Looking for Illustrated Layout Backdrop Sources, Not Photo Backdrops

@JBuettner posted:

I would like to create some backdrops for my layout that are not photo realistic backdrops (I know there are many good sources for those) but rather Postwar toy trains "retro" style, such as the illustrated or artistic imagery of the old Gilbert / American Flyer Trainorama or even that from old Postwar Lionel catalogs. Does anyone know of any sources or vendors for that kind of illustrated backdrop imagery, especially in hi-res digital form?

Have you tried The Scenery Sourcelist?

@JBuettner posted:

I would like to create some backdrops for my layout that are not photo realistic backdrops (I know there are many good sources for those) but rather Postwar toy trains "retro" style, such as the illustrated or artistic imagery of the old Gilbert / American Flyer Trainorama or even that from old Postwar Lionel catalogs. Does anyone know of any sources or vendors for that kind of illustrated backdrop imagery, especially in hi-res digital form?

If you have samples of such retro artwork (best a direct copy, but a more or less straight-on photo can often be manipulated to do the job), most of the "photo realistic backdrop" places would be happy to do up custom backdrops using your graphic, at least based on my limited experience in such things.

@Training Wheels posted:

Have you tried The Scenery Sourcelist?

Yes, I did. It’s a great resource and I’ve used it several times for various things, but didn’t really list any vendors who had what I was looking for, thus my open question to the Forum members.

@Steve Tyler posted:

If you have samples of such retro artwork (best a direct copy, but a more or less straight-on photo can often be manipulated to do the job), most of the "photo realistic backdrop" places would be happy to do up custom backdrops using your graphic, at least based on my limited experience in such things.

I think that I will search at York. Even if I could find just pieces of an old broken up Trainorama, I can scan them and then Photoshop into a custom backdrop.

@JBuettner posted:

I think that I will search at York. Even if I could find just pieces of an old broken up Trainorama, I can scan them and then Photoshop into a custom backdrop.

I tried a Google search of "retro train background" and got a few interesting graphic results you might want to consider . . . good luck, in any event!

I really like your idea of the AF TrainORama.  Why not just post a search on the popular auction site?

@Ted S posted:

I really like your idea of the AF TrainORama.  Why not just post a search on the popular auction site?

Before I go to the Bay, I'll scrounge around at York and some other upcoming shows. I find that more fulfilling and fun to do! And maybe I'll find something that I didn't expect that will work for my purposes and meet my sense of vintage toy train nostalgia and scenics. I was just hoping some vendor had the same idea and was offering such illustrated backdrops.

Dunham studios has a backdrop very similar to what you are looking for.  Try hi-rail backdrops first and then try painterly backdrops.  Both are artistic interpretations, not photos and one is representative of a Lionel catalog image.