| A well designed and cleverly painted backdrop can | | | | is working on the backdrop after they have finished |
| make your model railroad layout stand out from the | | | | everything else. If you design them together, you can |
| rest and look truly unique. This is mostly because it | | | | make some interesting and unique set pieces. |
| makes an optical illusion that produces an effect called | | | | To make your backdrop, you need to have in mind |
| forced perspective. | | | | what season it will, what the weather will be like, the |
| Forced perspective occurs when the layout in the | | | | location you will be showing, and what kind of day it will |
| foreground appears to be larger because it is placed in | | | | be. Planning these details will save you lots of |
| front of a space in the distance, which is made by | | | | frustration in the long run. |
| adding a backdrop to the wall in the case of model | | | | Think about what the sky will look like. Remember that, |
| railroads. It is an optical illusion that will make your entire | | | | even on a cloudless day, the sky is actually made up |
| model railroad layout appear to be larger than it really | | | | of several different hues of blue due to the position of |
| is. | | | | the sun and other environmental factors. A good base |
| The effect of forced perspective can be observed all | | | | color is Velvet Sky Vinyl, available in acrylic flat paint. |
| around us. For instance, a barn several hundred feet | | | | When considering what the clouds will look like, |
| away from you will look smaller than a Chihuahua | | | | remember that no two clouds are quite the same. The |
| sitting on the ground ahead of it. By analyzing natural | | | | grand majority of clouds are cumulus, stratus, and |
| landscapes you will notice techniques you can use to | | | | cirrus. The most common clouds are the white and |
| make an outstanding backdrop to use with you model | | | | puffy cumulus ones. |
| railroad layout. | | | | The color of clouds also varies quite a bit depending |
| Projects of this sort always require lots of planning. | | | | on where they are positioned in the sky. Decide where |
| Hopefully, you will be working on your backdrop at the | | | | the sun is in your backdrop and then color the clouds |
| same time that you are designing the rest of your | | | | near is lighter than those farther away. |
| model train layout. A mistake that many people make | | | | |