For this layout I want a back scene which is unobtrusive. I do not like to see breeze block or grainy wood immediately behind or beside the models.

I had agonised about how to hide the many internal corners, but in the end this was very simple, once I had discovered flexiply, which is a plywood which bends (flops) in one axis. Flexiply will curve down to a 3" radius without effort, and as such is perfect for this application. I initially thought to use carpet tape to attach the flexiply to the hardboard wall panels; in the end simple tacking with panel pins proved simpler.

I then used filler to cover gaps and rough spots, before applying two coats of primer, a coat of primer and finally a coat of pale sky blue. All these paints are oil-based; the garage is subject to humidity variations and like this I hope to avoid discolouration.

Using carpet tape; the idea was to avoid visibly marking the front of the flexiply, however the carpet tape was rather aggressive in initially grabbing the flexiply before I had it positioned correctly—and then, the next morning, humidity had done its work and the carpet tape had dropped the flexiply...

The first corner: the seamless corner is very impressive even without any painting. I had miscalculated the depth of the flexiply... the layout will be built up, nonetheless I shall have a 1½" gap to cover up...

Using filler to smooth over the joints. The hardwood panelling is slightly warped (the walls themselves are uneven) and thus perfect butt-joints were never going to be possible.

The sky has to accommodate a beam here... tricky! I'll have to see what I can do with a tree to cover the split. Nonetheless this looks far less obtrusive than the underlying woodwork.