Silver Plume Depot 1:1

[Fred H.]

So... I'm making some progress on my 1:24 garage layout (or the garage portion at least). I've got shiplap up in about half of it and I've hung a full bank of NewAge cabinets on the wall opposite the layout location. Given that I'm not a linear builder, I've turned my attention over the long weekend to a few signs for the wall that leads into the house. I'm copying signs around the door to the Silver Plume depot as shown in these photos:

[Fred H.]

First step was to recreate the signs in Adobe Illustrator...

Font used for the name board is Celluloid JNL



Font for the Passenger Train Bulletin was Arno Pro (vastly elongated)



The more I studied the Passenger Train Bulletin, I was convinced that it was hand lettered.

I found the Adams Express logo as a vector (SVG) file and modified it within Illustrator.

[Fred H.]

I created the files in full 1:1 dimensions (8 x 48 inches for the depot sign and 24 x 36 for the PTB) and sent the files to Craft Cuts in Idaho as EPS files and asked them to convert the images into single use stencils. The Silver Plume and Black Hawk depot signs were inexpensive ($21 and $26) but the Passenger Train Bulletin was more complicated and the stencil for that ran ($135). I had the stencils within a few days.

For the Adams Express sign, I'm having a guy I found on Etsy do that as a 15 x 15 metal sign. Sent him a full size JPG and I'm expecting a finished product shortly.

[Kurt Maechner]

Fred, what a great idea!  Would love to see photos of them when they arrive.

[Jim Courtney]

Great work Fred!

Perhaps Jeff can add them to the "signs thread" and re-scale them to HO, S and O scales.

Jim

[South Park]

  How do you know the colors of the Adams Express Co. sign ?

[Don Gustavson II]

Well that is cool.
Definitely want to see the finished signs.

[Chris Walker]

SP,  

several searches resulted in the logo showing as Red
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_Express_Company

https://www.icollector.com/Adams-Express-Company-sign-printed-on-cardboard-with-metal-serrated-edge-Approx-13-3-4-by-20_i11291048
Adams Express Company sign, printed on cardboard with metal serrated edge. Approx. 13-3/4” by 20”. Good condition showing gold lettering with red background. Some exposure, normal aging, good condition, slightwarpage. From the Robert Hoelscher Collection. Est: $300 - $600

[Fred H.]

That’s my understanding, too, Chris. Adams has been around since mid to late 1800s. Logo seems to have remained largely the same. Red background with straw yellow words.

[Fred H.]

Here’s more of the SBS on the signs.

Stencil laid down on charcoal gray background.



Peeling back the protective top sheet revealing the stencil.



Stencil revealed.



The big Kahuna.



Peeled back.



First paint layer. Same paint as background to seal stencil and prevent bleed through.



Four coats of white latex later...



Final version of Passenger Train Bulletin. (This one required significant ‘pickin’ and still needs some careful touch up. Pretty good effort though.)



VERY happy with these. Now to trim to final sizes and add frames and hangers.

[Steve Black]

Wow! Those look great!

Steve

[Fred H.]

Thanks guys. This is a fun project. Only problem has been Helen who wanted to know when I intend to finish the shiplap and build the layout...

[Rick Steele]

Cool Fred,

You are copying the signs that I made using the historic photo back in 1977. Thanks!

The only original sign was the one on the end of the depot which was found nailed to the frame of the depot when they moved it away from the highway construction.

Rick

[Fred H.]

Now THAT’S a cool fact, Rick! I just took a good guess as to the actual dimensions. Knew that I needed the town name boards to be 48 inches wide when finished and the Passenger Train Bulletin 36 inches. That dictated the final height. I searched in vain for a good match for the PTB font and in the end just ended up messing with something close. Since I am modeling the 1899-1906 period I decided to paint the PTB text in metallic gold. The end result is really sharp. I’m out of the country for a short trip. Hope to get these finished on Sunday.

[Rick Steele]

I'm impressed at the stencil work.

I free-handed it.

I did fudge a little, though.

I was working for the Loop and I went up and measured the nail and bolt holes that held the signs in place before I started to get a feel for how big they were.

Rick

[Fred H.]

Made some progress but the heat and humidity were brutal...







Still need to paint the frames and add the hangers. A few more hours and these will be a hangin’!

[Fred H.]

Finally got time to paint the frames. Last things to do are paint the backs and give em all a protective gloss coat. I’m sure glad I took this project on! Really dresses up the wall. My metal signs should be here tomorrow. Yeah!