's two inches thick and keeps the walls from frosting when the temp goes south of zero.

Re fire: It's a non-issue...the foam, wood, etc, that is on the layout is FAR more likely to be exposed to an ignition source than the walls. No wires on the wall. And I use a hot foam knife to help shape the scenery.

John

If you are attaching a premade backdrop to the foam, I use double sided carpet tape. Works well.

LockTite Power grab is a good adhesive and will not melt the styrofoam. You can get it in caulking gun dispenser tubes are smaller squeeze tubs. Sprayment/F-77 will react badly to the foam and make a mess.

Its the toxic fumes that it emits in a fire that is the problem.It can knock out a fireman who enters the house to save somebody.Or it could do the same to you before you get out.Supposed to fire proof it.Just seen it on a tv show last night.Different in every state as far as codes go.

quote:

Originally posted by yamaha226:
Its the toxic fumes that it emits in a fire that is the problem.It can knock out a fireman who enters the house to save somebody.Or it could do the same to you before you get out.Supposed to fire proof it.Just seen it on a tv show last night.Different in every state as far as codes go.

There are a lot of toxic smoke producing materials in a house, foam upholstery is a big one. A fireman would be on supplied air (SCBA) if he had to do a rescue. Anyway, I'm not too worried about my backdrop catching on fire. I will continue to paint.

John

I would to.Just saying.

Thank you guys for all the input. On this layout, the backdrop is an afterthought. The concrete block walls are very nicely finished with an epoxy type of coating and is adhering well. The layout structure is already built with track layed and powered. I agree that painting the foam board will help adhering the backdrop. The studded wall with wallboard would be great except for additional costs and in a 20 x 20 room would cost you almost 40 square feet of layout space.

Plans are to attach the photo backdrops to the painted 1/2 inch foam board which will rest on the top of the layout. There are some 2 inch wide rolls of Velcro that have an extremely aggressive adhesive backs. By using the Velcro, the backdrops could be easily removed if needed.

One large question I am still wrestling with is should the paper backdrops be completely adhered to the foam board or just use the carpet tape mentioned above on the top of the backdrop and just let the rest hang?

Thanks for the input,
Don

Since so many were nice enough to respond to my initial inquiry, I thought I would do an update on the installation of backdrops on blue foamboard.  I have now done three walls on my friends layout using 4 x 8 sheets of 1/2 inch blue foamboard.  I used three different companies paper backdrops (the Border Store, Faller and Realistic Backgrounds).  I used 3M spray adhesive (the one that says safe for foam at HD), spraying about 24 inch lengths at a time and carefully rolled backdrop onto glued area, working any bubbles out as I went.  After allowing the glue to set for several hours, I placed 2 x 2 inch pieces of heavy duty Velcro (hoop and loop sides already placed together.  With the protective paper removed from the side to adhere to the wall, I carefully positioned the complete panel and pushed the Velcro against the wall.  Because the finished product is so lite, it stays in place easily.

 

My friend is very pleased with the three walls and now wants to tackle the fourth wall.

 

This may be the easiest backdrops I have ever installed.

 

Happy railroading,

Don