This is why its always a good idea to be nice to your artist friends. I am very fortunate to have a good friend who is also an amazing artist. Eloiese Krabbenhoft painted the backdrop and riverbend in the photos below. She actually has painted almost my entire backdrop over the past two summers. I think she did a wonderful job of blending the river and landscape into the backdrop. It actually looks better in person. I still have to put trees on the east bank, make the riverbed shiny and ballast the track. Will post some more photos when completely finished with the scene. Thank you Eloiese!!!!!
Very well done weathering on that bridge too, Daryl! I agree that Back drop is excellent, she has a decided talent! Hug her neck often, we may all want to talk sweet and low in her ear about doing our back drops. I had decided to skip it on mine, yet seeing yours....hum-m-m-m
Your backdrop looks better than the majority I have seen. As you have discovered after it was done, it added much to the feel and atmosphere of your layout. Yet for many, it is the most ignored, poorly orchestrated and articulated aspect of their layout. I don't know how many layouts I have seen that were terrific, except the backdrop was poor or left off. I found this seriously detracted from the overall affect. We as modelers are willing to pay good money for engines, turnouts and track, structures and benchwork scenery. Then for reasons that are completely inexplicable to me, they go cheap on the backdrop. And those efforts unfortunately show up in the over all impression of the artistry of the layout. You done good!
Daryl The backdrop is Gorgeous. The blending is virtually seamless with the foreground -- not an easy task. One suggestion -- you may want to consider beefing up/protecting the bridge supports on the right hand taller "tower". With all 4 legs in the river's current, erosion may weaken the supports and the bridge. Same with the 2 legs of the left hand "tower". Thanks for sharing these photos -- always great to see your layout's continuing progress. It is an inspiration to all of us. eNjoy Don B
