Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana MY RED INDIAN HAND PAINTED SIGN

HERE IS MY SEMI-FINISHED (PRE-CLEARCOAT) HAND PAINTED RED INDIAN MOTOR OIL SIGN.
IT'S THE SAME SIZE AS THE ORIGINAL WHICH IS 26"H x 72"W. I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE IN PERSON, BUT FROM THE DESCRIPTION OF ONE ON EBAY IN THE PAST MONTH - IT DESCRIBES THE SIGN AS BEING SELF-FRAMED PORCELAIN. SO I GAVE THE SIGN A FRAMED BORDER LIKE I IMAGINED IT SHOULD BE!

THIS PICTURE WAS SHOT OUTSIDE IN STRONG BUT DIFFUSED SUNLIGHT.

IN THE FOLLOWING POSTS I WILL BRIEFLY OUTLINE WITH ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO PICTURES THE PROCESS I MADE TO ACHIEVE A VERY REAL LOOKING REPLICA AT A FRACTION OF THE COST! THE ONE ON EBAY WENT TO $4K & CHANGE AND DID NOT MEET THE RESERVE!

THANKS!

DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGES

MY FIRST STEP WAS TO ROUTER THE 1X2" POPLAR AND PAINT IT BLACK & WHITE. I GAVE IT A BULLNOSE LOOK. THE OUTSIDE EDGE IS BLACK AND THE INSIDE EDGE WHITE. I PAINTED A PIECE OF TEMPERED MASONITE CUT TO THE 26"X 72" SIZE, SANDED IT AND PRIMED IT WITH ZINSSER 1,2,3.

MY ARTWORK CAME FROM THE PETROLIANA BOOK PAGE 151 BOTTOM.
I DUPED THE SIGNS IMAGE WITH PHOTOSHOP AND ALSO USING THE EXACT LETTERING FROM THAT IMAGE.
THE INDIAN HEAD CAME FROM T-WAY WHO POSTED IT IN ANOTHER RELATED POST (THANKS, T-WAY!).


HERE IS THE IMAGE THAT I PRINTED, PHOTOGRAPHED AND EVENTUALLY USED IN THE PROJECTION AND TRACING PROCESS:


HERE I AM PENCILLING IN THE LINES WITH THE IMAGE IS PROJECTED ONTO MY PRIMED MASONITE:


[This message has been edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE (edited 12-23-2004).]

THAT TRACING TOOK ABOUT 45 MINUTES IN 2 SESSIONS. IT TAKES ALOT OF PATIENCE FOR SURE, BUT WORTH IT IN THE END. HERE IS A CLOSE UP OF THE INDIAN'S HEAD:



MY FIRST COLOR TO PUT DOWN OF THE THREE INVOLVED WAS THE WHITE. I FILLED IN ALL THE AREAS TO BE WHITE AND LET IT DRY OVERNIGHT!
HERE YOU CAN SEE THE GLOSS WHITE PAINT ON THE PRIMED MASONITE:



NEXT I DETAILED THE RED PAINT WITHIN THE INDIAN'S HEAD AND AFTER DRY, STARTED THE BLACK AREAS ALSO IN AND AROUND THE INDIAN'S HEAD AND ACROSS THE BOTTOM:

THEN I FILLED IN THE TOP PART OF THE SIGN WITH THE RED. THE FINAL STEP WAS TO DETAIL PAINT THE LETTERS WITHIN THIS RED AREA WITH
A BLACK BORDER. TIME CONSUMING...YES!



