Scenery: backdrop mock-up’s

 I am building another large version of my Atlantic Inland Railway, or AIR2. My backdrop should be trees, the verdant hills of West Virginia. Because of this, and my laziness I am planning to use puff ball trees. For some reason I “think” puff ball trees are easy to build and install. I guess that’s true for 60’ of layout, what about 600’?

However I recently saw some other backdrops made of Woodland Scenics Foliage Clusters, and they looked good. Their construction looks simple as well.

I think I need to see versions of my backdrops BEFORE major construction begins, so I am mocking up three basic versions. 

They all will start with a base of foam insulation board, but each version will also include different “angles or repose”, different slopes.

Then I plan one with puffball trees, one with ground foam, and one with “Trees”, the so called Gary Siegel recipe.

I plan the same basic ground treatment, tan or brownish latex paint, sprinkled with earth and “grass” then planted with trees.

This prep is especially important for the foliage clusters and “Trees”, because they have gaps that allow you to see the ground, as opposed to the puff ball trees which are more of a wall to wall carpet.

Also I have been considering a stepped version, that is the first few inches would be the earth, grass and “Siegel Trees” with foliage clusters above, and behind those trees, transitioning to puff ball trees which would climb up the hill.

Overall height/separation of the decks would be roughly 16” between tops of rail heads, maybe less. I need to mock this up as well.

One other feature is the foam boards need to be removable where the conceal hidden staging tracks. Gary does this very effectively, and when you remove a three foot section of “Mountain” to access some railroad facility, most new comers are amazed!

What are your backdrops sceniced with? How did you build them? How far is it between decks on your railroad? Let me hear from you!

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