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westco5

Moonshine Flats - East Village San Diego

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MOONSHINE FLATS

Located in East Village Downtown San Diego that borders the Gas Lamp District.

 

This is a project and revamp where the bar/club owners decided to change the theme of their existing venue.  One of my favorite little Neon Signs was going to be removed to make way for the much larger sign for this new Country Theme Bar & Club with live music....Moonshine Flats.

Moonshine Flats 1.jpg

After obtaining approvals from CCDC, Historic, and sign permits from the City of San Diego we began production.

This was going to be an "old school" sign, so that meant old school production and look with state of the art Neon components.  That meant the sign structure would be American Steel.  Not your normal steel but "Jet Plated" metal which is basically galvanized like plate/finish for durability.

Moonshine Flats 2.jpg

 

Moonshine Flats 3.jpg

As you can tell from the image, these letters are NOT easy to cut, bend and weld.  The smaller the letter the more your fingers will hate you.

Moonshine Flats 4.jpg

Some times the "old school" components are one of the best.  These are porcelain housings.  Most custom sign shops who still produce electric Neon signs shy away from porcelain because their natural finish which is visible from the exterior is white and most will choose to use glass which will blend with the background.  We like white even though it may stick out like a sore thumb, I think it gives the Neon sign character.

The problem with glass is, it's thin walled and won't stand up to high temperatures that porcelain can endure if needed.

Moonshine Flats 5.jpg

After a fresh paint job of PPG or better known in the sign industry as Matthews is one of the best commercial paint finishes that is equal to an automotive finish.

Moonshine Flats 6.jpg

With the face background it's best to ass the same color in Neon Glass.  Enter "Ruby Red", a premium Neon Glass tubing that can be pumped with Neon gas ( no mercury) or Mercury pumped.  After a side by side comparison our client decided to go with Mercury Pumped.

Moonshine Flats 7.jpg

The day before Installation it's a good idea to get all the holes drilled right and ready for that big day.

Moonshine Flats 9.jpg

Sometimes you even need the little helpers

Moonshine Flats 8.jpg

Install day, the part we can get up without the heavier equipment

Moonshine Flats 10.jpg

 

West Coast Sign Company, San Diego CA, 92131 (858) 689-0080 • info@westcoastsignco.com

 

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Time to get it up in the air

Moonshine Flats 11.jpg

 

Moonshine Flats 12.jpg

One up it was time to began installing the Neon

Moonshine Flats 13.jpg

Moonshine Flats 14.jpg

The object was to emphasize the name "Moonshine Flats" and make a subtle white border.  We didn't want to overwhelm the name with a bright white border so we changed the typical white 6500 Kelvin to something slightly warmer in color, so for this the border was called out to a Tri-Phosphor 4500K. 

The Ruby Red Lettering was created in 12mm, a very thin tube that would be intense for a good light output, so not to compete too much with a bright white out outer border tube was created in 18mm.

The thinner the diameter tube the brighter the lamp will be, the larger the more subtle.  This was a very good combination with a very good end result.

Moonshine Flats 15.JPG

 

The day and night look was so nice and complimenting to the building we we asked to build another for the rear of the building.

 

So a short time later we had to put another on their wall

Moonshine Flats 17.JPG

 

Moonshine Flats 18.JPG

 

Moonshine Flats 19.JPG

 

Moonshine Flats 20.JPG

 

If you ever go to Petco Park to watch a Padres Major League Baseball Game, please stop by and take a look as well as have lunch.  Moonshine Flats has some VERY good BBQ food that is to die for.  They Have a large selection of Microbrews as well as pool tables and other entertainment.  Did I mention they have some of the best Country Music bands/singers playing there?

 

West Coast Sign Company, San Diego CA, 92131 (858) 689-0080 • info@westcoastsignco.com

Moonshine Flats 16.JPG

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