Billboard sizing

Dave, In the Chicago area full size (and smaller) billboards are on top of two/three story residential and industrial buildings,  at street level on vacant lots and on the sides of buildings.  John in Lansing, ILL

Dave,

Limited answer but one opinion for you. I have only rail king billboards and mine are at corners of the layout, maybe six inches from the track. I am happy with that size and it looks fine to me compared to the trains. I am also ok with the detail level except for the visible wiring. Easier ways to hide that would be good. For me lights are essential and the ability to change signs would be excellent.

I knew a guy that lived next to a billboard.  It went up between two houses after the house between them burnt down.

Maybe paint the plastic billboard frames. I found prototype examples of nearly PW billboard I looked for, Lionel, Plasticville, AF, & Marx and the right paint  was all that they seemed to lack.

 Changeable is nice.

It seems to me Lionel & RK are the closest to prototypical in size.

rattler21 posted:

 It may be just my perception as in the real world I have not seen a house right next to a billboard. The billboards are always off in the distance up in the air etc.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Dave

Dave, In the Chicago area full size (and smaller) billboards are on top of two/three story residential and industrial buildings,  at street level on vacant lots and on the sides of buildings.  John in Lansing, ILL

Ah, bad zoning. Always makes the neighborhood a more delightful place to live.

I have three RK billboards. I think they fit well. I change the picture every so often using photo sticky dots. I rerouted wires and ran them down through the layout using a straw for conduit. I removed all the bases. Popular subjects, also 😉

Really nice, John.

Dave, you've given me an idea for a new billboard.  The forum guys gave me this idea.  It utilizes gift cards.  The backing is just leftover poster board, framed with 1/8th inch balsa.  Those 5mm LED's were an experiment, powered by a 9V battery.  Your post prompted me to take this pic, and now I'm thinking of making a billboard or two, with personal pics, lit with more of those LED's.  I like John's idea of changing the images from time to time.

Otherwise, I have several, most are 6 inches long and 3 or 3 1/2 inches tall.  It depends on the image.  I don't like the plastic holders, so, I make most of them myself.  There are, however, some great, relatively new, products to consider...

Speaking of billboards, nothing beats the Miller Engineering signs.

Miss Sunsweet is the first one I ever made.  She's been on the table layout for many years.  This is 1/4 inch balsa, 3 1/2 X 6".

I also, think rooftops are good places for billboards.

Jerry

Thank you, Jerry. When I see that Newcastle sign, I know there is good stuff coming. You have done a really nice job with all the ones you have made. I usually look for MTH ones that have a not so popular picture, and haven't paid more than $20. Then you can put whatever you want up on it. I run them with 12 vdc; too much work to switch to leds. I also have some Lionel on top of buildings. I'm an equal opportunity Grandpa, so all five get their shot.

Various billboards and bills on our railroad.  John in Lansing, ILL