Scratch build Modern Billboard

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi

Does anyone know of any articles that were published on how

to make a modern billboard ?

Thanks

Chris Oestreich

2

There are a lot of different styles of modern billboards. Some have a single large steel post, some are still made with five piles for legs, and some have cement foundations.

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Do you have a picture of what you are trying to build?

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-Kevin

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3

This LINK shows several types of modern billboards, but, as far as I can tell, no images of the back, where the construction details might be apparent.
If you have suitable billboards nearby, take a few photos of the back of them.

Evergreen has plastic sheet material in various thicknesses, strip material, structural shapes, round and square tubing…pretty-well anything that might be needed to make a modern billboard.

As for the step-by-step instructions, you should be able to replicate what you see in the photos. Unless you’re building the billboard for a contest or plan on placing it in a prominent position where the back is the focus, you may be able to simplify construction. If you do use styrene, use a solvent type cement - it will yield strong bonds and allow quick construction.

I model the late '30s, so my “modern” billboards were pretty simple to build from strip styrene, with printed paper signs…

The light shades are from Tichy, mounted on brass wire “conduit”.

Wayne

4

https://kaleyyard.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/img_4780.jpg

Scratchbuilt using a wooden dowel, plastic sheeting, wire mesh, bits from my scraps box and internet images for the art work.

The dimensions were worked out by guestimation from Google Earth images where a known dimension was used for reference, plus some information from the old BLMA website

Trevor

5

Very nicely-done, Trevor! [tup][tup] I also like the angle from which you took the picture - very effective!

Here’s Trevor’s sign as a picture…

Wayne

6

Trevor, I don’t do modern model railroading, but that billboard looks great! Very well done. You really captured the look of the real thing.

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-Kevin

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7

Hi Kevin,

living in the North East of England and modelling modern USA Railroads, I have to rely on modelling skills to make the things I want.

The USA modelling community produces some excellent locos and cars, but with the demise of BLMA modern scenic items are difficult to source and if they can be sourced, shipping,import duties and a poor exchange rate make most things too expensive.

I would love some modern “ordinary” vehicles, like the Nissan Rogue, Ford Edge, Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and Chrysler Pacifica.

Seems you can’t buy these models in the USA.

Trevor

8

My only complaint about the billboard is that it’s blocking the view of the rest of that amazing layout!!! [:O]

Trevor, do you have a website or something for your layout? Would love to see some more photos! [:D]

9

trevor wrote: “Scratchbuilt using a wooden dowel, plastic sheeting, wire mesh, bits from my scraps box and internet images for the art work.”

I’ve got to ask: did Mr. Heredia win…? [8D]

10

Try this

https://kaleyyard.wordpress.com/

http://www.steveflintphotography.com/roundtrees/01.jpg

I also model in a gauge that most Americans have never heard of “EM Gauge,” where there are no commercial products and everything has to be handbuilt.

https://roundtreessidings.wordpress.com/

Enjoy!

11

EM is for Eighteen Millimetre (actually 18.2mm) which can be thought of as the ‘correct’ track gauge for finescale 00. (There is also P4 which I understand is like the ‘counterpart’ of P:48 for 4mm scale, with a slightly different gauge of 18.83mm)

Fascinating how these things come about.

12

Getting back to the OP, I remembered this possiblly useful video - YouTube Link - on scratchbuilding modern billboard models from Apartment Model Railroader. I use ‘possibly’ since:

  1. This is not a step by step video for each of the various styles assembled, even though materials and tools are identified, and the billboards are shown in various stages of assembly.
  2. No spoken instructions or descriptions, just captions and images backed by YouTube library (IIRC) instrumental pop.
  3. It’s not a super long video to start with, and at the end deviates almost to a ‘see what wonderful things you can do with styrene’. Oh well, its something.
13

Trevor:

Excellent modelling, including the rest of the layout!![tup][wow][yeah]

Dave