BEFORE I EVEN STARTED THE TRACING, I DECIDED TO WORK ON THE BORDER AND PREP IT. ROUTING, PRIMING, PAINTING AND CUTTING TO FIT ON THE INSIDE BORDER OF THE TO BE PAINTED SIGN. THAT WENT SMOOTHLY! REMEMBER "MEASURE TWICE - CUT ONCE!" HERE IS A SHOT OF THE BOTTOM TRIM PIECE GLUED AND CLAMPED IN PLACE:



HERE IS A CORNER SHOT DETAIL SHOWING THE 45 DEGREE ANGLES AND THE BULLNOSE EFFECT:

WITH THE BORDER NOW ATTACHED I ALSO FASTENED IT FROM BEHIND WITH FLATHEAD SHEETMETAL SCREWS WITH THE HEADS COUNTERSUNK INTO THE MASONITE. 26 SCREWS WERE USED. NOT REALLY NEC, BUT FOR A PIECE OF MIND. BTW, I USED "GORILLA GLUE." USE THIS SPARINGLY AS IT TENDS TO FOAM AND BULGE IN THE DRYING PROCESS.

HERE ARE SOME SHOTS INSIDE UNDER A FLUORESCENT LIGHT FOR A DIFFERENT LOOK....?

FYI....HERE ARE THE BRUSHES I USED:



ANYTHING FROM 1/16" FOR THE TINIEST DETAILED NOOKS & CRANNIES TO 1/2" FOR LARGE AREAS ALREADY TRIMMED OUT BY THE 1/8" & 1/4" BRUSHES.

I USED STRICTLY "X-O RUST" PAINTS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM TRUE VALUE HARDWARE STORES.

THIS PROJECT TOOK 12 DAYS TO DO.
ABOUT 15 HOURS TOTAL. THE PAINT DRYING OF COURSE IS ALWAYS THE SETBACK WITH TIME.

I AM PROUD OF THIS ONE AND I HOPE YOU LIKE IT TOO!

THANKS!

DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGES!

Very impressive. You could probably sell this sign on Ebay for a pretty penny too. Again, nice work.

SUPER NICE WORK! YOU REALLY DID A NICE JOB ON THAT SIGN, IM IMPRESSED!!!

you did the outline around the letters freehand? with those brushes? AWESOME!!!

a 3/8 grey quill like i use is about 26.00 & with one shot paint (mixed right) i can pull a 1/2 wide line with no brush strokes for about 3 feet on one pull.

all your signs impress me. its much much harder to copy a sign exact & it deserves alot of respect.

Doc head over to the 'LETTERHEADS" (sign painters) website & check em out. - bullboard.
they are a crazy bunch its a family site but they get pretty wild over there & show alot of their work & how tos.
you might pick up on some tips (not that you need any)

i always get some goooooooooood laughs reading their posts! & have picked up on some tricks.

seems like alot of them are in your neck of the woods. EAST.
i like going out east. cars, minivans etc... are pinstriped & some towns have the nicest advertising & business signs.



[This message has been edited by tom 2 tone (edited 12-23-2004).]

DOC, you do auwsome work!

DOC YOU GOT IT GOING ON VERY NICE.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
REX

Looks like about $4,000.00 in labor.

Great looking sign DOC. Lots of work, but it sure looks nice.

DOC, the Red Indian sign is fantastic looking, I think that I will be trying this Myself, your directions are easy to follow so its only a matter of getting the time to do it,( easier said than done)instead of wood I think that I will use galvanize steel with a wood boarder, I appreciate you taking the time to explain your prosess, and to show the involvement that it took , I will be doing a Red Indian station at my new place in the near future, so a sign like this is a must, Thanks again

Doc Outstanding. You could make some of my rough signs look like a million bucks!!! Hey Poor man Curt What's with the thumbs down legend in your post??? Had too many Firestones???? Ted

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Ted & Pam Roach
Stuck in Lodi CA.
pca-west.org

The Man Can Paint! (This I know for a FACT)
Now, we can all see just how much time and effort it takes to do something like this.
Even if I live to be 100, I'd never come close!

Great job DOC...Happy Holidays!

Oops, sorry about the thumbs down DOC. Must have had my thumb up my nose when I was typing.

That's a great sign!

