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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Ironworker on July 06, 2012, 11:05:53 PM

Title: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Ironworker on July 06, 2012, 11:05:53 PM
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH7tbdYhksg/T_c3pPAwiOI/AAAAAAAAChE/BEBKt_AP638/s1600/signs_DSC_0041.jpg)

Hey guys I've got a new project.  I'm making simple and cheap sci-fi billboards from Acrylic photo frames and trading card protectors like the ones pictured above.  I spent less than $20 on the frames and protectors and I got enough to make 44 signs.  With the trading card protectors I can make double sided billboards. 

Here are some shots of two billboards I put together quickly by gluing the trading card protectors from blade guards off cheap safty razors. 

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_T1s7HlabO4/T_ddI1RxIZI/AAAAAAAAChY/vSxH9SxgLuM/s1600/signspreview1_DSC_0049.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6G4mSqC2lMQ/T_ddK-BYQ2I/AAAAAAAAChg/h9Z5I4Z8zxU/s1600/signspreview1_DSC_0050.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-RPNprbbss/T_ddM6f2HYI/AAAAAAAACho/Zkrn5dpkPp8/s1600/signspreview1_DSC_0051.jpg)

I'm thinking of mounting some of them on magnets so I can attach them to metal signpost. 
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Papa Spanky on July 06, 2012, 11:38:59 PM
What an awesome idea! How about some things like data, propaganda, ect. printed on transparencies, so it looks like a holofield type sign?
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Ironworker on July 06, 2012, 11:41:22 PM
What an awesome idea! How about some things like data, propaganda, ect. printed on transparencies, so it looks like a holofield type sign?

Yeah I think that would work great too especially if you had a color lazer printer. 
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Marine0846 on July 07, 2012, 07:36:44 PM
Great idea.
Will be sure to try it out.
Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: HerbyF on July 09, 2012, 10:51:20 AM
Great idea. Printing on transparencies would make great futuristic billboards. A number of years ago I printed Sci-Fi money that way. Works really great with a laser printer.
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Ironworker on July 09, 2012, 10:01:27 PM
I made some more signs and added them to my space station terrain.  In additions to more billboards I also made a few signs for the buildings.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pRJACRhKXXY/T_qZibvCtAI/AAAAAAAACh0/4iWk-71cE8c/s1600/station_42-DSC_0057.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VpvCVVh4yFA/T_qZlkvjF6I/AAAAAAAACh8/kYXxZoOYGjE/s1600/station_42-DSC_0064.jpg)

I also made some display screens for this large workshop.  I tried to make it look as if each screen had several windows open. 

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4ZYAhXX0sY/T_qZuF0eTXI/AAAAAAAACiM/xK64CIcqkN8/s1600/rosies_shopDSC_0068.jpg)

Herby I understand where you are coming from with the transparencies for a futuristic look but I've always wondered if that would be very practical.  I don't know if they would stand out enough visually unless I could figure out a way to illuminate them.  A lot of the inspiration for these came from this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38)

The displays can be either opaque or transparent depending on the need.  I think in a day time setting transparent displays wouldn't be as visible.  I'd love to try it out though for some situations.  Would be really interesting inside buildings I think. 
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Ray Rivers on July 09, 2012, 10:48:02 PM
 :-*

The boards/signs/screens are a nice touch.

Really adds a lot of your board in a very cool way.
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: OSHIROmodels on July 09, 2012, 11:05:03 PM
The whole set up looks good and the boards give it an extra bit of umph  8)

Have you tried weathering them a bit, washes and such?

cheers

James
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Ironworker on July 10, 2012, 01:16:15 AM
I haven't weathered any of them yet but I plan to.  I may even make some ruined ones with bullet holes and blast marks on them. 
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: Papa Spanky on July 10, 2012, 02:30:36 AM
The workshop board looks really good. I wonder if those could be illuminated from below with one of those led pens?
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: commissarmoody on July 10, 2012, 05:04:22 AM
I really like them, Gives the town, that sci-fi glam. Kind of like, ever things is in the future, but things are still rough.
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: CyberAlien312 on July 12, 2012, 02:21:31 PM
They are nice indeed. Very clever idea.
Title: Re: Cheap Sci-Fi Billboards from Acrylic photo frames and Trading Card protectors.
Post by: snitcythedog on July 13, 2012, 09:25:54 PM
How useful.  If I ever get into futuristic gaming again, I will keep this in mind.
Snitchy sends.