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Rexall Pharmacy, Part 2 of 2: Finishing and the Sign

Finishing work began as usual with ruddy primer spray. For a little variety in brick coloration, I oversprayed the ruddy primer with flat brown. Then I highlighted the brick mortar lines with Doctor Ben's Driftwood stain. I masked off the first floor of the front and sprayed it Refer Orange, since it's a "corporate color" for Rexall.

Next, using the spray mask provided in the kit (for the first time!), I sprayed the front window detailing and cornice with light tan Suede. Then I sprayed the window and door inserts white, and bonded them in place with CA. I brush-painted the wall cap around the roof with Antique White, then brush-painted the roof Weathered Black.

As for weathering, I decided to give the pharmacy a real grunge job, as if the only side of the building that saw a modicum of maintenance was the front (which was often the case in real life). So it received several layers of various media, including India ink, more Driftwood stain, chalks, and even some streaks made with Sharpies. It started looking pretty decrepit after a while!

Curiously, until quite recently the pharmacy has remained nameless; then I was inspired by the "multi-graphic" line of animated signs from Miller Engineering. I wasn't interested in yet another animated sign for the layout, let alone investing in one, but since I'd already purchased a pair for the East Theater, I had the items of interest: the graphics. They served as the faces of a new static double-sided illuminated sign made from plain electroluminescent material from the Miller Engineering experimenter's kit.

To make the sign, I first applied the self-adhesive graphics to the electroluminescent panel. Then I carefully cut around the sign graphics, trimming away the unwanted bits that were designed for the animated signs. Next, I laminated the two signs together with double-stick foam tape, which I clipped around the edges of the signs. Finally, I soldered two of the connector pins together, and bent the other two to fit the power supply plug. Thus the signs are wired in series, yet this has no impact on their brightness, likely because they're so small. The sign connector simply passes through the middle second-floor window.

The finishing touch was to apply a trim strip around the edges of the sign. I made this from two pieces of stainless steel fret material bent to follow the shape of the sign. Although I applied some tiny dabs of CA to the trim pieces, they are held in place mostly by spring tension.

The finished sign is understandably oversize for Z scale—even being trimmed down as it is—but since the pharmacy will face the back of the layout, only the top half will be readily visible. Under these circumstances, it's an acceptable size.

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These animated sign graphics are used for a new static lighted sign.

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The graphics are applied to a plain electroluminescent panel.

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The signs are carefully cut out of the electroluminescent panel.

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The signs are laminated together, wired and tested.

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The assembled sign is positioned on the building to check the fit.

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The finished sign has a stainless steel trim strip around the edge.

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The sign is permanently installed in the finished building.

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Copyright © 2007-2013 by David K. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Miller Engineering product photo used with permission.