Background Cloud Painting: Project by CSX Al

One project that I recently needed to complete on the layout was painting the backdrop before finishing building the rest of my benchwork. I had been putting off this task for a while, since I had reservations on how realistic I could paint clouds. I had originally thought about just purchasing a photo background mural but the cost can be quite expensive since I needed to cover lineal feet at 24” high. Anyway, I found my local hobby shop carried some cloud masks made by New London Industries. There were 5 different cloud edge patterns on heavy card stock for about $10.

I have also found you can get the same masks on the web through
http://www.modelrailroadinguniversity.com/productstencils.html

I used sheets 2'x 8' x 1/8" MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) attached to wood frames that hung from the ceiling joists. A 4x8' sheet runs about $6. Nice thing about it is, it bends well (12" curves in the corners), has no grain and is smooth. Then you Spackle the seams between the sheets just like you would drywall, for a seamless background.

I started by painting the background a good sky blue. The color I used was made by Behr available at Home Depot, called Horizon Haze # 540B (flat paint)

Wait until background color has dried before using the masks/stencils.


Next you need to use a flat white spray paint (in rattle can)

Place the mask/stencil on the background where you want the cloud and spray paint the white onto the background.

Tip: try to envision a direction the sun would be coming from to highlight the clouds and keep it consistent from cloud to cloud. I kept the highlight to the right side of my cloud edges. It is also better to spray lighter coats that heavier ones (you have better control).

As you spray along the edge of the mask/stencil make this the whiter edge and feather the paint down away . This will give the illusion of a darker/ bottom to the cloud. Keep moving your mask/stencil around trying and vary the mask/ stencils used to keep the clouds from looking alike.

Moving the mask/stencil differnent distances away from the background while spraying will give you sharper or softer edges to your clouds.

In a couple of my clouds I used a little bit of light gray primer paint (rattle can) to give even darker shadows in a few of my clouds.

Below is my first attempt

Here are my finished results

This was a very fun and satisfying project and only took a couple of hours to complete. If a cloud doesn’t turn out the way you like, you can always pull out the blue again and go over them. I did to my first clouds.

Have fun - CSX Al