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[finescalerr]

I'm glad you found time to work on the sign. -- Russ

[jim s-w]

Beautiful!

I'll have to try using a cat's nose on my next model.   

Ive seen people use cats whiskers for arials on locomotives (discarded from the cat, don't try to pluck them!)

[Design-HSB]

Hi Chuck,

just great what you're doing.

I would use fiber optic conductor to simulate the neon lights.

There are here with us as in 0.5; 0.75; 1.0; 1.5 and 2 mm in diameter.

They can be heat formed into any shape.
With transparent lamp color can be colored as desired.

I just have not tried it yet if I pre-edit with sand blower if they then are still illuminated?

[Lawton Maner]

When I was in college in the 1970's, my roommate used to trade the neighbour's cat her whiskers for canned tuna.  She never could figure out why she'd get caught in the fence between our houses.

[TRAINS1941]

Great work.  Glad your making progress.

I guess Zoey's nose would be to big!!!

Jerry

[Hal Reynolds]

Chuck, This is a product called "cool wire" it comes in several sizes and colors, it's basically a wire that glows like neon, some mfg.s call it cool neon. The wire in the photo is .034" in diameter, it looks bigger in the poor photo, it's pretty flexible. Surely a good fit for larger scales.

Hal

[Chuck Doan]

Thank guys! Thanks Helmut, I should look for some of that. Hal, I didn't need to see that! Wow, 1/12 scale is calling!

[Chuck Doan]

I mounted the sign this weekend. After numerous tries, I gave up on the neon tubing.  There is a small piece left, but that's all. I can always go back later if some new idea comes up, and I need to finish the gas pump while my interest is still around.

[Ray Dunakin]

Looks fine. Probably wouldn't be any glass left on it by this time anyway.

[finescalerr]

Don't mess with perfection. -- Russ

[TRAINS1941]

Looks fine to me.  Another perfect detail done.

Jerry

[Mr Potato Head]

Chuck!
Hurry on the gas pump, gas prices are deflating
Love the sign, I wouldn't worry about the neon, but don't forget the bug zapper with the sound module inside!
MPH

[eTraxx]

I was at a Radio Shack yesterday and they had EL (electroluminescent wire) in several colors. The ones they are selling are about .090 in. dia I believe.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Full-How-Too-Manual-For-EL-Electroluminesce/

[Hydrostat]

Chuck, I don't know why - and maybe I'm completely wrong -, but I expected to see some kind of stains of the neon tubings on the sign, maybe simply from more fastenings. I must admit that I didn't check prototype pics. I think some more glass, at least suggesting one letter's shape, would add to this. Don't forget the broken glass on the floor  .

Apart from that it pleases the eye.

Cheers,
Volker

[Chuck Doan]

Thanks Guys! Gil, that would be a great detail for some kind of display scene!  Thanks Ed, I would need something around .02 diameter though.
Volker, there definitely would be more rust from the screws that hold the tube mounts in place. But most signs seem to last a good while before this happens. I went with a sign that is just beginning this process. I did find plenty of very rusty ones; might be fun to do one in a larger scale. It was interesting to study the sign construction-something I had never paid attention to before.