PENSICK & GORDON TOY WHOLESALERS building: LA

[Cajonpassfan]

So here I am, in need of yet another iconic industrial building for my SoCal railroad. Unlike most others in its neighborhood, this one still stands, right next to where ATSF Los Angeles La Grande depot used to be, before the days of LA Union Station, in what is now becoming LA's hot "Arts District".

I hope my model will be an acceptable "stand-in", using components from the Atlas Middlesex Mfg. kit, but whereas it has four floors, Pensick & Gordon only has three, with a large "PENSICK & GORDON TOY WHOLESALERS" sign in white letters on black background running the entire east side above. In N scale, ithe east wall sign is 7.5" long.

My dilemma is again the font. The sign is what "makes" the building and I'd like to get it right. Is it some recognized font, or just some sign painter freelancing?? Thoughts appreciated, pics below.
Otto K.

[OldEastRR]

Is this a stand-alone, backdrop front, edge of layout, whatever,  type of building project? Are you doing "as is" or something from a past era?
The Atlas kit looks like a good starting point, as it has those crenelated cornices, but many European kits also have that kind of brickwork so you might want to look them over too. Can't really tell if the original windows had arched tops but the current ones certainly look modernized.

[nkalanaga]

I suspect that the "font" was done freehand, and if you looked close enough, probably follows the brick edges as much as possible.  If your model has close to scale bricks, it might be possible to do the same with a fine brush and steady hand.

Or, if you can get a straight-on picture, print the sign black on clear or white decal paper.  If no better picture is available, it might still be easier to do the art on a computer, or even with pen and paper, then print the decal.  That would also reduce the risk of damaging the model's paintwork with a misplaced brush stroke.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks. This building will be a background model, with a railroad warehouse sitting in front of it and partly shielding it, so I'm not willing to invest the time and effort in an exact replica. I think the Atlas factory components will be "good-enuff" to fit the space. However, I think the sign makes the building and will be prominent, and I'd like to get it right, as it might have looked some 70 years ago. I found a couple more, better pics, see below, but they are both recent. I would be preferable to start with an available "font" although I realize that may net be possible....
Input appreciated.
Otto K.

[hegstad1]

I'm kind of digging the Tomytec Apartment for this project.

[nkalanaga]

With that square "O" in TOYS it definitely looks hand painted, following brick lines.  Would this be close enough?  The font is "Square1", stretched horizontally 200%, in Paint.  I can do other percentages just as well if you like the font.

[peteski]

Bank Gothic font is also close. I only have one variation of it and I gave the letters outline to fatten them up a bit.
There might be bold extended version of that font which woudl probably look even better. Or just stretch this font a bit.

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Here is it stretched.

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[Cajonpassfan]

Guys, NOW we're talking! THANK YOU!

Andrew, lol, too late, I've already chopped up the Atlas kit for parts. I think it will work reasonably well. Besides, using the apartment would require several...

As to the "font", both are close enough and with a little tweaking either could work for me.
@nkalanaga, I think you're right about the nature of the handpainting. Your version of the lettering seems a tad too beefy to me, but maybe it's misleading because it's black on white?
@peteski, I particularly like the stretched version, pretty darn close. The only thing that strikes me as being off is the ampersand, but I don't have a good picture to compare it to.

My intent was to create a 6' wide black signband, painted on, and use white striping and decals for the lettering. The letters would be about 42" tall? I don't have an Alps printer.... would either one of you consider doing the decal for me please? I'd be happy to compensate any volunteers.
Otto K.

[peteski]

Actually Otto, the ampersand in Bank Gothic is closer to what you need than in the Square1 font.  One of the photos you posted did have a good view of it

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In this comparison the ampersand is stretched. the non-stretched version is closer in shape to the one on the building. It could even be compressed to look closer to the one on the building.
Depending on what graphic app you are using, you might be able to convert the letters to curves and tweak individual letters to more closely resemble the sign.
You don't need to print white. Paint the top part of the wall white then print the decal as black on clear. When applied the white will show through.

[peteski]

Morris Sans Heavy (Figure 8 in the page linked to below) might be even closer match.
https://www.linotype.com/5323/the-original-squared-sans-redrawn-bank-gothic-and-morris-sans.html

One of the Microgramma (or generic Eurostyle) fonts  might also be usable.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks for doing the homework for me Pete, truly appreciated!
I won't be able to do any modeling over the next two weeks, family business, but I will revisit this when time allows.
Otto K.

[nkalanaga]

Yes, Bank Gothic is probably closer, if you get rid of the angled ends on the lines.  That would be easy to do in any basic graphics program.

Like Peteski, I wouldn't bother with white decals.  Paint the wall white, and use a black "background" decal.  Much simpler, and you can print it on plain paper first.  Print a strip, cut it out, lay it on the wall, and see how it looks.  Don't like it, try again.  When you're satisfied, the same file can be printed as a decal.

Or, print black on solid white decal paper, which is available for laser or inkjet printers, and you won't have to paint anything. 

[Spades]

It would require knowledge  of software like CorelDRAW and photos of the building a lot of layering, but have you though of  http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2012-01-jan/photo-lam-structures.  It would make doing the signage a breeze.

[peteski]

It would require knowledge  of software like CorelDRAW and photos of the building a lot of layering

That is the graphic software that I use when I design decal artwork and lots of other drawings.  Yes, it does take time and effort to come close to perfection. 

[Santa Fe Guy]

Otto, in a video done by Allen Keller many years ago on Chuck Hitchcock's AT&SF RR, Chuck demonstrates just how he does the signs on his HO buildings. He has lots of buildings as he once modeled the "bottoms"of Kansas where there were many such signs. Might be worth seeing if you can find a copy. I had one and have had it converted to a DVD and we know what happens when I sent you a DVD.
Regards
Rod.