scenic backdrops

Alex · April 03, 2013, 03:54:00 PM

Hi,

I've been trying to figure out how to do the scenic backdrop on my current layout. At the moment it is painted a light blue with some added clouds and so far looks ok.

As I am modelling a local area I wanted to add that feeling to the layout. As my painting skills are virtually none I thought about using photos of the local area.

One of the features will be a level crossing. This morning I was out and about taking a few photos of what I want to include in the layout, one of which includes the level crossing.

I took a photo from the middle of the road and on getting home printed it off. As my road at the crossing will be 50mm I trimmed the photo to suit and placed it on the layout.

Ok, I've still got to make the level crossing but the result looks quite convincing. This may be a suitable way of doing the rest of the backdrop but given the size of the layout I'm going to need about 36ft worth of photos.

I reckon I'll have to use a tripod to keep everything on the same level and overlap all the shots so I can stitch them all together. My camera can take panoramic shots but I don't have an A3 printer and A4 landscape would look a bit cramped.

Anyone else used real photos to highlight their railway?

Alex

Paddy · April 03, 2013, 04:52:04 PM

Hi Alex,

Looks really convincing - well done. How do you plan to continue the backscene either side of the photo? My own boards are at the same stage (light blue) and I have been pondering exactly the same issue.

Thought about using the PECO backscene papers but having studied them they just do not do it for me. Also, they are a little large in terms of scale for N Gauge. Well the ones with buildings on.

Now playing about with cutting and pasting some scenes from an old Farish Magnum layout plan. I think I like it so far and the sort of slightly faded/fuzzy image works well.

Paddy

Alex · April 03, 2013, 04:58:13 PM

Hi Paddy,

That would be my main problem. How do I make it flow all the way around the layout. The easiest place would be in the corners. I could have a small wood in each corner. There will also be a natural break where the door and window is.

Need to give this some more thought.

Alex

Claude Dreyfus · April 03, 2013, 05:07:24 PM

What you have looks pretty effective. For my layout I managed to find a suitable image on Google images and copy/paste to Excel. Then I tinkered to fit the space I had to fill...only 6' in my case!

Crude...but it works okay (see layout on my signature - Kanjiyama).

Alex · April 03, 2013, 05:23:58 PM

Hi Claude,

Very nice layout, well done. I like the backdrops, very effective. I think the hardest part would be trying to blend in the layout with the backdrop and get the right perspective. Definately trial and error.

Alex

Claude Dreyfus · April 03, 2013, 05:57:22 PM

Thanks...but really all this involved was a lot of trial and error as well. Trees and bushes are a great way to hide joins...as well as structures. One technique I used was to photograph buildings on the layout and add them to the backscene as well. It gives a degree of continuity and colour matching that would be tricky otherwise.

Paddy · April 03, 2013, 07:46:55 PM

They work really well Claude and great layout.

Paddy

Pengi · April 03, 2013, 08:02:09 PM

Quote from: Claude Dreyfus on April 03, 2013, 05:57:22 PM
. . . One technique I used was to photograph buildings on the layout and add them to the backscene as well. It gives a degree of continuity and colour matching that would be tricky otherwise.

That's a great idea Claude

Oldman · April 03, 2013, 08:08:27 PM

Another idea, when you have printed bits to add to your back scene mount them on 3 mm foam board.
Just gives a bit of 3D effect.

trainsdownunder · April 04, 2013, 12:36:38 AM

There is some pretty good panoramic stitching software out there which means you can take loads of pics of an area and let the software take the hard work out of it for you. I have found some of "print-shops" will do banner printing at reasonable cost once you have your backdrop complete.

Try using the Serif Panoramic Software - easy to use and pretty good

http://www.serif.com/free-panoramic-photo-stitching-software/

RChook · April 04, 2013, 12:58:03 AM

Or Autostitch, I've been using it for years, quirky but simple interface,
(demo but no expire so far since 2004!)
small download and no-install-portable (~750kb)
http://www.cs.bath.ac.uk/brown/autostitch/autostitch.html

edwin_m · April 04, 2013, 08:28:52 AM

You need to watch the viewing angle especially with shots like that where there is a road going directly offscene. It looks fine as pictured but if you look at it from further to the left or right it won't "join up". You may need some view blockers like trees or a crossing keeper's cottage to make it less conspicuous when not looked at square on.

Jerry Howlett · April 04, 2013, 10:28:13 AM

I think it looks great. I had the same idea but lack any british buildings in the area and when looking for a particular shot in the UK similar to the one used by Alex all I found were roads covered in yellow lines

.. I also trawl the internet (Stop that thought!) for suitable images of buildings etc and then try and interlace them with various backscenes and or half relief buildings.