Fitting your Backscene

The prints are produced with small white borders and supplied rolled in a tube. There is no need to flatten a rolled print as it is easier to mount from a roll than as a flat sheet.

Usually the top and bottom borders can be ignored but the ends need to be trimmed so that they will fit together. This can be done with scissors (preferably large wallpaper or tailoring scissors) but is best done with a scalpel or craft knife and a steel ruler on a cutting board. Care needs to be taken to make sure that the cut is right on the edge of the image so that it will join perfectly to the next sheet.

It is recommended that the backscene is unrolled onto the backboard and held in place using Bluetack, clothes pegs, etc. prior to gluing down the first part of the backscene so that it is anchored and you can make sure it runs straight.

Mounting Board

The best material to use for the Premium backscenes as a backboard is 2mm or 3mm Foam Vinyl board (Foamex). It does not get damp, warp nor decay over time. It is vertically rigid but can be bent around curves. It can be nailed, screwed or glued into place and is not a lot dearer than using plywood. NOTE – do not use water based glue on a plastic backboard!  Standard paper backscenes are best mounted on a porous background, ply or heavy backing card.

Standard Paper Backscenes

The paper used to produce these backscenes is 180 gsm thick - half way to card - so it does not need every square inch (or centimetre) to be glued for it to remain in place. Always use the least amount of glue you can and never apply large quantities of paste or glue to the backscene prior to fitting it in place. Mounting a backscene is not like applying wallpaper.

The paper is water resistant but not fully waterproof. If it becomes too wet it will swell slightly and cause bubbles. These will normally disappear if left to dry. Do not try to smooth them out as this will result in creases.

When mounting paper backscenes, it is important to apply the glue to the backboard and not the backscene and to allow a few moments for moisture or solvent from spray glue to soak into the backboard before pressing the backscene into place. The backscene should be smoothed down using either a soft cloth or a brush.

The first 4 to 6 inches of the backscene should be glued into place whilst it is stretched out. This anchors the backscene and ensures that it will run straight. Allow to dry if using a water based glue such as wallpaper paste or PVA then unclip the backscene and allow it to roll up again.

The backscene should be fixed a bit at a time. Apply glue to a section of the backboard say 8 to 12 inches long, pause for a few moments then smooth the backscene down. Repeat until the backscene is complete. Taking time to fix the backscene will help to avoid problems and produce the best results.

There are a wide range of ways to fix your backscene in place but our preferred method is by using Deluxe Materials View Glue – see Modelmasters.co.uk/ViewGlue

Premium Self-adhesive Backscenes

Premium backscenes are printed on a very tough Polypropylene film that is waterproof, tear and scratch resistant. Fitting these should be approached in exactly the same way as the paper.

To remove the film and expose the self-adhesive, press a fingernail onto the backing film about 3-4 mm from a corner and drag back. This will lift the corner and allow you to gently pull the film away from the sticky back of the print. Pull back a few inches of the protective film and smooth into position.

Continue to remove the backing film in sections 8 to 12 inches at a time smoothing down the backscene with a soft cloth or brush as you go along. If you are unlucky enough to have the odd bubble simply pierce the surface with a sharp needle and gently squeeze the air out to flatten the backscene.

Please note we only advise the self adhesive backscenes are laid on totally a non porous backing such as foamex.

If planning to curve a mounted backscene allow several weeks for the glue to fully cure before bending the board.

© Scalology Ltd

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