We look at the high art of painting model railroad backdrops with Rob Spangler who has painted many of the backdrops we have seen on the channel. A how to of Rob’s technique as he paints a backdrop for the 1/20.3 scale railroad at Garagemahall.
Rob shows the ins and outs of painting with acrylics, both artists acrylics and acrylic latex house paint. All while coning Rob to paint the backdrop for the switching yard on the Utah and Colorado narrow gauge railroad we are building there.
This is part one of a series of shows which will next feature a trip to Steve Striebel’s On3 – On30 railroad where he will be painting the backdrop for his new Village of Knowhere on the On30 line. Back to Rob to finish up with this backdrop, and a visit by Gil Bennett showing his take on the subject.
The railroad is mostly the Denver and Rio Grande Western, but also sort of generic western narrow gauge. Garagemahall will also feature a On3 and On30 railroad above the switching yard known as the “accidental railroad”.
A 1/20.3 logging line is also planned, and about 8 feet of track has been laid for that line.
In this firs part Rob explains the how to of working with acrylic paint, working from dark to light, pulling out details.
Also how to on working with color changing RGB LED strip lights and which double stick tapes work best for mounting LED strip lights and paper coving.