The Franklin & South Manchester Railroad - it's all about the details!

[Janbouli]

I would really like to know how he did the Catherine -Anns  Baked Beans sign, that looks so amazing. Thanks again for all the photo's.

[ReadingBob]

I would really like to know how he did the Catherine -Anns  Baked Beans sign, that looks so amazing. Thanks again for all the photo's.

That's a great question.  George demonstrated one of the techniques he uses for applying signs to walls in one of the earlier Alan Keller DVD's.  If I recall correctly he cuts the sign out (he collects advertisements from old magazines and what not), sands the back side to get the paper as thin as possible without sanding thru it, apples thinned white glue to the backside of the sign and then positions it on the wall and burnishes it in place to get it to settle into the joints, etc.  After that he blends it in with the color of the wall to give it that faded look.  I'm not sure if the same technique could have been used on a sign that covers the entire wall like this one does.  The Catherine-Anns Baked Beans sign really catches the eye and blends in incredibly well with wall.  Like you said, it's so amazing.      

[S&S RR]

I would really like to know how he did the Catherine -Anns  Baked Beans sign, that looks so amazing. Thanks again for all the photo's.

Jan


Bob described the technique perfectly.  George used that technique on all of the big signs on the sides of structures. In addition to the George Keller video George also describes the technique in an interview that TrainMasters TV did with him last month.   I have tried it and it works quite well - the hard part is finding the original artwork. I recently purchased the box set of CD's for the National Geographic Magazine and plan on using the adds for some signs on my layout. 

[S&S RR]

I would really like to know how he did the Catherine -Anns  Baked Beans sign, that looks so amazing. Thanks again for all the photo's.

That's a great question.  George demonstrated one of the techniques he uses for applying signs to walls in one of the earlier Alan Keller DVD's.  If I recall correctly he cuts the sign out (he collects advertisements from old magazines and what not), sands the back side to get the paper as thin as possible without sanding thru it, apples thinned white glue to the backside of the sign and then positions it on the wall and burnishes it in place to get it to settle into the joints, etc.  After that he blends it in with the color of the wall to give it that faded look.  I'm not sure if the same technique could have been used on a sign that covers the entire wall like this one does.  The Catherine-Anns Baked Beans sign really catches the eye and blends in incredibly well with wall.  Like you said, it's so amazing.      

Great description Bob!

[postalkarl]

Hi All:

I can tell you exactly how The Catherine Ann's Baked Beans sign was done.

The photo of the female on the wall is a paper sign. All the lettering is done with dry transfers. The lettering is then shawdowed with paint. A lot of the signs on The F&SM are done this way. Dry transfers are pretty much a thing of the past due to the computer. I may still have some around somewhere.

I also have some buildings that I used this method on. I will post some photos OK.

I also built most of the billboards on the F&SM. Wall mounted and free standing and also have two buildings on the layout. Richfield Gas Station And Fred & Ethyl's Diner. 

Karl

[S&S RR]

Hi All:

I can tell you exactly how The Catherine Ann's Baked Beans sign was done.

The photo of the female on the wall is a paper sign. All the lettering is done with dry transfers. The lettering is then shawdowed with paint. A lot of the signs on The F&SM are done this way. Dry transfers are pretty much a thing of the past due to the computer. I may still have some around somewhere.

I also have some buildings that I used this method on. I will post some photos OK.

I also built most of the billboards on the F&SM. Wall mounted and free standing and also have two buildings on the layout. Richfield Gas Station And Fred & Ethyl's Diner. 

Karl

Karl


Thanks for the input and yes please post pictures - we Love Pictures and F&SM history.  I will make sure we record your two buildings on the layout in the remarks for those structures.

[postalkarl]

Hi All:

Here's a photo of Bruno's/Casey's Garage on the F&SM scratch built by me. The Lettering is done with dry transfers and they are highlighted with depot buff paint. This is how George did the Catherine Ann's sign.

Karl

[rpdylan]

Nice structure Karl, What did you use for the walls? Are they plastic sheets?

bob c.

[postalkarl]

Hi Bob C.

Thanks. I knew somebody was gonna ask me that. They are cardstock from one of the European companies but I can't remember which one. Vollmer possibly.

Karl

[rpdylan]

I see that Micro-Mark sells some embossed brick sheets- I used the thick Monster Model works brick sheet for my Granby-Bates project but I think I may try the thinner sheets that they sell.

bob c.

[Janbouli]

Wow , thank you all for the replies , what a great place of knowledge this forum is.

[S&S RR]

Karl


Great looking structures - thanks for posting them.

[S&S RR]

Added note to the pictures of Brunos Garage on page 42. 

[S&S RR]

Updated the thread index on page 1.

