Tinplate backdrop suggestions

Here's a pic of my backdrop.  It was originally designed for a postwar layout, but I think the Art-deco look goes well with tinplate.  This was commissioned by a friend's father in the mid-50s, so it's a one-off that was personalized for the family.

It is painted on hardboard.  Looks like it wouldn't be too difficult to do something similar, and the fact that the top is cut along the profiles of the buildings gives it some depth.

That looks great; I really like it! Thanks!

@BlueComet400 posted:

Good evening,

I'm looking for input on what to do for a backdrop, if any, for the wall behind the terrace in the photo. This is predominantly a prewar tinplate layout, so I'd like to keep the backdrop toy-like in appearance. There will be a lane of O Gauge running between the wall and the back of the terrace. If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. The other option would be to add another row of shelving and let the trains fill up as much of the wall as possible. I can definitely use the shelf space but thought I'd toss this out and see what ideas might come up. Many thanks!

John

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An option with a real toy train 'feel' is a Gilbert No. 790 Trainorama. These are findable and reproductions have been made. See:

https://thegilbertgallery.org/...lery/Trainorama.html

Happy hunting!

Bob

How about making tinplate building flats as a background. Here's the material you will need.

1) Mounting board or use your wall.

2)Decorative metal screens from Lowes, Home Depot or Menards.

3)Reflective window film. About $30.00 a roll from Lowes.

4)Tin snipes or even better the airplane sheers from Harbor Freight.
Pick out your design Please keep in mind the the Union Jack design is more difficult to cut.
Cut out your windows and paint. Please note the copper colored one in the back . The cuts on this was more of a warehouse look, I used copper metallic paint for this backdrop.

Cut out the reflective film to size. Glue it to your board or wall. Glue or staple the screen to everything and this should be your result.

Please note by using the reflective film your trains and lights on your layout will be mirrored and that should make a great backdrop.

Scott Smith

You can buy this backdrop from Clarke Dunham Studios.

I used two 16-1/2 x 72” O scale backdrops from Sceniking in Canada.  They are not toylike but they fit in well with my Standard Gauge layout.

Jim

Hello just find an old image that you like perhaps from a catalog Scan it and send it off to have it photo enlarged any size you want it will arrive in the mail shortly and you stick it on the wall

I use the 1930 Ives catalog cover as my backdrop

Cheers Carey

I second Carey's idea. Here's the Lionel catalogue cover from 1930. (Second photo) Some nice forced perspective. Of course if you have $16K you could have a 1928 original dealer display. (first photo)

Thanks, everyone, for all the great suggestions. This is a tough call because I really could use the shelf space, but I think the terrace and station would look a lot better with a backdrop behind them.

In case any of you are interested........I opted to go with another row of shelving instead of a backdrop. These were all really great ideas, but in the end, I decided I wanted to keep as many trains as possible out of their boxes, either on the walls or on the layout. Thanks again for all the great suggestions.

@Carey Williams posted:

Hello just find an old image that you like perhaps from a catalog Scan it and send it off to have it photo enlarged any size you want it will arrive in the mail shortly and you stick it on the wall

I use the 1930 Ives catalog cover as my backdrop

Cheers Carey

Carey where did you send this to to be printed? What is it printed on?

good input all, thank you! we've been talking aloud and thinking about backdrop ideas for the one long white wall on one side of The VintageHubby's new Wide Gauge/Standard Gauge Basement Layout. I actually go down to the in-progress layout a stare at the wall often visualizing ideas... Would love to create something ala' the 790 Trainorama, but doubled in size to work with the SG. Possibly painted directly on the wall, from the base boards up.  My Upstairs Layout paper mache' Mountain along the back of the large Layout table that I created, was painted with acrylic paint. Acrylic paint would probably be best for this layout.

There

are many online printing houses to do photo enlargements.

Various materials can be printed on ...my is just photographic paper .

Cheers Carey

@Mark Gannucci posted:

You can buy this backdrop from Clarke Dunham Studios.

Any idea how such a purchase might be made?  I guess my google-fu skills are weak today because I can't get his website to admit that trains exist much less that he sells an accessory for them. 

@palallin posted:

Any idea how such a purchase might be made?  I guess my google-fu skills are weak today because I can't get his website to admit that trains exist much less that he sells an accessory for them. 

Searching for "Dunham Studios" led me to https://dunhamstudios.com/dunham-studios-backdrops/

@Mallard4468 posted:

Searching for "Dunham Studios" led me to https://dunhamstudios.com/dunham-studios-backdrops/

Thought Dunham Studios retired a few years ago...

Huh.  My search--same terms--led me nowhere near that site.

Thanks!

You can combine decorative metal sheets with the catalog pictures to create Ghost Signs as I did with my downtown plaza.

Scott Smith