Clouds have set in - they're likely to stay a while! While I can still reach to the back walls (before scenery), I've installed a backdrop of a lightly cloudy sky. First I attached strips of 1/8" Masonite to the walls:
Then, I glued sheet vinyl flooring (cut to the 24" height while rolled) to the Masonite. The smooth grey back side of the vinyl is facing out. Worked this all around the room, propping it up till the glue set. The vinyl flows nicely around corners, which gives a nice look both in person and in photos, better than the sharp corners of the room walls.
I bought remnants about 12' long; they are spliced together where necessary, spackled and sanded smooth at the joints. Since I'm using the back side, I got some funny looks when I went to the flooring store:
(me) I'd like to buy some vinyl flooring remnants.
(them) Sure, do you have a style or pattern in mind?
(me) Doesn't matter.
(them) (funny looks)
So, around the room it went, I added a frame to the benchwork where the backdrop goes in front of the stationary panel of the sliding door. Primed, painted blue, then airbrushed the clouds. This scared me to death, I didn't trust my artistic ability to do the clouds, I didn't want it to look like a 6 year old did it, but I must say I'm happy with the result. Hard to screw up clouds, I guess.
You may have noticed in the first couple of pics - the hidden staging tracks are now covered. You can see the LED rope light dangling from the end - this goes all the way back under to the far end, to supply light for a camera that will be looking down under this area.
Next, I'll be working on extending the track's main line around the entire layout.
