Plastic Letters from Gemini, Inc. “We taped a paper template to the wall and used it to help guide us where to drill the holes for the studs,” says Smith. “Then we applied adhesive into each hole and pressed in the studs on the back of the letters.” Smith was also asked to create eight wall plaques that would further inform the public about the story of these Tuskegee Airmen. After being concerned with acrylic’s ability to resist scratches, Smith opted to use imprinted tempered glass with standoffs here. “I ordered both tinted and clear .6250-inch-by-24-inchby-36-inch glass panels with polished edges,” he says. “However tinted glass matched the background of the mural, so that’s what we ended up using.” RL Smith imaged these plaques on his HP Scitex FB500 flatbed. “I knew the ink would scratch off, so we added a clear tempered glass against the base,” explains Smith, noting that this would both prevent scratches to the image and ensure easy maintenance. He chose Pizazz Mono Mount XXL Aluminum Standoffs to mount the plaques, because this style represented the color of the P-51 Mustangs of the era. Since these were the largest size of standoffs available, they allowed the plaques to stand off the wall about 1-1/4-inch. Smith and his team screwed wall anchors into the drywall. They then threaded a screw through the XXL standoff and into the anchor. Adding to the finished exhibit, Smith suggested a new ceiling plan consisting of black tiles, low-voltage black track lighting, and recessed black cans to wash the walls. Smith positioned the low-voltage track lights at such an angle that shadows are created through the glass onto the mural minimizing glare. “We determined spacing by wall widths and placed the glass panels proportionately,” he explains. The organization, the airport, and the public love the finished results (installed this past October). Plans call to eventually add a fifty-two-inch LED monitor with A/V content to the exhibit. And Smith didn’t just stop with his work for this display: His company also provided the organization with fortyeight-inch retractable banners (featuring many of these ’40s photos) to set up at its fundraising events. signshop.com
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zclip@monarchmetal.com March 2014 // Sign Builder Illustrated
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