As I've been really getting into (and enjoying!) weathering my engines and rolling stock, I've realized that my current tiny layout is rather toy-like in appearance. It just doesn't seem to do justice to the highly-detailed and more realistic-looking trains when photographing them. My solution was to build a diorama/backdrop specifically with shooting pictures in mind.
My idea was kick-started when I spotted a backdrop for sale at a train show last month. The person selling it made it himself. He took several photos of an actual pond near his house here in Massachusetts in peak autumn foliage, then blew them up, printed them out and attached them to foam-core board. He used the backdrop on a corner of his layout for a while, but was now offering it for sale. Needless to say, we made a deal and I took it home. Fall is my favorite season...and I knew just what I wanted to do with it!
This past week I built a two-track mainline that appears to run past the pond. I used Atlas 2-rail track and then ballasted & weathered it to make it look as realistic as possible. I then added scenic details such as grasses, shrubs, cinders, "old" broken ties, dead fall tree trunks and branches, etc. I tried to match the type of scenery and colors in the photo backdrop as close as I could so everything would appear to blend together.
The diorama is built on foam insulation board, and the backdrop is attached to the diorama with several strips of Velcro on the back. Here are some photos of the project while under construction and then finished. Thanks for taking the time to look!!
Excellent!
The pictures with the engine look very realistic. Nice job on the weathering. 
