Layout Update 61: Cheap photo backdrop!

[@williambryant5946]

Amazingly, excellent results that look spectacular. The backdrop turned out great as everyone has commented on. The effects you were shooting for with trying to make scruffy bushes you accomplished with awesome results. They look just like you was working for with the underneath and insides looking like dead, leafless twigs. Showing how you made them would make a neat video. You're a very talented modeler. Stay well. -Wil 👍

[@stephenriley9084]

Very good. I like the coal train, scenery, trees and backdrop. Very precise and well considered. Regards Stephen.

[@captainjohn787]

Impressive work on the backdrop - - - you clearly demonstrate the value of viewing the railroad from a realistic perspective. I'm reminded of how far the hobby has progressed since those cartoonish backdrops that pervaded the market way-back-when: the perspective was all wrong, but, hey, that's the way things were done for a long, long time. Nice coloring on the vegetation, too. It looks like Nebraska!

[@railfan220]

Thanks! The perspective is certainly important. I wanted to make sure it was at least consistent, and I think it's best for the majority of photos/videos I take if the perspective is quite low. -Cam

[@CajonSub]

Great work Cam, the backdrop looks awesome and you did a great job blending it in with the existing scenery. Keep up the progress, looking forward to next updates! - Steve

[@jbll36]

Hi Cam . Coming along great. Nice goal train. Photo backdrops look good. Enjoy the day. Ray L

[@virmico1]

The low horizon photo backdrop makes a huge difference, especially in long tangent sections like Crawford. Your layout is really starting to take on a next level of realism. I look forward to your progress. Thanks for sharing!

[@kevintaylor4597]

Great job on the backdrop. I started trying (I use the word 'trying' because I knew what I wanted but not how to get there) back in the '80s. I always thought painted backdrops were hokey. In any case, you've nailed it. Good work!

[@Drennan1]

Awesome update, what a difference with scenery. Thanks for sharing

[@wamozart9573]

Beautiful layout. Like your backdrop a lot. Cheaper than what I do spending lots with a company online!

[@Kev5565]

Very effective backdrop, I look forward to more updates in the scenic areas and also operation of course. I'm about to start planning my own layout after 30 years away from the hobby, I'm from the UK and my main interest is British railways mainline late 70's and 80's era. I doubt i'll be able to make anything with the same amount of operating interest as you have there but this definately gives me food for thought.

[@Perfusionist01]

The photo backdrops really add a LOT to the depth of the scene. I have debated between painted and photo and I think you have convinced me to go with photo. You did well. I have wanted to add one of the old steel elevators to one of my scenes (these are pretty common in Nebraska) and I found that Ric steel tanks seem to be a good starting point.

[@railfan220]

Thanks! And good suggestion. I'll have to check that out. I was also debating for a long time which direction to go. I thought the photo backdrop would be too much work or money, but the way I did it cost almost nothing. -Cam

[@RailfanJason]

Wow, been a while Cam, layout has come quite a long way. The backdrop looks great, love how it blends so well with the roads. Nicely done.

[@railfan220]

Thanks, Jason! It's slow progress, but it seems to come in waves. Can't wait to get more done. -Cam

[@TechnoNut96]

Backdrop came out awesome! I have been thinking about doing this myself for quite a while, this is giving me the motivation to go through with that plan!

[@PaulMichael-z4g]

Your attention to detail is amazing! I'm going to effort your backdrop photos.

[@The101Point1]

That looks great easy simple way to have a backdrop

[@bradytains1593]

Looks vary real! I love that coal train when it goes thur Crawford with all the scenery finished, thanks for sharing - Brady

[@kevinwestcott76]

The photo backdrop came out nice. It adds a lot of depth to the narrow scene.

[@jolliemark6294]

Looks great think you did a great job with the background....you will find you have to out in a lot of trees the get a good looking scene, I always say if you think 100 tress is a lot get more & more you never have enough. I'm modeling desert and even the big rush is never enough to fill the secne....thanks for sharing....Jack

[@PeterCPRail8748]

Great work on the photobackdrops. I am also doing my own on my layout. Makes the scene come together nicely.

