Main Assembly Backdrop

[houseparent]

This certainly isn't my best work, but I think it will be OK. Free hand painting is not my strong suite, I'm a more paint by the numbers kind of guy.

Here is what I am doing for my main assembly backdrop. The tarp is 9x12 feet. It is mounted on a PVC pipe frame - actual size 8x11 feet.

The signs are full sheet labels on foam core poster board. I will most likely move things around and add elements like: walkways made from butcher paper, My miniture roller coaster will sit in front near the Galactic Zone, fake plants along the bottom and edges, my Sonworld sign and ferris wheel nearby, etc.

[TrinityJen]

Great Houseparent!
I was just going to start on this today. I love the idea of just adding to a basic background. I also love just printing the signs (love anything I can print out).

I am still at a loss for what I can use for the actual backdrop. The only thing I can't find from last year is the bathroom painted on a refrigerator box that fit our small stage area perfectly.

How did you make the PVC frame?

[houseparent]

I just started with a 3/4 inch 4 way tee in the center. I had four pieces that came out on each side that had Tees on the end of them. A piece came out of each side that connected in the corners with elbows.

I used 6 pieces 3/4 inch pipe 5' 4 1/2" long, 6 pieces 3' 10 1/2" long, one 4-way tee, four 3-way tees, and four elbows. I used screws to secure the joints so it can be taken apart, and installed grommets in the canvas and tied it in the back, though you could just as easily screw whatever you use onto the frame.

The lengths of the pipes don't add up to 8x11 feet, because the three tees in each direction use up three inches on the 3/4 inch pipe, it would be different for different sized pipes.

[freshlyground]

This is not great quality photo, but it gives you a look at what we did for backdrop. We used 3- 5'X12' (?) particle boards & made transparencies of what was provided. We traced them on the boards & placed them on our stage area.

[TrinityJen]

I am SO crazy excited. The kind of crazy a VBS director gets when a new plan is going well! I did a search for PVC backdrop and found a few easy suggestions. I talked with my husband and he was excited too and is going to to help secure the pipes!

I went out to Home Depot and had them cut the 1" pipes to size 4' and 2' lengths. I should be able to make 2 8x8 frames or 1 8x8 and 2 4x8 frames! I went straight to my church to see if it would fit. The area in front of the alter is 8'3" and with my fittings the legs have to bend in slightly....but it fits!!!! There are half walls on each side of the alter. Crazy set up. I thought I might be able to have the 8x8 and cable tie the 2 4x8s at an angle for a tri-fold. Maybe another time....new measurements...

My husband is going to drill holes though the pipes and fittings and we will secure them with skinny bolts and wing nuts so we can assemble/disassemble w/ out tools and it will be sturdy.

Now I still need a cloth, I have a full size sheet, maybe that will work, or I need to head back to HD for a tarp. Then like Housparent I am going to do an outside scene and add the park signs. I think I am going to print then either laminate and/or glue to manila file folders to cut out.

This is where I go the plans I am using: http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/cgi-script/tutorials/publish/article_362.shtml

This was goo too:
http://www.instructables.com/id/PVC-stage-backdrop-or-room-divider/


I am just swimming with plans for this PVC pipe!!!! :D