I'm thinking of placing 1950's era bill boards on my layout. I can only do so with common materials since there is no model railroad shop here in the Philippines. Do you have some advice?
Got to go "old school" Mike - whatever wood you happen to have, like stir sticks, toothpicks, popsicle sticks. Card stock like business cards (ready made billboard ), packaging, cereal boxes. Plus good old white glue or similar.
You might want to check out the "Robin at his best" sub-forum of the Academy to see what is possible using mostly cerealboard and other "common" materials.