[@disturbed1954]

Awesome video Cam, Thanks for sharing!

[@68Jaguar420G]

Nice overall effect and certainly economical. I'm particularly impressed with how well the colour of your scenery roads match that of the photo background roads. Well done Cam!!

[@railfan220]

Thanks, Carl! This was one of those "let's see how far this takes us" tests, and it turns out that it's very feasible and easy. -Cam

[@davidmason4153]

Looking good, for your hill side project what I did is I used furnace filters I cut them up to 8" strips and and spray painted flat black and dusted woodland scenics coarse turf then placed them in the back of the scene and then added the individual trees out front. Just an idea hope it helps.

[@railfan220]

Thanks! That's a good idea. I've thought for a while about how to really clog up the back edge. That might do what I'm looking for. -Cam

[@lionellance]

Wow freakin awesome Cam.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance

[@newmanatkinson3577]

Hi There Cameron, Good work on your layout. I on the other hand had a backdrop I needed to be right downtown Seattle and got the building to look like they were right past the station the backdrop ended up 3 feet tall. After seeing a poster of Kings Street station looking down the track at Downtown Sky Line. But to get it that big I took my photos to a print place and they did my print. No Model railroad backdrop place has anything that would work for my scene. Again good work and it really looks real Newman

[@railfan220]

That is the problem. I considered just buying backdrops, but aside from the price, another concern was getting a scene that would look good for the area I'm modeling. Sounds like you figured something out though. -Cam

[@wmcwings4343]

Cameron, your layout looks more realistic than many here on YT that have spent a lot more money for their backdrops! Excellent job!

[@smallscaleinnovative5655]

Thank you Cam for sharing our products and your thoughts! Great modeling, keep up the good work!

[@garykcs5532]

Cam fantastic job looks great...gary

[@davestrains6816]

Backdrops are amazing. You have a beautiful layout. Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@brian102256]

Hey Cam! Those photo backdrops are amazing! The color matching that you did on the dirt road and the city street as well as the exact dimensions of the scenes are spot on. Nice work on all the other updates as well. - Brian

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Looks great, like the blending effect fron pix to model...

[@modelrailroader5619]

👍 you’ve done a great job on that section. Looks great!

[@SFRATON]

Great video Cam and it makes the layout alive and gives it a different feel and excitement. -Kevin

[@SpatzVomAlexanderplatz]

Yeah - well done! The background is pretty awesome... ;) Regards

[@peterainsworth8466]

Thanks for the update. Your layout is second to none.

[@TheTrainFreak]

Very impressed on how real that looks! Great job!

[@jorgel.fernandeziii8278]

Congratulations Bro ! Beautiful!!! You really don’t have much more to do but I do know what you’re talking about as far as like making a couple of smaller tubes alongside the bigger ones to make it look like they’re feeding upon each other would be smaller tubes extending like in the picture ! Don’t be so hard on yourself you’ve actually done a pretty decent job I mean yeah we just look a little plain Jane at the moment but at least it looks like a Real Railroad !! 🌊🐺

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

Wow! The backdrop is fantastic! What a difference it makes on the layout! I love it, and the vegetation, too. ...Roy

[@railfan220]

Thanks, Roy! It changes the scene even more that I expected. -Cam

[@1johnmcwilliams]

Looking great Cam , the backdrop turned out great, I can do that ,I will have a go on my layout.Cheers.

[@LoneRanger5150]

Very nice. Keep up the good work!

[@brtree74]

Great update Cam. Awesome result with the photo backdrop. It looks amazing, you blended it into the layout so well colour and perspective wise. The details you have added also are also awesome, and make the scene and layout so realistic. Great work.

[@MrWallnerfe]

Looking great Cam! It brings the scenes to life. Looking forward to seeing the crossing gates in action. I have watched your layout progress over the years and it have been really amazing from where it started, to what you have achieved, especially when joggling your college studies with layout updates. Thank you for sharing and take care! Fred

[@railfan220]

Thanks, Fred! It's great to finally have a scene that more or less represents my vision for the layout. -Cam

[@InterCity134]

Well done. Turned out amazingly well as the way that a printed road going to the horizon is often an issue where it meets the wall as one moves side to side.

