Summary:

Buy your BackDrop or BackGround early in your construction.  Installation early makes the job easier, however, finished layouts can be greatly enhanced by adding a backdrop.  Use our double sided tape for late installations. We continually hear from our customers how realistic their layout looked after installing our backdrops. After installing the backdrop, cover it with thin clear plastic to protect the printed surface while developing your creation, then build your layout to blend into the backdrop.

Super media - will lay flat, is easy to work with, can be glued to a backing or wall, or stretched over a frame, is very flat (no shine), very strong, water resistant, will not crinkle if dropped, and the printed surface is somewhat protected.   Be careful of self-adhesive products (we don't sell them).  One stick and they're up right or wrong.

Some notes:

• We have had nearly 100 % satisfaction when installing our backdrops/backgrounds.
• The problems have been when these recommendations were not followed.
• Be sure to have clean hands
• If installing on existing layouts and hanging vertically, have at least 3 people.
• Don't roll and push and roll and push. The more you work it, the more bubbles you will have.
• This is not wallpaper and does not go up like wallpaper. Send the wallpaper hanger home.
• On seams and overlaps (A & B or transitions), use the approximate middle of the 4 - 6 inch matching overlap.  Don't use the extreme edge of either. There may be differences at the extreme edge.  
• Stretch from all edges and it will lay flat.
• Finally, these scenes are large. Unless you are looking at it with a magnifying glass, no-one will notice a small bubble. They will see the entire layout and scene and say, "awesome!".

Tape It!

There is a new way to mount backdrops.  We have discovered a high quality specialty adhesive tape.  This tape is a double sided cloth tape, waterproof, high adhesive (very sticky), will probably last many years, easy to work with.  It comes 1 inch wide in rolls of 36 ft. for $15 / roll.  No shipping charge when purchased with a backdrop/background/clouds (not sample). Shipping $7 if purchased separately.

1)   Mark the outline of where the backdrop will go on the surface (wall, masonite, frame, etc).  Be sure the lines are straight, level, and square.  Smooth sealed surfaces are best, but untreated wallboard will work.

2)   Put the tape on the wall or masonite about 1/4 inch inside the line. Use strips about 24 inches long and cover at least 50% on the top.  It's not necessary to tape the entire top.  Do not put tape on the first 24 inches on one end (the transition or overlap end).  Leave the protective paper cover on the tape. Press the tape lightly into the wall.  This tape can be pulled off the backdrop one time without doing damage if not pressed in hard, and pulled off some surfaces like Masonite one time, although pulling off decreases the adhesive.  If put on untreated wallboard it will pull off the wallboard surface and destroy both the wall and tape.  It is ok to put on untreated wallboard, just don't pull it off.

3)   Put tape along the sides and bottom, about 1/4 inch inside the line. Cover about 30% on sides and bottom.  Leave the protective tape on.

4)   Prepare the backdrop as necessary (trim border, cut to size, etc.).

5)   Peel the protective paper from the top tape only.

6)   Temporarily mount the top corner or hold in place solidly the corner without the tape (overlap end).  This is the starting point.  Be sure it is right.  Stretch the top to the other end making sure the top is along the line and start away from the wall moving toward the wall until the backdrop touches the tape (do not press).  The tape will grab the backdrop so move slowly the last 1/4 inch and be sure you are on the line.

7)   If you have the people, check midpoints and pull up as necessary. Lightly press small hold points along the top.

8)   When you are sure the backdrop is the way you want, press the backdrop into the tape using a clean board of about 24 inches long.

9)   Add the 24 inch section at the starting point, remove protective tape, stretch top and press in.

10)   Peel the protective paper from the sides and bottom tape while holding the backdrop away. 

11)   Pull both bottom corners of the backdrop down and out to stretch flat.

12)   Press into the tape starting from the bottom middle working toward both ends.

For existing layouts:

1)  Put the tape across the entire top of the backdrop.

2)  Add occasional tape as needed on bottom and sides, leave protective paper on

3)  Remove the protective paper from top

4)  Pick up backdrop and slide behind layout

5)  Push in tape on one end, pull top tight and straight  (several people may be required)

6)  Push in remainder of tape at top

7)  Pull flat at bottom and sides

8)  Remove protective paper on additional tape and push in

Use Velcro

Put strips of Velcro across the top, sides and bottom. Velcro can be fastened using rubber cement or double sided tape.  Has the advantage of holding well but can be removed and repositioned at any time.  Use a generous amount across the top.  You can also use a combination of rubber cement or double sided tape for areas that are not accessible and Velcro for areas that are accessible to allow repositioning later if there are wrinkles.