[S&S RR]

                       F&SM Railroad - Thread Index

The Manchester Lift Bridge .............................................................. Page 1
The Colbert Yard Coaling Tower ........................................................ Page 2
The South Manchester Depot ........................................................... Page 3
The Burley Farm ............................................................................ Page 4
Blair, Campbell & McLean Inc...........................................................  Page 5
The North River Boat House.............................................................  Page 5
The Manchester Bus Terminal...........................................................  Page 6
Manchester Central Station............................................................... Page 7
Porky's Place................................................................................... Page 8
The Franklin Station......................................................................... Page 9
The Mt. Allen Trestle........................................................................ Page 10
Mackenzie Milling Company............................................................... Page 10
The Stone Roundhouse.................................................................... Page 10
Franklin  "Overview"........................................................................ Page 11
Franklin "Maxwell Bicycle Works"....................................................... Page 12
Franklin "Oandy Bldg"...................................................................... Page 12
Franklin "Clancy's Bar & Grill" ........................................................... Page 12
Franklin "Franklin Station Hotel"........................................................ Page 12
Franklin "J. Stein Loans Building"........................................................Page 12
Franklin "Grocers Warehouse Corp".....................................................Page 13
Franklin "Ellwood & Co".....................................................................Page 13
Franklin "Benny's Gas & Oil"............................................................. Page 13
Franklin "Squeak & Wilfred Bldg"........................................................Page 14
Franklin "M. H Vanderlip Laundering Co.".............................................Page 14
Franklin "The J. Winkie Co."...............................................................Page 14
Franklin "M. Sibiey & Company"..........................................................Page 16
Franklin "Jake Fish Co.".....................................................................Page 16
Franklin "Hotel Davenport".................................................................Page 16
Franklin "Maranatha Warehouse and Storage Co.".................................Page 16
Franklin "Kratz Scissors Company" .....................................................Page 17
Franklin "The A. C. Gilbert Co. Home of American Flyer Trains"...............Page 17
Franklin "McDuff's Salvage"...............................................................Page 17
Franklin "The Salvation Army Building"................................................Page 17
Franklin "Paddock Bar & Grill".............................................................Page 17
Rocky Point Harbor "Light House" .......................................................Page 18
Rocky Point Harbor" Cap'in Billy's Bait"................................................Page 18
Rocky Point Harbor " Emporium Seafood Company"...............................Page 18
Rocky Point Harbor " Izzy Fish Company"............................................ Page 18
Rocky Point Harbor "Fine Scale Miniatures"...........................................Page 19
Rocky Point Harbor "Cooper's Garage"..................................................Page 19
The Fish Row area of Franklin .............................................................Page 19
The Rocks under Winkie's for Randy ....................................................Page 20
Franklin "Dixon's The Greatest Show on Earth Building"..........................Page 20
Franklin "Bertha's Bar and Grill"..........................................................Page 20
Franklin "Hammerbaum Boot Corp"......................................................Page 20
Franklin "Fox Run".............................................................................Page 20
Franklin "Duff's Coal" "the original"......................................................Page 20
Franklin "Fish Row" ...........................................................................Page 20
Franklin "White & Bagley Company "....................................................Page 20
Franklin "Bernstein's Fish Grotto" .......................................................Page 20
Franklin "In the Beginning".................................................................Page 21
Franklin "Rocky Point Depot"...............................................................Page 21
Franklin "Samuel C. Jollie & Co. Warehouse & Storage"...........................Page 22
Franklin "Ebenezer Griswold & Sons"....................................................Page 22
Franklin "The Franklin Gazette"........................................................... Page 22
Franklin "Stuffy's Tavern"................................................................... Page 22
Franklin "Downtown Garage".............................................................. Page 22
Franklin "The Fog Bank Cafe".............................................................. Page 22
Franklin "Continental Typerwriter"........................................................ Page 22
Franklin "Senour's Floor Paint" ............................................................ Page 22
Franklin "F.C.Lundquist .......................................................................Page 22
Franklin "Mulligan's Grocery Store"....................................................... Page 23
Franklin "Buddy's Bar"........................................................................ Page 23
Franklin "Empire Paint Co.".................................................................. Page 23
Franklin "Franklin Pipe Company"..........................................................Page 24
Franklin "Tubby's Cafe"........................................................................Page 24
Belverton "The Street Car"...................................................................Page 24
Belverton " The Rock Work"..................................................................Page 24
Chesterville "Overview"........................................................................Page 24
Chesterville " Water Tower"...................................................................Page 24
Chesterville "Casey Milling"...................................................................Page 24
Chesterville "Hirman Bros. Wholesale Meats".......................................... Page 24
Beaver Meadows "Overview"..................................................................Page 24
Beaver Meadows "Cartwrights Milling".....................................................Page 25
Beaver Meadows "The Sawmill"..............................................................Page 25
Beaver Meadows "John Allen Engine House".............................................Page 25
Beaver Meadows "Modified Overview 2014"..............................................Page 26
Beaver Meadows "The Hazen Boyd Company"...........................................Page 26
Beaver Meadows "James Town Waterstop"................................................Page 26
Beaver Meadows "The Yehudah Heating Company"....................................Page 26
Wolf Hollar Bridge ................................................................................Page 26
Avram's Baking Company.......................................................................Page 27
The Adam's & Westlake Mfg. Co..............................................................Page 27
The Covered Bridge ..............................................................................Page 27
The Mayfield Church .............................................................................Page 28
The Mayfield Station .............................................................................Page 28
