What's on your billboard?

I like having unique items on my layout, so I created this sign to replace the “Johnson for City Council” on a Lifelike Scene Master billboard.

!(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee101/jfallon_tar/My Model Railroad/Stage 3/IMG_2064.jpg)

Hopefully the moderators will grant an exception to the “no advertising” rules for this thread [:D].

John

This brings up a good point…Thank You for posting this! Am old geezer. Model Transition Era [late 40s / mid-60s]. Subscribe to REMINISCE magazine [Thanks to my daughter, who knows I love HO]. Might not mean much to youngsters here, but my new layout’s billboards & building wall signs, will most likely be on some of the following [to name a few]:

DE Soto, Hudson & Packard Automobiles / Ipana Toothpaste / Burma Shave / Bosco Chocloate Milk Syrup / Za-Rex Soft Drink Syrup [around long before Kool-Aid!] / Buy War Bonds! / Time to Re-tire with Fisk Tires / Swan Soap / Oilzeum Motor Oil / Brylcreem / Vitalis … etc.

Come on you old-timers…list some others! Me age is showin’, ROFL! …Old Tom aka papasmurf in NH

Here’s a pic of one of my billboards.

Let’s not forget Studebaker, Henry-J, Willys, Nash automobiles; and Philco, Silvertone, Grundig? radio and TV; I can’t believe I’m this old??

  • Bob

Hey “papasmurf”!!

Does a “little dab” still do ya???

Mark ;-]

NMRC

jfallon!

Charlton Heston would be so pleased! How many garbage trucks picking up the dead do you have on your layout?[;)]

P.S. Anyone who doesn’t recognize the reference should search the movie ‘Soylent Green’. Creepy!

Dave

Let’s see: Saw that Sci-Fi Movie several times[Charlton Heston was always an excellent actor] / my father-in-law[rest his soul]loved Moxie / yours truly owned a: Nash, Philco radio, Grundig stereo console, used Brylcreem when courting my, now, wife of 50+ yrs., so am genuine fossil. Heck, even still own a Mantua 0-6-0T Little Six HO switcher[although it now needs lot of TLC]. Many years ago, my wife built a neat little HO back-woods cabin for old layout and when turned upsidedown, you could read ‘Wheaties’ on an interior wall. Even owned an Elgin 26" bicycle from Montgomery-Ward! As Bob Hope always sang: “THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES”. TTFN…papasmurf in NH

Ten years ago, I put together a number of fun billboards, and made them available for people to use on their layouts. It’s been way too long since I added anything new, but I think that they still hold up.

They’re at http://www.wyomingyard.com/billboards

Here’s an example:

I remember a cartoon from years ago with a picture of a used car dealer and his sign said “Honest John’s Used Autos”. Right next to it was a porta-potty dealer and his sign read “Honest Otto’s Used Johns”. Always cracked me up and figured I’d have to include that on my next layout.

Mark

NMRC

I have a billboard advertising the tv station where my late dad worked until he retired.

Tom

Not a billboard exactly, but “Forrest Gump” has always been one of my daughter’s favorite movies:

The rest of the outdoor advertising on my layout is old ads on buildings. I’ve got Campbell’s Soup, Cream of Wheat, Hula Bean Coffee, Moxie, Spam and the classic Coppertone Suntan Cream ad with the little girl and the dog, which would never pass muster these days.

I’ve also put some circus signs and Army recruiting posters on wood plank fences.

Definitely on the schedule for inclusion on the billboards at Tomikawa station:

  • 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
  • The Music Hall at Minamijima (topless dancers, 7/8 rear view).

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

Here is a link to billboards & signs for all to use on their layouts!

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/162879.aspx

And I have added background buildings.

How about Gulf Venom Kills? [xx(][W] Not politically correct in today’s advertising [+o(]

I’ve always had a soft-spot in my heart for a popular highway sign before roads became all-interstate:

EAT HERE! GET GAS!

I have two:

One advertises the Stave Brothers Cooperage (if you don’t get it, check the dictionary).

The other is for Spock’s Wingnuts - Bigger ears, better grip - the logical choice.

There was a real company in Cambridge, MA named Cambridge Nipple - they made pipe fittings; it would make an interesting billboard.

Modern computers and printers make such things as custom billboards so much easier.

I think I’ll have one on the layout (when I build it) for prescription strength Damitol.

You can pick out several examples in this scene from my layout.

CNJ831

Lumberjack Cookhouse had signs all up and down the highway…

I made a bunch of signs at once on the computer in Photoshop for the businesses in Johnston, Texas my courthouse square town in the piney woods.

  • Creotex was the wood preservation treating plant.
  • Dixie Darlin was the peanut butter plant. The Dixie Darlin was a little girl I knew.
  • A local Lions Club hosted the only public train shows I know of nin Corpus Christi and I did not join the club but In honored them with a “meets here” sign at the city limits of Johnston.
  • Jayco Petroleum was the bulk oil dealer.
  • The bare backed lady in the upper corner of this group of signs is for a tiny poster at a burlesque club on my new layout.

Sign at Johnston High School, home of the Lumberjacks.

My other “hobby” (?) is making movies. The billboard on the side is a scene from a space movie I made about kids on the moon.

Not exactly a sign, but a background building with a sign, all created in Photoshop and printed out.