Create your design for a Ghost Town ground row flat. A ground row is a long, low flat, or series of flats, usually no more than 48" in height, which rest on the floor along the back of the stage at the base of the cyclorama.
Build your ground row flat like an ordinary canvas flat. Add more cross members or stiffeners than usual.
Disassemble all the wooden pallets you have gathered. Use a crow bar or nail puller to loosen all the thinner boards. As you remove a board, pound down or beat out the staples to avoid painful injuries. If a board snaps or cracks, keep it anyway. Nothing need go to waste with this project. You can use splintered boards very effectively.
Sort the boards by length. Mixing differing colors or patinas of boards can be interesting to the overall design.
Lay down the ground row frame with 2x4s underneath it to provide clearance above the floor or work table.
Begin creating shapes of ghost town buildings. Nail the old boards to the flat framing, and cross members, beginning at the base of the ground row and working up. The end of the first row of boards must be flush with the edge of the framing. Piece the boards together, if necessary, but install all boards in a uniform vertical or horizontal pattern for each "building" represented. Make sure the last row of boards is tallest and protrudes above the top of the ground row frame by 6" to 18".
Cut any roof lines. Use a circular saw to cut the upper, protruding boards into roof-like shapes. Adjust the circular saw blade depth so it cuts the boards but does not cut the floor or worktable surface. Vary the heights and widths of the roof lines.
Create depth in your façade. Install a second layer of board, cut in the shape of a stable door or other architectural feature, on top of the first layer. You can even use boards to build 3D details like sheds or porches.
Add window openings. Find spaces to cut a window without interfering with a frame member. Drill pilot holes at the four corners of the window opening. Use a saber saw to cut out the rectangle. Fill the window opening with frosted gel or faux "broken glass" made of acrylic.
Detail the work with graffiti, weathered signage, or other details that will sell the idea of a Ghost Town in the distance.
Attach three or more triangular jacks to the frame to hold it up in position. Use loose pin hinges to attach the jacks to the back of the frame. Weigh down the jacks with sandbags.