LEGO BNSF (10133) strange font differences with the real thing

[JopieK]

Hi guys,

I have pretty much wrestled through the exhaust pipe issues (learning more illustrator tricks every day now ;)).

When reproducing the 10133 stickers for the BNSF, I saw this:

If you look at the LEGO version, they used a more standard serif font:

The upper one is my creation, the lower one is the original LEGO version (as you can read on the sheets as well ;)).

Why would they do such a thing? I also added white backgrounds to the dark green/yellow parts. That way they come out better I think. The LEGO version did not have that as well. Especially not nice on the front sticker that has a orange color, the sticker. Did they do a hasty job? Strange for such a collectors item I think. I Also like the yellow letters with the black outline of the original a bit better but did not want to go too far away from the original stickers at this time.

Edited January 15, 2013 by Rufus
Corrected spelling in topic title

[English Electric]

They look really good Johan, I think Lego may well have decided that the standard serif font was close enough and saved the effort of creating a customised logo? Your version certainly is an improvement

[JopieK]

Thanks for the compliments ;) Halftones are still a challenge but getting better at it ;)

[peterab]

Why would they do such a thing?

Because the engine they were looking at had a different font.

This is quite common, many companies change their logo and branding over time. BNSF seem to have had at least three different font and colour combos on the orange livery and a number of other colour schemes as well.

[SpokaneSteve]

Hi JopieK:

Thanks for showing us this prototype. Two questions:

1. When will you have it for sale? Maybe we can pre-preorder to get them sooner?

2. Were you able to do the die cut around the circle fan sticker?

Thanks much! Steve.

[JopieK]

@peterab, you are incorrect, same font, but indeed the letters are just black there!

About companies, of course they change their logo now and then. E.g. Shell is a nice example of that. You can even see it in their font being used in LEGO sets over time (the pre octan time of course ;)).

@SpokaneSteve, can you elaborate on "die cut", if you mean they are cut in the inside and the outside, yes we did. When I have time I can upload some finished pictures tomorrow I think and upload them to our site (including setting the inventory).

[Holtz]

Very nice stickers.

How is the reproduction of the Santa Fe stickers comming along?

[JopieK]

Super Chief was finished yesterday. Still busy with the cars and of course the port holes on the panels! All those nasty half tones :)

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Super Chief was finished yesterday. Still busy with the cars and of course the port holes on the panels! All those nasty half tones :)

Wow this is a great news!

...and your stickers are perfect!

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Excellent work on these JopieK! I can't wait to for the Super Chief stickers, judging on how nice the BNSF came out, I'm anticipating great results

[Holtz]

Santa Fe, wow. Sounds very nice. Looking forward to seeing them.

Do you have an estimate on when they will be ready for sale?

[pikappa79]

Super Chief was finished yesterday. Still busy with the cars and of course the port holes on the panels! All those nasty half tones :)

Excellent! Soon I will be ordering a few sheets of stickers

[mdelleman]

Nice work on the BNSF. Very Excited for the Super Chief stickers to be available!

[JopieK]

Well hope to get them up soon, but work and masters are keeping me busy so probably next weekend! Holland has changed in Siberia right now and we Dutchies are not very accustomed to that so hope I can reach my house again b.t.w. ;)

[SpokaneSteve]

Hello JopieK:

Any progress on getting these stickers for sale? :)

Thanks, Steve.

[Konrad]

make stickers out of vinyl with a cutter ( have one of those at work, make it in illustrator, cutter cuts out the letters) Do a two step, so the center is scaled down in a different color, and the outer color is cut from a different sheet , larger. the only thing you have to do is center and align everything when sticking on!

[pickyourownbogie]

I don't think the font used for the logo lettering is a commercially available standard - I think the original is a specially designed font. Perhaps there may then have been copyright issues?