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Cabin lettering, brushes, order of painting etc..


IanR

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Hi folks, we've just spent a grand few days up the end of the Caldon painting the cabin on our mostly pre prepped boat, dodging the rain and picking the flies off!! We've managed to get three coats on and now are ready to think about the lettering. What do folks use to draw out the lettering that either doesn't permanently mark the paint or won't paint over etc? Also, what brushes are best, presumably flat square ended? Any recommendations? Also, which order to paint? The scheme chosen is the wartime period 'Austerity' GUCCCo Ltd, much less signwriting to take care of!! The lettering is white with a black drop shadow, to my brain it would be easier to do the shadow first? Sorry for the question bombardment!!!

Ian.

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14 minutes ago, IanR said:

Hi folks, we've just spent a grand few days up the end of the Caldon painting the cabin on our mostly pre prepped boat, dodging the rain and picking the flies off!! We've managed to get three coats on and now are ready to think about the lettering. What do folks use to draw out the lettering that either doesn't permanently mark the paint or won't paint over etc? Also, what brushes are best, presumably flat square ended? Any recommendations? Also, which order to paint? The scheme chosen is the wartime period 'Austerity' GUCCCo Ltd, much less signwriting to take care of!! The lettering is white with a black drop shadow, to my brain it would be easier to do the shadow first? Sorry for the question bombardment!!!

Ian.

stripes2.jpg

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blue bits1.jpg

So it was you I was talking to up there the other week.

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I'm no expert on lettering, so don't take this as gospel. Just how I'd do it.

* I'd look through somewhere like 1001fonts.com, enter the name at the top, and spend hours looking through all their fonts to get one you really like. Download said font.
* Add the font to your PC so that you can use it.
* Load up LibreOffice, Microsoft Office, GIMP, Photoshop, whatever. Create a new document at the size you need the lettering. Enter the name and choose the font you downloaded.
* Print out the name at the size you want. You may need to chop the image/document up to span over several A4/A3 pages.
* Scribble charcoal/pastel/chalk over the back of the pages (or you could use fancy pants transfer paper)
* Masking tape the pages to the boat
* Trace the name onto the boat (TIP: lift up the pages now and then (without moving them) to make sure the charcoal is transferring across)
* Peel off the pages. The name should be on the boat in a faint outline.
* You can use a spray fixative to stop the charcoal smudging/erasing. The old way was by using women's hairspray, but I can't guarantee that.
* Get some nice soft brushes and paint. Don't use cheap brushes/paint or you'll come a cropper. Guaranteed!
* Spend ages painting the name. Don't try and use fancy brushes or calligraphy strokes to get letters all in one. Just think of it as a paint by numbers.

Disclaimer: I've never painted the side of a boat (yet), but I have done many a blackboard sign.

EDIT: I haven't watched the above videos, but while I remember: don't use metallic paint. It will discolour. Metallic effects are best done by using glue and gold leaf.

Edited by ronnietucker
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If you want to mark out directly on to the cabin side, as I do, then a white Stabilo pencil will do the job. It won't interfere with the paint and any remaining visible marks can be removed with a damp cloth afterwards. Long sable chisel ended signwriting brushes are good for lettering the GU livery, with perhaps a size 3 or 4 for the Registered at panel. One shot lettering enamel in black and white should cover easily. Lo tak tape helps to achieve crisp edges to letters, making life much easier. You won't find any of this stuff in art shops but a specialist signwriter' s suppliers such as Wrights of Lymm will be able to help. I'm happy to offer advice by phone if needed, pm me for a number. Good luck.

Dave

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8 hours ago, Murflynn said:

I'd be a bit concerned that your painting was done while the humidity level was too high.  Just have to wait and see.

 

sorry - glass half empty today :unsure:

We will just have to wait and see. Still, its still better to look at than it was before!!

 

9 hours ago, RLWP said:

It's easier to leave them on until the paint dries, then remove the feet with very fine wet and dry. 

Richard

Some of the little blighters gave a fair fight, some were busy flapping about all over the place others wandering about etc. The smaller ones were left and have cut out fine.

 

9 hours ago, dave moore said:

If you want to mark out directly on to the cabin side, as I do, then a white Stabilo pencil will do the job. It won't interfere with the paint and any remaining visible marks can be removed with a damp cloth afterwards. Long sable chisel ended signwriting brushes are good for lettering the GU livery, with perhaps a size 3 or 4 for the Registered at panel. One shot lettering enamel in black and white should cover easily. Lo tak tape helps to achieve crisp edges to letters, making life much easier. You won't find any of this stuff in art shops but a specialist signwriter' s suppliers such as Wrights of Lymm will be able to help. I'm happy to offer advice by phone if needed, pm me for a number. Good luck.

Dave

Many thanks for the advice Dave, very much appreciated, I'll only bother you if I have too!!

Thanks kindly folks.

Ian.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm very nearly at the 'bother a professional' stage!! Lettering drawn out to gauge size and spacing etc. Stick with a ball on made, white pencils bought, No 5 brushes, One Shot white and Ivory mixed, plus the black, now just need some decent weather!! Perhaps a slightly bigger spacing and more curve?

On the plus side, I do have some red left over!

Ian.

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When you come to mark out the boat name, you will have to decide whether it is to be positioned clear of the open engine room doors or not. If the latter you will need to paint letter(s) on the inside of the engine room doors as well.

Edited by David Mack
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I'm going to centre the name over the porthole like Sculptor, then because the name is only 'ickle it doesn't get as far as the engine room doors. I quite liked the idea of having it on the door inside though....

Ian.

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2 hours ago, mark99 said:

GU bote named Eridanus has to be carefull too.

Aye, I imagine open engine room doors blanking a bit off might prove problematic!

Well, wasn't that a doddle, not! I think these boat painty folk earn an honest coin!! Got one side of the cabin done, just the regd. and gauging numbers to add, plus paint the gunnels now I have stopped dripping paint on them. I wet flatted the whole sides before the lettering and will buff it all back up again now.

Ian.

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3 hours ago, mark99 said:

GU bote named Eridanus has to be carefull too.

 

1 hour ago, IanR said:

Aye, I imagine open engine room doors blanking a bit off might prove problematic!

 

Back in the 70s when I was a member of the BCN Society work party group we acquired a van with sliding front doors. Someone put stick on plastic letters down each side of the van saying "Birmingham Canal Navigations Society". Trouble was when the passenger door was open it covered up the "Birmingham C".

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Paintwork is done apart from the Registration and GU number on the top blue bit but that can wait for now. Many thanks to all that have offered advice and tips on the subject, very much appreciated indeed, this is a great forum for the novices like us!! Needed to turn round to get the third coat of blue on tuther side and took the opportunity of some side on pics from afar as it were, all I've had for the duration is a narrow towpath to view from! Well chipper with the transformation a new coat of paint can provide.

 

Cheers again, Ian.

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15 hours ago, pete harrison said:

Obviously it depends on how historically correct you want it to be but the Health Registration details should be on a black background, whereas the Gauge No. is written directly onto the blue. The handrails should be red, including the ends that are seen as a part of the cabin end. :captain:

I'd like it to be as historically correct as a chopped about back'ards butty boat can be! Out with the red paint again then!!

Ian.

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