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Scratch build Modern Billboard

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,581 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, September 12, 2019 10:13 PM

trevorsmith3489
Scratchbuilt using a wooden dowel, plastic sheeting, wire mesh, bits from my scraps box and internet images for the art work.

Trevor:

Excellent modelling, including the rest of the layout!!Thumbs UpWowYeah

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Thursday, September 12, 2019 8:14 PM

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.

  • Member since
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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, September 12, 2019 3:25 AM

trevorsmith3489
I also model in a gauge that most Americans have never heard of "EM Gauge," where there are no commercial products

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.

  • Member since
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Posted by trevorsmith3489 on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 12:31 PM

stokesda
My only complaint about the billboard is that it's blocking the view of the rest of that amazing layout!!!  Trevor, do you have a website or something for your layout? Would love to see some more photos! 

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!

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Danbury Freight Yard
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Posted by OldEngineman on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 10:56 PM

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...?  Cool

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  • From: San Diego
  • 954 posts
Posted by stokesda on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:35 PM

SeeYou190

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.

.

-Kevin 

My only complaint about the billboard is that it's blocking the view of the rest of that amazing layout!!! Surprise

Trevor, do you have a website or something for your layout? Would love to see some more photos! Big Smile

Dan Stokes

My other car is a tunnel motor

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • 88 posts
Posted by trevorsmith3489 on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 2:15 PM

SeeYou190

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.

.

-Kevin

.

 

SeeYou190

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.

-Kevin

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 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, September 9, 2019 5:49 PM

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.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, September 9, 2019 1:29 PM

trevorsmith3489
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

Very nicely-done, Trevor!  Thumbs UpThumbs Up  I also like the angle from which you took the picture - very effective!

Here's Trevor's sign as a picture.....

Wayne

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • 88 posts
Posted by trevorsmith3489 on Monday, September 9, 2019 11:16 AM

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

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, September 9, 2019 1:00 AM

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

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, September 8, 2019 9:12 PM

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. 

.

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

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 156 posts
Scratch build Modern Billboard
Posted by crisco1 on Sunday, September 8, 2019 6:13 PM

  Hi

    Does anyone know of any articles that were published on how

to make a modern billboard ?

 

                                                                                  Thanks

                                                                             Chris Oestreich

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