Here is one my wife painted for me;
Peter Smith, Memphis
Here is my latest billboard:
It shows my wife and grandson. Dan Cluff is my son-in-law who is into photography; hence the "Cluff Photos: name on the board.
Colin ---------- There's just no end to cabooseless trains.
My PhotoBucket album: http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c390/CN4008/
My RailImages album: http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4049
My web site: http://www.cmgraphics.ca
There seem to just be less billboards than there used to be too. And in urban areas, a lot of them are either of a size that would seem unreasonably huge on a layout or technically difficult. For example, around Pittsburgh I used to see a billboard that was the size of a hopper with "this coal in this railcar could power X amount of homes for Y days." I'm not sure where I'd start if I was going to build one of those billboards that cycles between several ads on rotating slants. I do have an idea for a video screen billboard though....
It could be the location that people are modeling. For instance, billboards and other outdoor advertising (except on property signs) have been against the law in Maine since the late 60s.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Some great looking signs in this thread. One thing I have noticed is there is a real lack of modern era billboard options and signs out there.
Here are some from my layout.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
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.
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.
Model Signing in Fun! (oops)
Model Signing IS Fun!
(proofread before you sign anything...)
You can pick out several examples in this scene from my layout.
CNJ831
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.
"We do not quit playing because we grow old; we grow old because we quit playing." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
There was a real company in Cambridge, MA named Cambridge Nipple - they made pipe fittings; it would make an interesting billboard.
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.
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
I've always had a soft-spot in my heart for a popular highway sign before roads became all-interstate:
EAT HERE! GET GAS!
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
How about Gulf Venom Kills? Not politically correct in today's advertising
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.
Definitely on the schedule for inclusion on the billboards at Tomikawa station:
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
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.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have a billboard advertising the tv station where my late dad worked until he retired.
Tom
Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!
Go Big Red!
PA&ERR "If you think you are doing something stupid, you're probably right!"
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
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:
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
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
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
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hey "papasmurf"!!
Does a "little dab" still do ya???
Mark ;-]
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
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Here's a pic of one of my billboards.
Have Fun.... Bob.
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
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.
Hopefully the moderators will grant an exception to the "no advertising" rules for this thread .
John
If everybody is thinking alike, then nobody is really thinking.
http://photobucket.com/tandarailroad/