Pre-war Display Layout Backdrops

I have no idea but would love to see your results!

Use your computer to blow up the photos and drawings you have as a pattern.

Do a "paint by numbers" over the pattern with markers or paint.

The backgrounds were often low relief and like the tunnels offered at the time.

They were made by assembly workers not artists.

We have computers to do most for the hard work for us now.

if someone had a larger print, or even an original, it could be high resolution scanned and reprinted. Scanning the page from the catalog is doable, but those offset dots wold be the size of dimes. But it could be done with the method of using the scan as a base, but it's a lot more work than hitting a button not he computer. I do restoration retouching, it can be a mind numbing bore and literally a pain in the neck.  

There may be copyright issues so you may not be able to sell them, but they would be awesome.

There are five pieces: two different sky backdrops and three different 'mountains'. Each has a small Lionel billboard pictured.

Ron M

Steve,

If you have a Community College or Business College nearby you might be in luck. Contact the Graphic Arts Department, ask a senior Instructor if his/her brightest student(s) can be hired. Show what you have and explain what size you would like your finished piece to be. You will be helping inspiring graphic artists with a taste of the real world. Discuss the materials and paints you would like plus the cost. And for goodness sake, don't be a tight-wad. After all, one of these individuals just might turn out to be very handy with an airbrush. The next time you need a train painter.

God Bless,

"Pappy" 

Thanks for the suggestions everyone... I've built a lot of layouts over the years in various scales, but never got around to backdrops beyond the ready made variety.  I'll keep you all posted of my progress.

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress... mainly because I'm imagining how nice that backdrop would look behind my layout... 

I was just given a prewar layout and would be very interested in doing the same.

looking forward to seeing the results.

Doug

Here's a shot of the billboard that Lionel placed on their backdrops. They were printed and then glued to ~1/8" thick poster board type material.  Ron M