Some time during the last year I happened across an article about how to reproduce weathered looking signage on brick buildings - you know the “Gold Medal” “Mail Pouch” “Eat More Possum” type signs that were common on larger strategically placed brick buildings…I thought that it was in MRR, but I have looked through the issues for the last 18 mos and i can’t seem to find it. I have been reading alot of the MRR books, so that may have been where I saw it. Does anyone know the article of which I speak and where I might find it?
Thanks in advance.
I saw something about masking, painting, applying dry transfers, painting and lifting off the lettering with tape. I only get MRR, but I thought it was a DPB feature as well. Couldn’t track it down today.
I think we may have seen the same article, I seem to remember there was quite a “process” to it…I haven’t invested in any of the DPB videos - they sent me the introductory dvd, but i sent it back. I distinctly remember it was a printed article (and not much else[%-)] )
Found it…
http://www.trains.com/mrr/print.aspx?c=a&id=2487
This is close to what I remember, but I swear i read it elsewhere…this will work.
According to the MR Index of Magazines, there was an article in the August 2004 issue of RailRoad Model Craftsman called “Creating Painted Brick Wall Signs”. There was also an article in the May 2001 issue of Model Railroader called “All About Signs” that had a lot of different sign making ideas.
I make my own decals, using just my computer and decal paper. It requires something to seal the decals, too, so I use Microscale’s “Liquid Decal Film.”
I scour the dubya-dubya-dubya for signs I like. It’s not hard, using Google, and the “Images” button. I’ve picked up old ads for the U.S. Army, Cream of Wheat, Campbell’s Soup and others.
I put the signs on DPM brick buildings, after applying Dul-Cote. The coating roughs up the surface, and really ruins the appearance of the sign. Yeah, perfect. Just the way it really looks. After the decal goes on, I add another coat of Dul-Cote to protect it.
These are done on a wood fence, made from coffee stirrers “liberated” from work:
Once you’ve started doing this, it’s surprisingly easy. The trick is to paint a white background on the building, the same shape and size as the decal, because your computer printer won’t do white. So, you have to supply the background. The decal takes care of the rest.
I remember this technique from many years ago (in MR, I believe). The author would take a suitable ad from a glossy magazine, and carefully sandpaper the back to reduce the thickness. I seem to recall he moistened the back as well. When it was sufficiently thin, he would apply it to the brick wall with diluted white glue or matte medium. Once dry, he would sand the front gently to “age” the sign. Might be worth a try.
Don