Making My Own Highway Signs

I was in need of some highway signs, to post around the JACALAR's new highway bridge. Went down to the local train store in Santa Clara, where you can usually find everything, but they didn't have any of the Blair Line highway signs ("we can order from Walthers"). (Yes, I could have called, but what's the fun in that, you never know what might need to come home with you... but nothing did on Friday). Instead of ordering, I decided to try making my own.

The first step was to find out what the dimensions of the signs actually are. I found this site, where you can look up all the dimensions and specs of just about any sign you can imagine. Now, admittedly, these are current/modern signs, but most signs haven't changed that much since the 1960s.

Knowing the dimensions, and with a handy calculator to scale them down to N, I used Microsoft Word (yes WORD!) to make the signs. The key is to use the "Smart Drawing" objects. I scale the object to the appropriate size (speed limit is 0.19" x 0.15"). Use a diamond for the warning signs, and rounded rectangle for speed limits. Font size, for N, are between 2pt and 5pt. I found 5 pt Arial Black was perfect for speed limit numbers; 2.5 pt Arial for the words "SPEED LIMIT"; and for my "NARROW BRIDGE" sign, 3pt.

Here you can see my signs, printed out on glossy photo paper



You can see I make a lot of the same, because I expect to mess up while cutting, and, if you have a large sheet.... An observant person will also note 2 sizes of left/right arrows. I did this for my big curve, at one of my bridge, wanting a larger warning sign. This is realistic, as there are many sizes of these signs in use.

Next up was sign posts. None of my metal tubing was small enough (the smallest would be 7.5 scale inches -- much too big), so I decided to make wood posts. I used 1/64" plywood, which I bought a Michaels a long time ago, and cut posts, using my Chopper. They are 3/4" in length



Next up was coloring the wood. Rather than worrying about painting or staining, a brown Sharpie does the trick



With posts and signs ready, I cut out the signs (and yes, I messed up 2 in cutting). For highway signs, leave a little bit of trim outside the black line. There is always a bit (about 3/4") of white or yellow outside the frame. For the white speed limit, I just left as is. For the warning signs, I used a yellow (sort of goldenrod) Sharpie to color the paper edge. I also rubbed a pencil on the back of each sign, to give it the unpainted metallic look.

A touch of gel Super Glue, and here are the completed signs for installation on the layout.

 

HP Deskjet 970 and Kodak Ultima Photo Paper, glossy. I print at "photo best" setting 2400x1200 dpi.

 

Need to be careful of sharpies on the backs, or they may bleed through the photo paper

 

Oh, yes. If you want metal posts. Since I model transition era, wood is just as good.

 

This has me looking at doing a few. Anyone know of a reference site that pictures state and US highway signs of the 1950's?

 

I couldn't find many, last week, which is why I went ahead and used the dimensions in the 2004 document I posted up top. I've ended up doing individual google searches on images for specific signs, to make sure I wasn't going too different than what was used. The one thing I noted was how "non-standard" signage was, the further back one goes.

 

I wonder how many people remember the old yellow stop signs? And the fancier versions with glass jewels for reflection capabilities.... There were still some in use when I was a boy. In fact, a friend and I found one still in use, late 1980! I wonder if he still has it?

 

I was thinking of making a couple of the "white lettering on black" speed limit signs, and use glitter for the jewels on the numbers, but at 5 pt font, couldn't really come up with a clean way. But, I guess if Jerry can paint the individual beaks of sea gulls, I need to take a shot at the signs.