New Layout 2022

I learned about WAGO connectors and purchased the gray ones, not knowing clear ones existed.  I really like them a lot.  Looking forward to seeing more when you have the time to get something done on the layout.

I posted this on Putnam Division's new layout thread, but it also belongs here. This is the lighting arrangement installed by my son-in-law who is an electrician. Two banks of Halo recessed LEDs wired to be controlled separately or together, meaning each side or both. The existing "pillow" LED was in place originally. Material obtained at Home Depot in a six-pack. All are dimmable. HD didn't have a dimmable LED control, but I sourced it on Amazon, $67.

Here is the control. Slider is for the pillow light. Sorry for the crummy pic.

Planning the backdrop installation today. I am straying from convention by attaching the backdrop so it can be removed in the future. After checking all the sources for O-gauge backdrops, I settled with SceniKing from Ontario, Canada. Trying to find a continuous scene that would blend together, but also segue from city on the left to rural on the right over a distance of 28 feet was not easy. Les Mavor is the owner and has many available scenes in many scales.

My plan is to model the LIRR, condensed from NYC on the left out to the end of the Island at GY/MY on the right. Because there is a knee wall on the long side of the layout, I am limited to a height of 18" above tabletop and still have enough of the backdrop visible to provide the "looking into the distance" effect.

Five panels of the material that they make lawn signs with were ordered from a local sign shop. Each panel is 16" high and 72" long.

The SceniKing panels are 17" high and 72 1/2" long, allowing for adjustment to size needed. I plan to glue the scenes to the sign board using Krylon Easy-Tack 7020 repositionable adhesive as suggested by Les. Then, after the assembled panels have dried, they will be installed on the wall using clear mirror clips. This is all being done as the reasoning is that when we move (maybe 5 to 10 Years) I can remove the backdrop with not having to peel it off the wall and maybe damaging the drywall, with only having screw holes to repair and paint.

Its been so hot and humid here, however and nothing as far as assembly of the panels has occurred. The work needs to be done outdoors to avoid overspray on the floor. Found the adhesive at a local Hobby Lobby.

Looks like a good plan!  I think it’s a good idea to make the backdrop removable.  You just never know what will happen.

May I ask why you are going to the expense of 1/2" baltic birch plywood only to cover it with homasote? I would think there are other types of plywood that would be just as strong but at less cost and easier to find.

Jack,

It is available with "football" fillers over the knots for less money. The idea is that there are more  layers in the panel, giving it more strength over a certain span. I have areas that are 3 and 4 feet apart over the Mianne I-beams, so I will use the BB to be sure that there is no play in the tabletop between supports.

Its a year and six weeks later. Last years' 9-week drought, leading into winter and then a new kitchen have passed. The weather here is perfect for resuming work needed to be done outdoors (and in the garage), so its time to get the backdrop panels glued up and installed.

Test piece to get a feel for spraying the adhesive:

I used two perfectly flat doors as an assembly "press". Both covered in wax paper to prevent accidental attachment of the panel to the wood:

First panel glued up and centered on the backing:

Second door used to sandwich the glued panel. This ensures the scene is flat with no bubbles.

Added some weight to keep the pressure on the "sandwich":

And the next panel ready for the same operation. There are a total of five.

I let the units dry for two hours, then move on to the next. I won't go on about the rest because its repetitive. After all the panels are prepared, the next task is to install them on the wall behind the gridwork. More later......

It’s funny how time can pass so quickly.  That looks like a good method for securing the backdrops to a backing.  That will really improve the look of the layout room when installed.

OK, we have a setback. After the first two panels were done on the same day, they were both put in an air-conditioned room where the layout is. The next morning I found them with air bubbles all over them. I either used too much glue, or I did not leave them in the "press" long enough.

The third panel I did yesterday is still in the press in the garage. As of now, its dead flat. Its been there for 32 hours now and I will bring it in later tonight.

Luckily, I can slowly remove the first two panels from the backing to re-do them, but rain is coming so they will have to wait due to humidity factors.

Apparently, this part of the project will take a bit of time.

And I forgot to mention, the wife's car lives in the garage, which is why this is so weather-related.

So on we go. I have learned to accept the bubbles in the panels, they only appear under lighting, but not in a darkness scene. I can live with that, and redoing the bubbly panels is not a good idea. Know what? Don't tell anyone unless they see it! Here is today's work with wifey, who is a great helper and idea maker. Starting to put up panels from left to right, with the scene overlap under the left panel as we go.

Left end panel that (kinda) represents NYC east manhattan to the east river:

Next panel is the one that will be behind the MTH Hellgate Bridge, that segues into a suburban scene. We have been using 1/4" mirror clips that capture the backing perfectly. The method we use is after the panels are prepared, we use a plastic tile end strip moulding that captures the assembled panel and holds the panels without any glue. here's a short shot of the assembly for the bottom panels:

Hellgate panel section:

And the progress that ended today:

Getting there....

The backdrop is looking great!  This is the first I have seen this method of attaching backdrops to the wall.  Excellent choice!

Thanks Mark. We cut and glued up the remaining three panels today. They are in the press in the garage for the next 24+ hours. Hopefully we don't get any more significant bubbling of the paper. I think I used too much glue for the first three and took them out of the press too early. Time will tell.

The weather here on Long Island was fantastic yesterday and today, so we took advantage of that. Rain coming soon, though. Next post will be final installation of the panels and viewing test with the HG Bridge in place to check perspective.

Backdrop assembly is complete. Hung the last three panels this afternoon.

The backdrop looks great!  

Thanks Mark

@452 Card posted:

Backdrop assembly is complete. Hung the last three panels this afternoon.

Looks great. Took this photo from the top of the arrivals ramp at LGA recently.

That's the look I'm going for. Not too much of the NYC skyline, and the park that surrounds the south end of the bridge. Can I save that pic?

Testing the perspective using the MTH bridge in its approximate position. There will be elevated sections on both ends of the bridge that should block the view of the lower side of the backdrop.

Ballast practice attempt #1. Just used a chip brush and a straight edge to get the feel. No glue yet until I get the hang of it. Ross sectional on RossBed. Hand-mixed ballast using 5 to 1 ratio, roof granules with coarse gray blend for color mix. Two shots, flash on and flash off.