Graphics Application

[dandan]

Hi All,
I\'m currently in the process of applying full car graphics to my FD, (see graphics idea thread http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16215&highlight=graphics+idea)
and I thought you might all like to go see the work as it moves along, with the aid of pretty pictures.

Ok first stage is the clean the damn thing, its been in Re:worx garage collecting dust for 6 weeks, so here it is cleaned with just water, no shampoo cos they have wax and polish additives in which affect the adhesion of the vinyl.

Thats my brother just cleaning off an old sticker.

So, chuck the first bit of vinyl on, this is dark metallic grey with little shiny flecks in it, I will be covering the whole front half of the car with this.

it is laid down wet so all the creases can easily be pulled out.

Then just trim the edges, and - voila!


I ran out of vinyl last night, so more to come next week

[ScuttleRX]

Cool, will be keeping an eye on this thread

How she running now dandan

[dandan]

VERY VERY SLOWLY.
i\'m driving her with special silky kid gloves I got off ebay, cos i cant afford to make her go pop again!
plus it is raining today which is a good reason for a feathery right foot!

Fingers crossed ill run her in this next week or so, and get tuning done next week, then its foot to the floor!!

[ScuttleRX]

Nice one How long do you reckon your graphics project will take?

I saw the photoshop you did and it looked really good, looking forward to seeing the finished article. I might be calling on your services one day, your threads have got me interested in vinyls , thinking of maybe somekind of two-tone design

[Initial-D]

Top man, areas of vinyl like that can be a nightmare to get rid of all the air bubbles!
Perhaps when I do my next design you could help me cut and apply it?

Where you gonna stick the budget van rentals sign then eh! (Don\'t say up my a55) lol  :rollin

[dandan]

It\'s nice to be needed!

Scuttle,
I\'m hoping to have it sorted by Broadlands, (week on monday) I cant do anymore until monday as i had to order more vinyl for the base layer.
I could help you with designing some graphics but I can\'t do any time intensive work for free im afraid, rough designs are no problem though.

Ben,
I\'d be happy to help you out, would be a pleasure to work on your car!

more updates coming monday night with luck....

[ScuttleRX]

Didnt mean for free matey wouldnt mind an mrc discount tho Figure you\'d be best place to get vinyls from considering your choice of car  :cool

[dandan]

Where you gonna stick the budget van rentals sign then eh! (Don\'t say up my a55) lol  :rollin

Just noticed that comment you cheeky bugger, I\'m going to insert it fat end first now.  :reallymad  

[Initial-D]

Lol!! I thought you hadn\'t noticed, thats gonna hurt!  

Look forward to seeing more pics of your progress. What do you find is best for smoothing out the bubbles etc.. I use a spatula type thing or is there somthing better?

[dandan]

Bubbles. Nightmare.
Best thing is if the vinyl is laid on wet, use a soft plastic edge, spatula will do it, and push them out to the edge.
If the vinyl is dry you need to get a very very sharp knife and make a pinprick hole in the edge of the bubble and then push the air out with your fingernail.
Sometimes they just don\'t go.
Best bet is not to get them in the first place!

[Initial-D]

Sounds just like how I do it, just wondered if there was an \'easy\' way!

[Ada7]

Liked the ideas you had on you last thread, so looking forward to see how it all gonna work out too. Keep us up to date on this, with lots of pictures ha ha  

Adam

[dandan]

Got some more vinyl in yesterday, so I got cracking with the hardest part of the wrap, which is the front bumper. I decided to do it in two halves to make it a little easier, an overlap down the centre will look better than loads of overlaps at random places.
Here is the first bit of vinyl laid on, this is done dry as it needs to be heated round all the curves, and if it was wet it would just keep coming unstuck on the tight curves:

Then trim it nice and neat:

Here is my vice-versa front bumper!!

slap the other side on (after a cuppa):

trim and voila! Also covered the headlights before this shot.

Just the wings to do now then...

More to come tonight...

[johnf]

I take it you\'re using proper \'wrap\' vinyl.

Any idea of the material cost, I\'m guessing a few hundred quid.

And time, good jod its a lbour of love.

John

[dandan]

John,
Luckily i\'m getting an amazing deal on the full colour bits, so far my materials look like coming around the £200 mark, probably more by the end.
 
Yes it is high quality wrap vinyl, only the best for my little baby!

I\'ve put in about 6 hours so far, not including lots and lots of design time, if I was selling this to a customer I think it would come close to the same price as a basic respray!! This is the wild end of the scale though, just to show what can be done.