Outside lettering on buildings

[Kiwi Down Under]

Once upon a time I could get stick on lettering but now, with computers, no need for them so no one stocks them. All I can get is stickers with little fairies on them, hardly realistic.

Has anyone printed them off a computer and treated them so they last outside. I dont want to cover them with plastic etc. Has anyone used something like nail varnish, and does it work ?????.

Would appreciate to learn what you use.

Tony
[:D]

[Kiwi Down Under]

Surely someone makes their own signs on a computer, sticks it on their buildings designed to stay outside, and what / how do you protect the printing it so it does not fade or wash away....?????. I would be grateful if you could tell me what you did that didnt work as I dont want to put signs on my buildings only to find in a month or so there blank.

Tony

[Anonymous]

Tony,

I use 2D lettering depending on era.
I am not into computerized yet but could also use wood in the caft dept of a store there?

[Rene Schweitzer]

Tony,

GR did an article (Dec. 2000) on one reader's technique using the computer. He made a sign and printed it mirror reverse on transfer paper (the stuff you typically iron-on t-shirts), then ironed it onto a piece of wood. Spray on some Dullcote and it's good to go. It makes some neat signs.

Rene

[Tom The Brat]

You can find vinyl stick on letters and rub on letters at some art and craft stores like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

I also have used decal paper. As the Asylum layout is indoors, I'm not sure how they'll stand up to outdoor use, but dullcoat is an amazing product.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Tony, I should have mentioned that the iron-on technique I mentioned above was used for _outdoor_ structures.

Rene

[Anonymous]

Tony,

I made some station nameboards for my Pola G-scale station. The station name was produced on the computer using MS Powerpoint (because I wanted a border around the name, this was preferable to MS Word). I then printed onto nornal inkjet paper, stuck onto the plastic nameboard from the kit and then covered in transparent self-adhesive plastic (the sort that is used for covering books). Being station nameboards they are slightly shielded by the building and so have not so far suffered any effects from the weather.

Hope that helps.

Phil

[Anonymous]

Both the date on the bridge and the number on the tender are from those vinyl sets they sell in stationery stores. They hold up very well outdoors. I have them in both black and white, and inch and half-inch sizes.

There are several tricks to using them. First, use blue painter's masking tape to make sure you put them on in a straight line.

Second, follow the instructions and mix a drop of detergent into some water and apply a very small amount to the surface where the letters are to be placed. When you get them where you want them, wick away excess water with the edge of a paper towel. Then you can remove the blue tape too.

Regards,
Bill C.
South Jersey

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Torby

You can find vinyl stick on letters and rub on letters at some art and craft stores like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

I also have used decal paper. As the Asylum layout is indoors, I'm not sure how they'll stand up to outdoor use, but dullcoat is an amazing product.

Does anybody know the life expectency of dullcoat outdoors[?] I've been meaning to post this very question so nows as good a time as any.[:p]

[Anonymous]

Gentlemen

In Tony's defence and you all havent considerd it properly but he lives in New Zealand and this is a very small economy. You have very little choice and alernatives even less than we have here in Australia. So what you people can get easily and cheaply, Tony may not be able to get at all and even then he will pay a bomb for it.


Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

Matt, my Lehmann caboose was sprayed with dullcoat about six years ago and spends most of its time outdoors. I have not seen any crazing or other ill effects, except that it has continued to remain dull -- which is good in this case.

Originally it did not have any windows so I glazed them with plastic. The dullcoat tended to frost the windows, which is also good because the interior has no details.

Regards,
Bill C.
South Jersey

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info Bill! [tup][tup]

[Kiwi Down Under]

Thanks to all that submitted a reply, gives me some ideas.

Ian of iandor, how right you are. Simple little things like stick on lettering is simply not available or if it is it costs a fortune. Your probably a little better off than me, but not much I bet.
I did find some, but at $1.20 a letter, no way....I can buy it cheaper but has angels, fairies or dogs around the letters.....
Got heaps of ideas from Phill in Adelaide, and it is interesting how us down under have to improvise, and yet in many cases it looks far more realistic than a shop brought one.
I often wonder what a lot would do if things were not so readily available to them...

Tony.