Backdrops On Sloped Walls???

I visited similar arrangement recently and the owner painted (or had someone paint) trees and mountains and clouds.  Nothing too fancy, it was quite effective in masking the roofline and walls. 

Bill,

On my old garage layout I had trees on the wall and at the time I thought they looked kinda hokey.  I made a stamp from a piece of dense foam rubber for a tree trunk, then used pieces of sponge to dab the leaves in place.  Here's a photo what they looked like:

Maybe hokey, but they did liven up the background a bit and worth another look!

I think the blue as you have it looks fine.   And, as you say, if you were to drop panels down vertically they would usurp your space.

I'm going to have sloped walls on my attic layout, too, so I'm anxious to see more pictures on this thread.

I would think cloud wall paper works just about anywhere.

Mike,

Good stuff!  I don't know if it would work on my walls though.  The folks who lived there before me put that "popcorn" plaster on the walls and it's extremely lumpy, not sure if any kind of paper would stick.

On the wall that slopes down to the table surface I simply laid strips I cut off a piece of horsehair filter material, you can just see it in top of this photo:

At least it semi-looks like a hedge and covers up the edge where the 2 surfaces meet.

There's not much room between the track and the sloped wall on this side, at least not enough to put in any kind of building flats, although a "scenery flat" may fit, if there is such a thing.

Wall paper clouds may not work but sponge clouds will work great! Vary your color values. Start with whatever Sky Value you would like for the "under paint" which is actually the entire wall area being painted with one or two colors first. You might not like bright blue, cheery sky colors, you might like a lighter greyish blue. You can roll this on.  Then find 2 different sized sea sponges @ Lowes. Dap your larger sponge into the first  cloud color and dab, dab, dab. Remember to keep darker values at the bottom. But you can dab a few darker spots into the upper regions just not too much. You want  Lighter at top. This will open your space instead of closing you in. Next take the smaller sea sponge and again dab a different cloud color onto and around your first dabbed clouds! It's very simple and children love to do this type painting (12& up) wala! You have Awesome sky! 

and the popcorn plaster gives it a textured look.

Something to think about.

Fran Ford 

Fran, you're just what this site needed...an artist with an interest in choo-choos. You've got a great idea here.

Fran,

Thanks for the tip  

I've seen those sponges at Lowes and never paid them any mind, they'll be on my list next time.

I have the same and went for blue sky and clouds.

MIKE

Fran makes a good point for doing the clouds and sky, however, before doing that, take a sheet rock mud knife (a 6" wide blade) and scrape the popcorn off of the slopped ceiling/wall.  It is not really hard, just need to use a little care so you don't gouge the wall.  Doing this will make the backdrop look much better than if you leave them.  No offence meant towards Fran but I can assure you if you leave the popcorn the backdrop will not look good at all.  They will stand out like a sore thumb.  After you've done this, use her methods that she described and you will have a good looking backdrop.

Cheers,

In my 9x16 round-the-room layout, my ceiling pitch/slope is only 13" above the benchwork at the knee wall. I will be using various structure fronts on certain areas especially near the corners but eventually expect to have a mural or some sort of  landscape background painted. I Installed 13"x 8' long 1/8" Masonite panels Velcroed to the drywall for removal and placement on easels for decoration if needed. All the wall and sloped ceiling space above benchwork is painted sky blue.

The layout is a work-in-process with much remaining to be done. Old photo below shows both the wall and backside of a blue Masonite panel Velcroed ready for installation next to previously installed panel. Second more recent photo shows where I am "working" the corners with structures and awaiting 7 Fronts along the side wall near the boxcar. Structures and fronts will be spot Velcroed to the panels with small pieces enabling removal if necessary. Third photo is the "other" corner where I am working on a sawmill and lumber yard

Man Dewey, I can't wait to see the finished product! What station is yours a replica of? 

One way to gain an extra half foot or so of backdrop height with sloped walls is to design a track plan where the farthest track is actually located behind the backdrop. This moves the backdrop forward allowing for more height.

That track doesn't have to be totally hidden as it can appear and disappear between building flats or scenic features. Some use that track for hidden staging or storage of trains on the layout. 

Jim

Dewey/Jim,

I could combine your suggestions, making a backdrop in front of the track AND Velcro-ing it so that IF a train derails (or clean the track), I can get to it without a lot of grief.  Now...how do you keep cats from exploring behind it?!?!?!

Bob,

Funny you should mention that!

The train store layout that Don Klose and I are currently re-building is the favorite hiding/napping place for the store's two watch-cats, Dellie and Hudson. Yes, we are in D&H country!

They have to inspect each batch of Sculptamold or plaster and sniff each new item added to the layout. Scratches behind the ear and/or belly rubs are also required on the hour, each hour of the day.

Some hiding spots may not be so comfortable once trains start running though.

To answer your question ---- Good luck with that one!

Jim

All the more reason to finish all sides of your buildings!   

...and line the tunnels! I may not be too popular when I do that later this week. 

Jim

Fran

The main building in the corner with the "sawtooth" roof [earlier photo]and the Powerhouse behind with Harry Hieke's Stack, is a combination of Kober kits fabricated by Joe Fauty of Model Structures. It represents a much compressed version of a Textile[Denim]Mill where I once worked.  Already weaving a shipment of Denim for Levi 501 Jeans. Only one bale of cotton remaining at the warehouses, but a  boxcar load is enroute from the Lil Bale Co. down in the Delta. Tall mock up behind main building will be a cloth warehouse with billboard on top. Mill Village commercial area of 7 Fronts will be located along the wall behind the boxcar.

Bob D.

I explained to my cat Buddy that tinkering with[or on] the layout meant a trip in a sack with two stones to the nearby lake. He now prefers to crawl under the layout and behind the Craftsman standing toolbox and hide while he naps.

Jim,

The cat story is great!  Here's our female lily inspecting the layout when I first laid track:

That spot has some scenery turf on it now, but it's covered by cat hair

I need to get my 2 preoccupied with something else, like bird watching:

The gray one is Max, poor Lily doesn't stand a chance with him around.

They both tend to follow the train around the layout, but I've found they don't like the smoke.  If I make them get down once they usually don't get back up until after I'm done running trains.  But if I make any kind of hole for them to crawl into I'm sure they'll be all over it.