[@colincooksey2337]

Thanks for the video, great detail with use of the photo background, I’m going to try that on my new extension, thanks.

[@nathang7537]

Awesome as always dude! Taking lots of good ideas from the backdrops!

[@WhiteRiverRails]

The scenery is looking amazing! Great video

[@dennisnorris6439]

Very well done!

[@chrisshoulders4066]

Awesome progress my friend be safe

[@sdrailproductions]

Coming along really nicely and go go go!

[@RailserveJohn]

Congrats Cam! Awesome work on the backdrop and scenery. It’s amazing how much depth they add to the scene. All the best, John

[@railfan220]

Thanks, John! It definitely reshapes the scene. Now it's on to the rest of the layout. -Cam

[@EmPtySworld1]

Great update Cam. The back drop looks amazing. I was just talking about this with a friend about doing the same. Thanks again.

[@jimthomefan50025]

The photos make it look a lot deeper in the scene. Now i need to cross the tracks to get a pop at that CVS lol , just an interesting operationsl idea, until you get the grade crossing hooked up, you could add a crew member on the ground and "stop and flag" the crossing. That's prototypical and would add to operating challenges.

[@luvindemtrains]

Great work! I really want to learn the process you used to create your backdrop.

[@railfan220]

Thanks! I hope to make a more in-depth video, but my best advice it to find some photos from the area you want to model, and start fiddling with a photo editing software. -Cam

[@robtman9199]

Very nicely done, the backdrops look great, It does pull the scene together. Nice work on the detail also, the grasses look realistic. BTW, I am not the Rob that Norman is talking about, I hope not anyway.

[@murrayangus]

Great presentation. I think you have included those backdrops extremely well, with good follow on perspectives. However, if I'm honest, I'm not sure the trees on Crawford Hill look good.

[@railfan220]

Thanks! And I agree. Given prototype photos I'm using as reference, I think the individual trees look convincing, but that part of the layout isn't completely "there" yet. I definitely need to add a bit more variation with the addition of smaller trees and some bushes/tufts here and there. That's all on the way, but I ran out of materials. -Cam

[@markarnold8160]

Those photo backdrops are really good!

[@leilacentral1883]

That backdrop looks amazing. Very impressive and really makes it come to life. Will look at trying this myself in the future I recon. Great video explaining how you went about it as well. All the best, Clint

[@MrPCC]

Amazing backdrop job! Hard to tell where it starts and the scenery stops. Amazing!

[@jerrysmith1929]

Very nice improvements! Fairly dense HO pine forest can consume 100 trees per sq ft. N scale is even worse.

[@normanrowe2831]

Wow! Those photo backgrounds look awesome. The color matching and perspectives are excellent. Many times perspectives look awkward or strange from different angles. Yours did not. Nicely done. The layout is coming along nicely. Thanks for sharing. Oh....ignore that Rob guy. He’s a hot dog. And not in a good way. Lol. See ya.

[@railfan220]

Thanks! The photos I had were taken from roughly track level, which is conveniently the perspective I wanted to create. And which Rob are you referencing? Maybe he removed his comment. -Cam

[@MesquiteBelt]

Any chance you can give a longer primer on the backdrops? Obviously, you’ve got it figured out perfectly! What’s your background music? I know MR uses the same background music. Keep them coming!

[@hoscalecsxgrandrapidssubdi3437]

Love it brother 👊🏾✌🏽🎥🎬📸

[@davebnsfnscale4433]

Good job,looks great

[@joelupinacci011073]

Looks fantastic. I am fooling around with home made backdrops myself at this point so this video hit home. One question unrelated to the topics of the video. The vehicle at the 6:17 mark...who makes that? So hard to find modern vehicles. I'm always on the lookout

[@railfan220]

Thanks! I think that's a Herpa model of a Seat Leon. The modern car market is very small, and Herpa's models are mainly European. But, it's not impossible to see a Seat in the US. -Cam

[@toddw6716]

Looks great

[@herrkiwi3110]

Awesome man ! Looks primo ! You must be feeling proud ?

