SOURCING ROLLER BLIND MATERIAL

[BRUNEL]

Does anyone know where I could obtain a 6m length of this material about 750mm wide, at a modest price, to use as the backscene for a layout? It needs to be a simple untextured material, probably in white, which, after priming (with emulsion?) would take acrylic paints. Additionally, it needs to be capable of being rolled when the layout is being transported.

My enquiries so far have failed to produce anything suitable; everything seems geared to producing a complete blind. One 750mm wide with a 6m drop does seem a bit unlikely! A local supplier of blinds (in North Yorkshire) has advised me that all their blinds are made to order by specialist contractors, complete with rollers and operating mechanisms. When I asked who supplied them, I was informed that their fabric suppliers sell only to the trade and not to the public. It sounds like a closed shop, doesn't it?

I did consider another material, buckram, which is sometimes used as a stiffening material in curtain tie-backs, but this was going to cost around £80 for a piece of the size required. But could there be cheaper, and perhaps better, alternatives?

Any suggestions would be welcomed!

Derek Mathers.

[Steve Carter]

Hi Derek
For the backscene on his EM layout Westcliffe, Richard Butler, South Hants MRC, found a sign-making firm who made 'flexible' signs from PVC foam in 1mm thick sheets, 8 feet x 4 feet.  He wrote this up in an EMGS  Manual Sheet 7.1.9
Good luck
Steve

[petermeyer]

IIRC roller blinds are made from standard fabric with a stiffener solution applied.

https://www.halliswebshop.com/hh_esa/esa/ItemList.jsp?@where.CategoryParent:CategoryID@op.eq@comp.Items=0789001612&Categoryname=0789001612&@category=07&@itemCount=1&%40where.ParentCategoryName=Hallis+Fabridip&%40where.ParentCategoryID=0789001612&%40category=07&sessionkey=XO80-PIIK-CGFW-QT5X-9MS6-8XZR-HROS-QOOQ

You could approach a local curtain maker who will probably have a trade account and they could acquire the fabric and stiffener for you. It is likely to cost around £10 per metre so not that much cheaper than buckram though buckram is far less wide.

[John Donnelly]

I wonder if anyone could put you in touch with Gordon Gravett, I recall that he used roller blind material for the backscene on Pempuol and, probably, Arun Quay as well...

[TonyMont]

Hi, another material that maybe of use is banner material used for printing banners such as the new Scalefour pop up display. I have printed on this material in the past and it has a really fine surface, I have never tried to paint on it, so hopefully someone out there could do a test.
I can recommend this company and page, http://www.colourbyte.co.uk/content/blo ... /114/1676/ I have only bought photo paper from them, but have always had good service, I have no connection with them other than that of a happy customer.
As an example a 914mm x 30metre roll 190micron would be £48.82 plus vat and delivery.
Regards, Tony.

[Tim V]

I bought some cheap ones and stuck them together to make a long one. 20 years later, they are abandoned and dusty in the garage, but still stuck together!

[BRUNEL]

Thank you all for your replies, gentlemen.

Our intention now is to use material which is sold nominally as a wipe-down table covering, as advice, elsewhere than this forum, has pointed to the use of banner material. The reverse side is of woven fabric which preliminary trials suggest will take paint well. The plastic front surface makes it stronger and more durable than blind fabric but still easy to roll. Crucially, it is cheap: £3.99/m, in a width probably sufficient for two lengths of backscene!

John, your comments about buckram are well founded. I had been misinformed by a supplier about the cost. It is available in a variety of widths up to 36in - at a price. For our purposes the material alone would have cost in excess of £80, which is way beyond our budget.

The next challenge is to persuade the artists to get their paint pots out!

Derek.

[BRUNEL]

Oops! In paragraph three, delete John and insert Peter. Sorry.

Derek.