I kit-bashed a Marklin modern signal tower into an American-looking building. This kit is still available on-line and is pretty easy to make into something else. I have kitbashed 2 of them. The sign is from an old matchbook. I find matchbooks to be a treasure trove of great period advertising. The size is almost perfect for z-scale images and they represent an actual establishment from days gone by.
Thanks, Kurt. I don't think it is an original idea. I'm always on the lookout for signage matter. A good source of really good color graphics are from the pages of glossy books on any subject matter in print. My favorite is a book called "The great State of Maine Beer Book", by Will Anderson. It is full of dozens of Maine breweries, old and new, as well as ads for prohibition-era businesses. Many of the signs on my buildings come from this book with dozens more waiting to be used. You probably know this. I print the image on a regular copier and sand the back with K&S (S&K?) sanding film until it is almost sanded thru. Next I cut the image out and I wet the spot where it will go with diluted white glue and place the decal on it. I dab it with a wet brush to flatten it out and let it dry. I think you can get it as thin, or thinner than an actual decal. They cost pennies. The glossy images are very high-resolution and make excellent quality z scale decals. Books on motels, gas stations, saloons, etc...are found in these books. Jim
That's a winner, and just about every railroad had they're own matchbooks they handed out, plus lot's of other companies as well.
That's right. Go to the marketplace and enter "vintage matchbooks" and you'll be amazed at how many are out there in so many different categories: nightclubs, taverns, restaurants, you name it. Narrow your search to your city or town , etc...some are sold as entire matchbooks with matches and many are just the covers. There was a time when every business handed out promo matches. They are interesting little glimpses into the past. Jim
