Trains.com staff members David Popp and Cody Grivno share their techniques for install printed backdrops on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. They use SceniKing paper backdrops and unique craft scissors to seamlessly blend printed scenes—including a river, barn, and tree line—into the painted sky. All of that, plus more scenery tips are loaded into this episode!
Be sure to keep up with the construction progress by linking into the Trains.com Workshop Webcam (available 24/7), and the full series of helpful, instructional videos rolling out every month until the effort concludes. Even then, the fun will continue in frequent Trains.com articles/updates and Model Railroader print features, beginning with the January 2026 issue. You won’t want to miss the Expert Tips and Techniques the crew will share with you along the way, as they have a bit of fun bringing the ETIP into fruition!
I like the way the pattern scissors cut round the backdrop trees. In my opinion, it is VERY effective.
Now the moment you all been waiting for time to install the backdrop.
This whole series has been absolutely super. I love that you leave in the mistakes and correction methods. Also showing the tools and links to them helps too. My backdrop required a little different technique since it was peel-and-stick printed vinyl. The combination of hobby knife and wavey cut craft scissors is the same. It is always tricky, but doable, to blend the section of backdrop together. You guys did a nice job. Besides available standard off the shelf backdrop scenes, mine is made up of custom printed Photoshopped photos I took myself. It gives a unique look to my layout. Keep up the great work. I’ve really enjoyed this series. Steve Moore, West Jordan, Utah
Good equipment makes for quick work as those scissors showed us. I’ve been considering the backdrops from Sceniking but unfortunately, being in Canada, the tariffs are too high right now so they may have to wait or be sourced elsewhere.
Cody and David work so well together as a team, the finished product is pretty awesome looking. Looking forward to the next stages to blend to the backdrops.
I use a very small scissors to cut around the tree tops on my backdrops (July 2025 MR). I also color the tree edges with a colored alcohol-based marker (craft item). I chose a green that’s a shade darker than the trees. It covers the white edge and gives the tree line a bit of depth. I’ve also found that a single coat of Super 77 spray is sufficient. Some of my backdrops are still holding after a few years. BTW…if you have an “oops” moment while attaching, you can use a hair dryer on medium heat to re-liquify the adhesive and remove.
Just a thought on rivers going into the backdrop. I have a river that hits the backdrop at 90 degrees, so I disguised it using a small dam at the backdrop. I grew up in a small mill town on a river that was bookended by a low dam on the north and a powerhouse dam on the south. From the tracks, all you saw was the river ending at the dam and the trees on each side. Seems like a great way to disguise the backdrop. If this link works, you can just see the dam to the north and powerhouse to the south from the bridge. https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7872452,-81.4576774,3a,79.6y,358.46h,105.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sTc_BoJTsIA8dXGMnoiT3Ig!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-15.925897956206981%26panoid%3DTc_BoJTsIA8dXGMnoiT3Ig%26yaw%3D358.460406891185!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D