Large Scale Central

HO scale McDonalds

Other Scales
#1

I’m in the process of building a super rare Life-Like McDonalds kit for our HO scale layout. These are extremely rare because there was a licensing problem when they came out. So not too many actually got produced. If interested, more info on these kits history can be found here" Life-Like McDonalds I’ve been looking for one of these for many years. I always thought it would look great on our 1957 Southern California layout. To complicate things, I preferred an unbuilt kit. Our HO layout is circa 1957 and the McDonalds kit, as is, is more for the mid to late 1960s. So I needed an unbuilt kit to make backdating easier. Really all I have to do is omit the road side sign and the enclosed front. Here is what the finished kit looks like on the box:

And below is what it looks like on our layout. Note there are still many details/pieces left to add and parts to glue, but I wanted to test fit it and get a general idea of how the building will look on the layout.

#2

Matt I hope you kept the road side sign. That was an intragal part of McDs advertizing. Just change it to so many million sold. And set it to a front corner of the parking lot.

#3

Dave, I plan on making an older style sign. Like this:

(http://i.imgur.com/E9Ot3.jpg)

#4

Matt,
I don’t know about late 50’s, but you have the Mickey D’s right for the mid 60’s.
I remember very well ordering outside, and the sign said “over 4 million sold”.
Ralph

#5

Yea, I don’t think McDonald’s showed up around here till the late 60’s or early 70’s. We had Gino’s Hamburger’s in the 60’s. McD’s was a west coast thing till then. There was an explosion of fast food joints in the 70’s…Wendy’s, Arby’s, Roy Rodger’s, KFC, Burger King, etc…

#6

The very first McDonald’s that look like this kit were in Southern California during the mid 1950s. Ray Kroc franchised them outside of California. The rest is history.

Some interesting info about the early history of McDonald’s can be found here:

McDonald’s History (scroll down to the early history section)

#7

Matt,
There is one in uptown Harrisburg PA that had a sign like that for as long as I can remember. Not sure if it’s still there and don’t remember the street.

#8

Added some more details, and a test printed sign:

(http://i.imgur.com/rAFun.jpg)

#9

It needs the over x million sold on it

#10

Dave Marconi said:
It needs the over x million sold on it

You’re right. I’m not sure though what number was used in 1957. 50 million? I know the the 100 millionth was sold in 1958. I’ll probably end up using “Over 1 Million Sold”. Like this:

(http://i.imgur.com/eZIid.jpg)

#11

the sign count changed on a reguler basis Matt. Pick 80 or 90 million or contact McD corporate headquarters and maybe get an exact figure from their PR department.
And just ’ Over 80 Million Sold ’ nothing else

#12

I was about 12 or 13 when first introduced to McDonald’s in St. Louis County. That would be 1960 or 61.

#13

I remember the $0.15 price for the basic burger in the late 1950s and early 1960s. There was a chain in my locale (Palmyra-Hershey-Anneville, PA) that had a rocket on their signs. Can’t remember their company name anymore. Anyway, they got in trouble with the FDA for adding imported kangaroo meat to their burgers! One of my buddies had the audacity to go up to the counter and order “two kanga-burgers” after the news broke in our local papers.

Still think a Twin Kiss Hollywood Burger was the all-time best from that kind of establishment.

Great model!

Have fun,
David Meashey

#14

“Still think a Twin Kiss Hollywood Burger was the all-time best from that kind of establishment.”

Had to be a “Chuckaburger” from the American Graffitti style drive-in across from Ritenour High School in St. Louis County. Circa 1963-1969, they finally closed the doors about two years ago.

Got my first ticket for slolum skate boarding behind a 1959 Chevy through the parking area on Friday night. Dam speed bumps, and the guys in the “Cat Eye” Chevy just took off and left me bleeding, while I got the ticket. Never gave up their names, but everyone knew who it was. :wink:

Thanks, good memory.

#15

Found a ready made sign from a ceramic McDonald’s set. Pretty close to HO scale:

(http://i.imgur.com/DzzFt.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/BhTJr.jpg)

#16

2 Quarter pounders, no Cheese and a chocolate shake…:wink:

#17

Looks great Matt. Nice conversion

#18
Ken Brunt said:
2 Quarter pounders, no Cheese and a chocolate shake...........;)
I'm sorry sir. Are you from the future? We don't have Quarter Pounders yet :D

Looks great Matt !

#19

2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, on a sesame seed bun… :slight_smile:

#20
Jon Radder said:
Ken Brunt said:
2 Quarter pounders, no Cheese and a chocolate shake...........;)
I'm sorry sir. Are you from the future? We don't have Quarter Pounders yet :D

Looks great Matt !


Where do you think they got the idea from…?? :wink: