This photo shows a fall-color mountain backdrop early in the creation of the Red Cliff area of the LARC Demonstration Layout. This backdrop measures 13 feet wide by 24 inches high. Only half is shown here. This backdrop is printed on Image-Brite material and was applied to a painted masonite wall by peeling off the peal-n-stick paper backing. The layout depicts The Tennesee Pass Line of The Rio Grande Railroad (now Union Pacific) during the early 1990s. |
This photo and the one below shows adjacent scenes to the one above. |
The backdrop was applied before the scenery was finished so the colors could be brought forward in the trees and ground coverings. Can you tell where the backdrop starts and the actual modeled scene ends? Actually the three rear buildings are on the backdrop and were printed smaller than the modeled buildings in order to "force" the perspective...making them look farther away. |
This next scene is on the upper level which will depict The Rio Grande Southern Railroad of the late 1940s. This is an early shot of Ophir Loop. The backdrop is 15 feet wide by 30 inches tall, and again was applied to a painted masonite wall. Image-Brite material was used and was stuck directly to the wall by peeling off the backing, revealing the self-adhesive back. |
Here is the finished scene. The backdrop begins an inch behind the scratch-built Oilton Club and Mrs. Skillen's. |
Those that have traced the Tennesee Pass Line between Leadville and Salida Colorado will recognize this "nob" along highway 24 near Granite. The backdrop used behind it was actually photographed on the Front Range just northeast of Denver. |
Lizzard Head Pass on the Rio Grande Southern very early after the backdrop was put into place. |
Here you see the backdrop applied to the coved wall around what will be Trout Lake on The Rio Grande Southern. The Styrofoam base will be the lake with the wood and Homesote roadbed above on which the track will be laid. |
The entrance to the Eagle River Gorge just northwest of Red Cliff |
A Goose takes on water on the finished scene. |
Here you see a backdrop applied to a painted Masonite wall between two rock structures. A temporary "bridge" has been created to simulate where the track will cross a trestle. The finished scene below is pretty impressive. |
Note that by placing the backdrop first, the trees placed in front can be colored to blend seamlessly into the backdrop! |
An early view of the Amax Mine and the mountain behind. |
Here are three shots of Salida...as viewed from the top of Tenderfoot Mountain. Many of you that have stood on this spot will recognize the city, but will pick out that the mountains are closer and more imposing than around the real city. Isn't Photoshop wonderful! This is just an example of the kind of photo editing that can be done here at LARC Products. The Salida backdrop is 15 feet wide by 33 inches high and believe me...it is quite impressive! |