Great job doc!! I would like all you old gassers to know that doc has been helping me to do my own sign. I am still getting every thing together to do this sign as I was not set up to do this but in the first month of 2005 I will be doing my own sign like this. I sure am going to look like a coppy cat when I show you mine but Iam sure doc will understand.

ward zaharia

THANKS GUYS FOR THE KIND AND INSPIRING WORDS! I HAVE SINCE SIGNED AND CLEARCOATED THAT BADBOY AND IT LOOKS GREAT! JUST GOTTA PUT SOME HOOKS ON THE BACK AND FIND A PLACE TO HANG THE ARTWORK! I'LL FIND A COKE PIECE TO SWAP IT WITH!

T2T - I OUTLINED THE LETTERS FREEHAND....NO MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE THERE! THANKS FOR THE WEBSITE...I WILL CHECK THAT OUT!

POOR MAN - IF A GARAGE IN N.Y. CHARGES $80 TO WORK ON A CAR PER HOUR X 15 HOURS THAT'S $1200!
EVEN IF I WAS OFFERED $1K FOR IT - I'D SELL AND MAKE ANOTHER...IT TRULY LOOKS LIKE THE REAL DEAL!

CHRIS - IT'S ALL ABOUT TAKING YOUR TIME AND MAKING THAT FIRST STEP. THINK OF IT AS MAKING YOUR OWN "PAINT BY NUMBERS" PAINTING. LEAN ON ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!

TED - I'M FROM A GERMAN/IRISH BACKGROUND, SO IT'S ALL ABOUT PERFECTION AND GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME....WHILE THROWING A FEW BULLETS BACK AT THE SAME. YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT YOUR BEER NEXT TO THE CAN OF PAINT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS!

SINCLAIR JOE - THANKS FOR THE GREAT NEWS ABOUT "BEAR" WHO WAS FLOATING AROUND & ABOOT ONLY 3 STATES AWAY! I'D HAVE GONE "POSTAL" IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM!
GLAD YOU ARE HAPPY MR. BAIR!

WARD - WHAT CAN I SAY TO YOU? I MUST THANK YOU FOR FIRST OF ALL INSPIRING ME TO DO RED INDIAN WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER GRAPHIC SIGNS I'D LIKE TO DO. HECK, I'M EVEN
THINKING ABOUT DOING ANOTHER RED INDIAN, BUT DIFFERENT. IT'S THE MUCH SMALLER ONE ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT INCREASING THE SIZE BY MAYBE 50-100%. WARD, WHEN YOU FINALLY BUY OR BORROW A PROJECTOR AND GET STARTED, PLEASE LEAN ON ME FOR WHAT EVER QUESTIONS AND HELP YOU MIGHT NEED. YOU ARE NOT A COPY CAT - I AM!
I JUST DID IT BEFORE YOU - IT WAS YOUR IDEA IN THE BEGINNING, WAS HOPING WE COULD WORK ON IT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT SOMETHING BIT ME AND I WAS QUICKLY INSPIRED TO TRY IT!

THANKS AGAIN EVERYBODY!
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"DOC" AT THE AMERICAN GARAGES!


[This message has been edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE (edited 12-25-2004).]

Outstanding work, DOC! You should be very proud. How about a killer Gilmore piece for your next project? Merry Christmas!!!

WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY TOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOL!!!!
I'm inspired to go out & try one for myself. Thanks for the tips. Merry Christmas!!!

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If you love your freedom, thank a vet. If you love anything else, thank a trucker!

Nice job DOC!! definately a dying art. I couldn't help but notice the Coke button in the background of a couple of the pics. What size is it? My buddy has a 3 or 4' (can't remember) bubble and he wanted me to find info on it, but it's been elusive to say the least.

YEAH ACEMAN, I'VE GOT ALOT OF COKE BUTTON SIGNS - ALL SIZES STYLES, ENGLISH AND FOREIGN. IT'S ALL ABOUT CONDITION, SIZE AND WHAT IT'S MADE OF. DROP ME AN EMAIL WITH A PIC OF YOUR BUDDY'S SIGN AND I'LL
GIVE YOU AN HONEST OPINION.

