What to use for a free standing backdrop

I am adding a peninsula on to my layout. It will include a free standing backdrop (compared to the rest of the layout that has the backdrop up against the wall) that will be 18" high.
I am inquiring on what type of material to use. Will 1/4 inch masonite be strong enough without warping? Or will it need to be framed? Or should I use 1/2 inch plywood, which I suspect won't need any framing.
Any suggestions will be helpful.

Thanks,
Todd

 

Gee-

As I read the title of the thread and before I read your post the thought of 1" thick foam board popped into my head. It's what I was thinking of using. A bead of liquid nails. I'm thinking it could be detailed on the bench and then plunked into place on the layout. In my case I was going to cut a hole thru to have a "loads in-loads out" facility. For the sense of using things like masonite and other, heavier materials that might warp- I'd just get a sheet of the foam core display board they sell at craft and office stores.

Mark

 

The 1/4" Masonite will have to be framed. Plywood will also have to be framed.

Try some blue or pink foam one inch thick.

 

I actually used free standing masonite on the old version of my layout. I put them back to back, since I had only one side smooth and cut it in half to 24" high. I anchored the base by wedging it up to 3" foam that I was using as scenery base, and glued and/or screwed/clamped it at the top. I didn't spackle the seams and they always showed, but I suspect you could.

It held up for several years until I moved the layout.

 

I'm using 1/4" Masonite,not framed,but only 15 or so inches high.The middle of where it is on my peninsula is 4" of foam,2-2" pieces,one on top of the other.To mount it,I fired up my circular saw,set it at 2",and cut a perfectly straight 2" deep slot where the Masonite goes.It has a slight bend in one spot,so I ran the saw up to the bend,the restarted it in the other slot.I have a mitre saw with the backbone removed,great for making nice straight cuts in foam,I finished off the uncut parts of the slots with that..[because of the round blade not meeting completely across the slot.] There are also mountains and buildings going up that will help support it,but even without that stuff,it's still pretty strong..