Method 3

We recommend first building a backing using 1/8 inch Masonite or the like. Cut to the size of your backdrop 18, 24, 36 inch high/8, 10, 12 ft long. Use 1 x 2 or 1 x 4 pine strips to fasten Masonite panels together for a 10 or 12 ft length. If you are using A and B extended scenes, leave a 4 inch overlap of the backdrop beyond the backing panel on the side of the scene seam. Plan ahead which section will have the on-top flap. 

Plan carefully where the Masonite backing panel will go on your layout and mark on the panel where the backdrop will go. You don't want to move the backdrop once it has been glued. Practice stretching the backdrop to remove wrinkles. Use packing tape to stretch the backdrop and remove waves before you glue. A planning mistake can be costly.

Remove the backdrop from the backing panel or wall and spread quality premixed wallpaper paste (or  vinyl paste - no water*) on the backing panel or wall inside your marked line or on most of the surface if the panel is the exact size. Spread paste very thin. Any lumps will show through and may distort the backdrop. Also a well sealed or painted surface may cause the water in the paste to come out through the backdrop causing bubbles. Put it on very thin. You might practice gluing on scrap first. We used heavy duty clear 2 inch packing tape, scotch (or similar brand), to stretch the backdrop. The tape is removed after the backdrop is glued or stapled. Fasten the tape to the end away from the overlap (if you have one) and secure to the backing panel by wrapping around behind (end one). Leave several inches of the excess length on the backdrop to fasten the tape. This end should be securely and evenly fastened to the backing panel. Don't put the tape on the printed surface.  Use the white border or attach to back then reverse another tape (sticky to sticky) for a backward facing adhesive.  Cut off exposed tape after the paste dries (24 hrs).

On the other end (end two), fasten packing tape to the back side of the backdrop and reverse (sticky to sticky) then stretch the backdrop across the panel. Fasten tape on the front (ink side) only is it will be trimmed off later. Apply most of the stretch horizontally to the top and bottom of the backdrop pulling in the long dimension. Plan ahead to fasten end two securely. Add tape along the top and bottom to pull in the short dimension (vertically) as necessary to remove all waves. You may have to retention each pull location to remove all wrinkles.

You may have to temporarily extend the backing panel if you need to stretch on the front as opposed to wrapping over the edge.

If using paste or spray, use a NEW clean, very dry and round latex paint roller to roll the backdrop flat into the paste. Resist the urge to roll, and roll, and roll. The more you roll the more damage you may cause. If stretched properly, rolling is almost unnecessary. You are lightly pressing the backdrop into the glue, one time. Waves should be removed by stretching , not rolling.

After the paste is completely dry (24 hrs), trim off excess backdrop and remove the tape, leaving the A/B flap (if you have one) at 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Mount the backdrop on your layout and position the A/B flap over the other scene. You can double stick or glue the flap to the other scene (rubber cement works well) or trim both flap and matching scene for a butt splice.  We have had better luck with an overlap rather than a butt splice.  If you use rubber cement, wait until dry then roll off excess.

*Another way:

One of our professional custom layout builders used vinyl wallpaper paste (no water) and a new plastic smoother to very carefully squeegee the surface like wallpaper.  Result, excellent. We are testing vinyl paste, but the results may vary depending on the backing.

Method 4

Build a frame and stretch the backdrop over the frame with or without a backing. Use 1 x 2 and 1 x 4 pine and support as necessary - make it strong. Staple the backdrop over the lip and use many staples to distribute the stretch. On super media the packing tape along the edge will strengthen ends and reduce the chance of ripping. Use the packing tape to stretch the media and remove all waves before you staple. Advantages are: less damage to the backdrop (no glue), lower weight and less chance of ripples.

Method 5

Mount on the wall using method 1 (without the masonite). Will be a little more difficult to stretch and you will need several people. Be sure the surface is flat.

For TRANSITIONS:

About 4 inches will be the same on both halves.  Trim to about 1/8 inch overlap either straight or irregular.  Your choice on which to overlap (put overlap away from light source). Use rubber cement to hold down the flap. Wait 24 hours to rub off excess, but try to get as little on printed surface as possible.  You are only holding 1/8 inch, not the entire weight.  Butt splice not recommended.

New Products

For curved corners we are trying FRP panel (bathroom shower wall panel) about 1/16 thick, very flexible, about $25 4x8. Adhesives yet to be tested. Also a customer used bending plywood (3/4 inch thick) for curves, available on special order from lumber yards.

Adhesives: 3M 6091 never dries adhesive.  Is supposed to let you peel off the backdrop after years.

DO NOT GET THE FRONT DIRTY and reduce heavy water contact

Cover the backdrop with clear plastic when doing serious benchwork.

Important: 

If you plan to store the backdrop for more than 2 weeks rolled up, store in the shipping tube standing on end.  Laying horizontal may cause the roll to flatten and require time rolled out on a flat surface to become flat again.