[@railfan220]

Thanks! It's a big step forward. -Cam

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi5399]

Your layout taken sharp my buddy dam what’s plans with other units are get anymore bnsf units so start run more need some other rolling stock and need other unit at Crawford so far it’s at 💯 my day but we need more done

[@railfan220]

Thanks! I do have more plans for locomotives and rolling stock, but I'm going to hold off for a bit while I spend money on scenery. -Cam

[@taylorbaggarleyunionpacifi5399]

That sounds good I’m starting to work on mind to It will be a while I want to do a live video if you’re up for it

[@wamozart9573]

What material do you use for your gravel roads? I have a Texas layout, and need to find a better gravel than Woodland Scenics.

[@matthewjones1119]

That looks amazing!!

[@matthewbaldwin7097]

Your layout is looking awesome! Do you have a track plan of your layout?

[@rongriffin9771]

What did you use for armatures for your tree underbrush? They look good.

[@railfan220]

Thanks! I forgot to mention in the video that the undergrowth was also made from Scenic Express Super Trees. I saved the little bits and weirdly shaped pieces left over from making the larger trees, and then covered them in 4-6mm static fibers. Then I added Super Leaf material on top of that. -Cam

[@jbdbackfan]

Looking great. Do you use two layers of Subroadbed for mainline ?

[@railfan220]

Thanks! I don't. It's just Midwest Products HO cork on top of plywood, MDF, or even drywall in some places. For the spurs/yard tracks, I think I use 1/8" cork. I can't remember the exact thickness, but it's something a little shorter than the HO stuff. -Cam

[@TheICEMANA10]

Very Nice!!

[@davidshotrainsandvideos3960]

Looks brilliamt

[@tatetally4198]

If I would have seen that not knowing it was a backdrop I would have thought it was actually scenery!

[@herbertw.jr.carrier6122]

Great job on the background images and it definitely improves your layout. Are you planning on adding more unit trains?

[@railfan220]

Thanks! Eventually yes. I always have plans to collect more rolling stock, but I have to balance that with the cost of scenery. -Cam

[@sofreak6]

Cool backdrop

[@zanehinman1946]

I live near Crawford and I have to say it is very realistic

[@railfan220]

Thanks! Glad to hear it's convincing to a local. -Cam

[@robertnelson432]

What is the Crew Building and the container beside it?

[@railfan220]

The crew building is unfinished, but eventually it will have a little porch and some details around it. I think it's supposed to be a little staging area for the helper crews to sit/do paperwork. The container is just a BLMA Pods container that's sitting there to add interest. It probably won't stay there when the scene is done. -Cam

[@Railroad_Boys]

Fantastic sir👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼 is there a specific printer paper that you used?

[@railfan220]

Thanks! I honestly didn't know what the paper was at the time of this video because someone threw away the wrapping. But I just found out that it was Neenah bright white 65 lb card stock. -Cam

[@quintinthemississippirailfan]

Cool catch model train just subscribe you

[@yrunaked4]

congrats to you on 10k subs and congrats to me on first comment, lol

[@Tivis7]

Spoiler: You don't need a license ;)

[@joeoz5416]

Neat!

[@matthewjones1119]

How can I get in touch with you?

[@railfan220]

Thanks! You can email [e-mail]

[@dptrpt]

Music sounds familiar....

[@railfan220]

Haha, yeah. It definitely has a Model Railroader feel (aka free iMovie soundtracks). -Cam

[@jasonboche]

Great channel. Love your updates. ps. there is a hair on your layout at 1:40. Please remove it. :)

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

😎

[@ralgith]

Don't need Photoshop. GIMP works just as well. Usually even better. Plus, GIMP is open source and cross platform (I run Linux, so Photoshop is useless to me for example)

[@railfan220]

Interesting. I hadn't heard of GIMP. I just used Photoshop because it was "free" to me, but maybe I'll try that in the future. -Cam

[@ralgith]

@@railfan220Good luck! It can feel more clunky sometimes due to it's open source nature, but free is a price that is hard to beat!