Painting Backdrops
Great Model Railroad Backdrops
A well thought out model railroad backdrop is an essential part of landscaping that should not be overlooked. Here is a guide for a choosing the best background for your train.
One of the blunders I have seen over the years is when a modeler has a beautiful train layout with lots of attention to details, and a backdrop that looks almost like an afterthought. It really detracts from the whole look. Don’t fall into the trap of a haphazard background for your railroad.
Do It Yourself
You don’t have to be a skilled artist to be able to paint your own landscape, but you do have to practice. If you decide to do it yourself, start by practicing on poster board until you are happy with your technique. Be sure to choose the right colors to give a seamless transition from 3-D to 2-D. Pick a spectrum of greens, browns, and greys that reflect the colors of the ground foam products you already use for your ground cover and rocks.
You can keep the background fairly simple and still achieve a great look. You basically need three elements: hills, sky, and trees. The hills should gently slope upwards and downwards, and they will be speckled throughout with various trees. The sky above will of course need clouds, so research pictures and basic cloud painting techniques online.
Use Digital Photos
If you have a flair for photography, you can create a custom backdrop using your own digital photos. Head to the great outdoors and find the right scene that you think would be an appropriate background for your trains. Set your camera up on a tripod to stabilize it and then take a series of side by side photos, taking care to capture the entire landscape. These can be printed onto wallpaper and adhered to the wall with paste. The results will be stunning. Be sure to ask for mildew resistant wallpaper.
Panoramic Wall Murals
A third option is to use panoramic wall murals scaled to the appropriate size for your railroad. These are professional photographs printed onto wallpaper or vinyl wall banner material. You can choose from cityscapes, mountainscapes, or scenes with rolling hills. Be sure to measure the length of your layout so you aren’t left short. Again, if you’re going for wallpaper, use mildew resistant.
You’ve spent countless hours on your model railroad. Invest a little time and finish the look of your entire layout with a great model railroad backdrop. Not only will it complement your existing scenery, it will be a grand finishing touch that really completes your railroad.
About the Author
Find panoramic wall murals or create custom wall murals from your own digital photos on mildew resistant wallpaper at http://ArtisticHomeowner.com.
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CDV YOUNG GIRL W/ PAINTED BACKDROP, HAT, & DRESS $24.91 |
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HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft $159.99 |
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10′x20′ Hand-Painted Photographic Scenic Muslin Backdrop Background 50-152 $69.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C114 $139.99 |
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new 8×10 paint splatter backdrop muslin photography studio $20.50 |
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HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft $159.99 |
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10′ x 20′ Hand Painted Scenic Muslin Backdrop Photography Dyed Orange Background $59.95 |
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Oil Painting by Labbetti Autumn Colored Forrest Picture with Mountain Backdrop $14.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C116 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C117 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C118 $139.99 |
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10′x20′ Hand-Painted Muslin Scenic/Old Master Photo Backdrop Background 6321 $45.00 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C119 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C120 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C121 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C122 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C123 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C124 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C125 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C126 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C127 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C128 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C129 $139.99 |
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★100% COTTON MUSLIN HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft C130 $139.99 |
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11X16 hand painted purple muslin photography backdrop and storage bag $100.00 |
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HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft $159.99 |
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HAND PAINTED PHOTOGRAPHY BACKDROP BACKGROUND 10 x 20 ft $159.99 |
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Dancers Behind A Backdrop By Edgar Degas Coffee Cup $12.99 Dancers Behind A Backdrop By Edgar Degas. Dancers Behind A Backdrop can now be proudly diplayed on your your very own 11 ounce ceramic coffee cup. Dancers Behind A Backdrop by Edgar Degas is one of his most famous pieces of art. Enjoy Dancers Behind A Backdrop by Edgar Degas while drinking a hold or cold drink in your home or office. This coffee cup with the painting by Gustav Klimt is dishwasher … |
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Dancers Behind a Backdrop By Edgar Degas Square Coasters – Set of 4 $14.99 Dancers Behind a Backdrop by Edgar Degas on a set of 4 coasters. The surface of the coasters with the painting of Dancers Behind a Backdrop are hard based which adds to the durability and superior class of the set of four coasters. The bottoms of the coasters are made with a non slip cork. This cork not only will prevent your coasters from slipping but will also protect furniture surfaces from bei… |
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Jos Fauxtographee Realistic – Green Leaves Smudged to Look Like a Painting on a Backdrop of the Same Color – Mugs Green Leaves Smudged to Look Like a Painting on a Backdrop of the Same Color Mug is new. Why drink coffee out of an ordinary mug when an imprinted mug is so much cooler? Microwave safe, FDA approved. Image is printed on both sides of the mug. Dishwasher use is not recommended…. |
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ZipWall ZipPole ZP4 Low Cost Spring Loaded Pole Kit with Carry Bag $126.75 High quality and durability; sets up fast; no tape or ladders required; builds a 30′ barrier in under 5 minutes; height ranges from 51″ to 10′ 3″; accepts sheeting up to 8 mils thick; each package contains (4) 10′ steel poles, (4) sets of parts (head, plate, tether and GripDisks), (1) box of 2 standard zippers and (1) carry bag…. |
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Animated Waterfall Picture w/ Sounds of Rushing Water and Tropical Birds $39.99 Beautiful nature scenes virtually come to life with movement and sound! Waterfall illusion cascades down a rocky cliff. Accompanied by the sounds of rushing water and tropical birds. Mount this pretty mirror-framed piece on a wall, or use the included stand to display on a shelf. For indoor display only. With on/off switch and volume control. 10″ x 14″ x 3″ with 4.5-ft. cord…. |
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Jos Fauxtographee Realistic – Green Leaves Smudged to Look Like a Painting on a Backdrop of the Same Color – Greeting Cards-6 Greeting Cards with envelopes $10.49 Green Leaves Smudged to Look Like a Painting on a Backdrop of the Same Color Greeting Card is measuring 5.5w x 5.5h. Greeting Cards are sold in sets of 6 or 12. Give these fun cards to your friends and family as gift cards, thank you notes, invitations or for any other occasion. Greeting Cards are blank inside and come with white envelopes…. |
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December 28th, 2004 in
Uncategorized | tags: art, backdrops, design, images, painting backdrops, painting backdrops for your model railroad, photography
