How to make signs to identify models on display?

[Dan Poirier]

I'd like to make some kind of little signs to identify models that I'm displaying, without breaking the bank.  They'd just say something like "Norwegian Sailing Pram" or "Lowell Grand Banks Dory".

 

I'm thinking about what I might do with a computer and printer, or label maker, my model-making tools, and lots of little scraps of thin wood 🙂

 

Do others have favorite ways to do this?

[Stevinne]

I've thought about printing the name of ships in white letters on a black background using clear laser-jet decal paper to. Since the printer doesn't print white, that would allow me to place the decal on a brass strip, allowing the letters to be in brass surrounded by a black background. I have not tried it yet. 

 

[SiriusVoyager]

You could print the names on paper, trim them out with a hobby knife then use then as a stencil on name plates.

Edited August 20 by SiriusVoyager

[Knocklouder]

Dan, you can look for the name you want in your plans. I did that for my Mayflower,  found a logo I liked,  glued it to a paint stick, then put it on two barrels of Rum.  My Columbus ships all had printed labels glued on clam shell. The world is your oyster lol. Best part only cost a bit of time. Lol.                     

 

Bob M.

[Dr PR]

For panted lettering you can first paint the desired letter color on the surface. Then use rub-on lettering to spell the name. After this paint over it all with the background color. Then, after the paint dries, lift off the rub-on letters.

 

This produces lettering and background in any colors you want, and the letters won't yellow or peel off after time. You can do this on name plates, hulls, or anything.

[bartley]

In my part of the world (Australia) companies who make sporting trophys will print text and/or graphic onto a brass plate. They usually require a vector graphics file which you can generate in Photoshop or Illustrator amongst others.

[glbarlow]

On 8/19/2024 at 6:14 PM, Dan Poirier said:

some kind of little signs to identify models that I'm displaying

There are plenty of companies to order a small brass plate etched with whatever you want, all my models have one. They can include adhesive tape on the back. Here’s one such company Halex Brass Plates. These of course go on the display board, not the model itself.

Edited August 24 by glbarlow

[Thunder]

Below is just brass coloured paper used in standard ink jet printer

 

[petervisser]

I'm with Glenn and bartley. I have acquired my nameplate from a trophy shop for a reasonable price. It is also a great way of including some pertinent info you might want to include with the name. Here is a sample...

 

[Thunder]

That is similar to these:

 

[mtaylor]

If you haven't done this give it some thought....    Add your name and build year somewhere, either on the nameplate or semi-hidden on/in the model itself.   If your model is fortunate, that info well help give anyone some info if they decide to restore it.  We see questions about restoration all the time here for both scratch and kit models where the restorer is looking for additional info.