McClosky's Market ................................................................................Page 28
Manchester Street Scenes .....................................................................Page 29
Raymo's vehicles on the F&SM ...............................................................Page 29
Jerome Marble & Co. ............................................................................Page 29
Jefferies Point Stave & Headings Co.........................................................Page 30
Jayes' Sanitary Compounds Co................................................................Page 30
Mayfield Tower .....................................................................................Page 30
Mayfield Loading Dock .......................................................................... Page 30
Stewart & Ashby Coffee Co.................................................................... Page 30
Elm Street Missions ............................................................................. Page 30
Howard & Fine Tailors .......................................................................... Page 30
Mayfield Service Station ....................................................................... Page 30
Flag Stop Dinner ..................................................................................Page 30
Aunt Flo's Bar ......................................................................................Page 30
A. & J. H. Stoddort Scrap Dealer .............................................................Page 30
Peter Leech & Son ................................................................................Page 31
Franklin Watchworks..............................................................................Page 31
Baxter's Building & Supply .....................................................................Page 31
Elijah Roth & Sons ................................................................................Page 31
Gargle Oil Company...............................................................................Page 32
Machkenzie Milling Company...................................................................Page 32
Mt. Allen Trestle....................................................................................Page 32
The Stone Roundhouse..........................................................................Page 32
Colbert Yard Water Tank........................................................................ Page 32
Colbert Yard Turntable........................................................................... Page 32
Colbert Yard Overview........................................................................... Page 33
Colbert Yard Icehouse............................................................................Page 33
Colbert Yard Coaling Tower .................................................................... Page 33
Colbert Yard Bridge .............................................................................. Page 33
Tenement Buildings .............................................................................. Page 33
Branchline Bucket Coaling Station .......................................................... Page 33
Kurttroff, Pickhardt & Co........................................................................ Page 35
R. W. Herrmann Paint Materials Building.................................................. Page 35
Brenner's Men Dress Shoes...................................................................  Page 35
Elijah Ashworth's.................................................................................  Page 35
Smokey Joe's Cafe .............................................................................. Page 35
Ashby Coffee Co. ................................................................................. Page 35
Colbert Yard Tower .............................................................................. Page 35
Bedford Falls Overview ......................................................................... Page 36
Bedford Falls box car red structure.......................................................... Page 36
Allen Deek's building............................................................................. Page 37
Bedford Falls Uneeda Biscuit Building...................................................... Page 38
Bedford Falls Dutch Laundry Building...................................................... Page 38
Bedford Falls Storage Company............................................................. Page 38
Oatman's Mercantile Building................................................................ Page 38
Chippy Hollow Hardware - W.S.Knot Company........................................ Page 38
Isiah Shalon Company........................................................................  Page 38
Bedford Falls Tower............................................................................ Page 38
Brambell's Plumbing..........................................................................  Page 39
Rusty Spike Dinner............................................................................. Page 39
Bedford Falls Station........................................................................... Page 39
Leroy's Grill Hotel Davenport................................................................ Page 39
Stuffy's Brewery................................................................................. Page 39
Sal Manila Egg Wholesalers.................................................................. Page 40
Stark's Coal....................................................................................... Page 40
Chester W. Rawlings Furniture Company............................................... Page 40
Barter's Garage................................................................................. Page 40
T. McAVITY & Sons Building................................................................. Page 40
Bortel, Harris & Company Roofers........................................................ Page 41
Gilmore Gasoline Garage.................................................................... Page 41
Dover town Overview.........................................................................Page 42
Marthaville Passanger Platform ...........................................................Page 42
Highline - Dovertown.........................................................................Page 42
Brunos' Garage Dovertown.................................................................Page 42
Rolin Saywer Chemical Company ....................................................... Page 42
The Home of Stromboli & Sons Spaghetti & Pasta ................................ Page 42
Johnny Stechinos Taste of Italy Restaurant ......................................... Page 42
Dovertown Station ..........................................................................  Page 43
Royal Cloake Company ....................................................................  Page 43
Winkie & Basil Cigars ....................................................................... Page 44
Frank & Stein Cosmetics ..................................................................  Page 44
Da Tara Hotel .................................................................................. Page 44
Boss Hardware ................................................................................ Page 44
Brasso Brass Polish Company ............................................................ Page 44
Joes Bar & Grill ............................................................................... Page 44
Blair, Campbell, & McLean ................................................................ Page 44
Y. B. Tardy Corporation .................................................................... Page 45
Catherine - Ann's Baked Beans ......................................................... Page 45
Octagonal Tower ............................................................................. Page 45
A. Zol Company .............................................................................. Page 45
Peter Henderson Company ............................................................... Page 45
Uncle Sam's Coffee ......................................................................... Page 45
Tara E. Gumsy Baby Goods .............................................................. Page 45