DOC @ TAG/WEST
drcoke@optonline.net

Great sign Doc...Really outstanding, Bravo my friend

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Hubba: GAS GEEK , OIL FREAK and humble moderator

doc got my slide back today and found a projector. It is hard to get a slide made around here now. I projected it on the wall and it looks great cant wait to get started

ward

HEY WARD! SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE JUST MOVIN' AND GROOVIN' ALONG WITH THE PROJECT. KEEP ME...ER...US POSTED ON YOUR OWN PROGRESS AND TAKE PICS AS YOU GO...YOU'LL WISH YOU HAD IF YOU DON'T! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!

DOC @ TAG/WEST

ok doc

I am keeping you posted on progress and have one question. I got the blank cut and and got the first coat of zinssers bulls eye 123 primer down. I cant belive that I found this stuff looks like good stuff and only 10-12 bucks a quart. So after the primer I think that I might paint it the back ground white and the project and trace out the design on the white with a pencil what do you think

ward

WARD,
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PAINTING THE BOARD GLOSS WHITE? I GUESS YOU COULD DO THAT TOO. THEN TRACE OUT THE LINES AND THEN JUST PAINT THE BLACK AND RED AREAS WHILE THE WHITE IS ALREADY DONE. I DID THE WHITE AREAS ONLY BASICALLY TO SAVE ON PAINT AND DRYING TIME. TRY IT SEE HOW IT GOES. GOOD LUCK!

DOC

doc just finished laying down the black. I still have the red to go and then will have to touch up the white. I am going to go with a black frame like you did but I am not putting the white on the molding but on the sign instead. This is a lot of fun kind of relaxing

DID YOU SAY "RELAXING?" MAN, I MUST'VE FALLEN ASLEEP ON MY SIGN SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY PAINT BRUSH UP MY NOSE! LOL!

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COMIN' ALONG THERE, WARD. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT - DID I MENTION THAT ALREADY? THAT I CAN'T.....WAIT.....TO.......SEE......IT? TAKE YOUR TIME! AS LONG AS IT'S DONE IN THE NEXT 5 MINUTES!

DOC @ TAG/WEST

I did the red today looks good just have to find a molding paint it and put it on. Is it cheating to use a little tape here and there doc?? will take some pictures and send them to you whan it is done

ward

WARD, TAPE IS FINE...OKAY....AND DANDY! IT'S WHAT I CALL A "HELPER!"
HELPS KEEP YOU IN LINE. PEEL THE TAPE AS SOON AS YOUR DONE PAINTING WHILE IT'S STILL WET. OTHERWISE IT WILL DRY TO THE TAPE AND THE TAPE WHEN LIFTED WILL PEEL OFF FROM THE AREA YOU DON'T WANT IT TO. COULD GET UGLY!
MY NEXT SIGN WILL BE A HYVIS MOTOR OIL. I JUST GOT A BRAND NEW OVERHEAD PROJECTOR TO TRY OUT.
I JUST PRINT A LINE DRAWING FROM THE ORIGINAL PICTURE OF A SIGN AND MAKE A CLEAR TRANSPARENCY. HOPE THIS WORKS AS WELL AS THE SLIDE FILM PROJECTOR!

DOC @ TAG\WEST

getting closer doc I put on the molding tonight. You thought that you used a lot of screws I used over 60 #4 robertson half inch screws really over 60 but no glue. Is there a better word than reproduction for a sign like this.

ward

"ART!"


DOC @ TAG/WEST

BTW, I DID FIND A PLACE TO HANG IT. RIGHT OVER THE FIREPLACE SINCE I DON'T USE IT...THE HEARTH THAT IS!



DOC @ TAG/WEST
COLLECTOR, ARTIST, ASYLUM EXPLORER!

Here is a tip on the tape. Scotch brand Magic Tape, in the green plaid dispender. [remember that adv.?] Fold one end over before laying it down on your line. Without fail, fold one end over before laying it down. This works for the horizontal lines. Well it would work for any straight line. Got a straight line border, tape it. I'm not sure on the type of paint you are using, but the tape should peel off even if the pain is dry. Go slow and at a slight angle.
Nice '59 Chevy cats eye tail lights there too.

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ROD [Mich.]