February 1, 2009 • 6:56 pm
I am working on a relatively tall building that has a large space (about 3 stories) available for a billboard.
To fill the space, I have designed a US Army billboard. I’ve heavily weathered it to represent a billboard that was hung towards the start of World War II and never updated. I think this would be appropriate for the late 40s in a post-war setting.
I’m not sure if I’ll use this as is since I have not printed it to see how it looks. It’s also likely that I will make further modification to this billboard or resize it when I actually apply it.
But since I already create it, I thought I’d make it available. Let me know if any of you decide to use it as is. I would love to see it.
As usual, right click on the image and select Save Image As to download it.
Filed under: Free Downloads, Signs , Army, billboard, free download, Free Downloads, model railroad, model railroading, N Scale, n scale sign, n scale signs, printable n scale sign, scale model, scale modeling, Signs, US
January 29, 2009 • 10:18 pm
We all strive for some level of realism with our N scale layouts — or any model railroad layout for that matter. And as any repeat reader here knows, I’m a big fan of signage and billboard to add realism. Especially unique billboards (download some free here) that that don’t see on every other layout.
As you look through vintage photographs from the late 40s and early 50s, especially in urban commercial areas like the photo of Times Square above (taken in 1954), you’ll often see large groupings of billboards. Over-sized, stacked, horizontal, vertical, rectangular, shaped. Click the photo for a much larger view.
Most model railroaders seem to gravitate to simple rectangular billboards — and even the ones I’ve previously provided are mostly rectangular. I think we do this because they’re easily accessible and they give you a lot of options for different arangements, stacking, etc.
But in the reference photos I have collected in the last couple of years, the one thing that stands out to me is at least one blank billboard in every one of the photos. You can see one in this photo directly over the man in the foreground. Most modelers seem to not include blank billboards — or at least I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on a layout. I have certainly not seen multiple blank billboards on a layout which would be even more prototypical on a large layout.
Just something to thing about the next time you’re adding signage. Blank billboards could be absolutely simple to create but really boost realism.
Filed under: Signs , billboard, model, model kit, model railroad, model railroading, N Scale, n scale sign, New York, scale model, scale modeling
January 17, 2009 • 1:12 am
Yet another free N scale sign. Just right click and save the image — the right edge will not be cut off when you save it.
This one of the famous Reddy Kilowatt promoting electric cooking. This billboard is very roughly based on a sign that stood in Philadelphia in the early 1950s. The overall look and message on the billboard is the same with a few changes.
First, I changed the colors from the prototype to match the colors typically used on Reddy in the 40s. The prototype billboard had more of a 50s look where Reddy’s head was blue and his body black with blue highlights. I think most people associate the mascot with the red and yellow scheme.
Also, because the original photo I had was poor, I had to redraw the entire character, so I’ve changed his pose. Also, in the prototype, Reddy was holding an apple pie that I just couldn’t get right so I left it out entirely. Lastly, I used the “Your Servant of the Century” motto because I just couldn’t read the original text. For all I know, that’s what it actually said.
This billboard is a bit different than the ones I’ve done previously in that the hat and hand are meant to be cut out. I haven’t tested this to see how difficult it will be to cut out but if anyones builds this up, be sure to let me know. I would love to see it.
Filed under: Free Downloads, Signs , billboard, free download, Free Downloads, model, model railroad, model railroading, N Scale, n scale sign, n scale signs, printable n scale sign, Reddy Kilowatt, scale model, scale modeling, Signs
