Aeroplane graphics: olymics 2003

[Chris Wool]

now thats a job and a half i would love to know how the phone conversation started “we have a little project we would like you to look at”

chris

[Bill Dewison]

Nice work 😀 Presumably the plane was on the ground during fitting? *hair*

Seriously though, looks to be a mammoth job, but a sure thing for the ole portfolio 😀

Cheers, Dewi

[Kev]

Wow…..
Now that is one for your portfolio 😮

Kev

[John Singh]

Definitely for the portfolio Steve;

Nice job

My question is the access. Was it from cherry pickers?

:plane:

John

[Nicola McIntosh]

wow!! very impressive!! 😀 😀

just a wee question, where and how, did you start the lettering from?
what did you line it up with? and what with?
it’s always intrigued me where you start on vinyls to do that scale!! 😀

Nik

[Carrie Brown]

Wooooooooow! Big job, would love to have one of them in our portfolio!! Same questions as everyone else??

Carrie 😀

[Steve-Smith]

hi
yeah we used cherry pickers and scizzor lifts to access the plane its a long way up to that tail 65ft i believe

all over the plane there are rows of rivits so we line text up and whatever else we can by them thankfully the rivet lines are level
we also use the windows as markers

the curves on the fuselage are done by fineline tape and the good old human eye

unfortunatly the vinyl had to be removed when it returned as the aircraft was only leased so we had to remove all the vinyl which was a nightmare
and as u guys know theres no easy way of removing it
but we went to luxembourg for a week to do that so it wasnt so bad

thanks for looking

i must say what a great site u have here and how helpful u guys are
good stuff!

[Simon Clayton]

Great work… Now that’s what i call big.
That must cost a fortune to do?!
whats the life span of the graphics? how offen are they changed or are they just patched?

cheers

Simon

[Steve-Smith]

we always use a 8-10 year cast vinyl to withstand the pressure the livery should last years depending on air miles
sometimes we do patch the aircraft when erosion occurs
but normally edge sealing the leading edges prevents that

[Robert Lambie]

brilliant work mate & thanks for taking the time to post it for us to see…

im guessing but is the graphics going up the rear to tail DOUBLED UP TO CREATE THE TWO-TONE (OOPS CAPS) effect? or is it digital printed…?

i had some questions about lining up, but you had answered them by the time i read the posts.. 😉

thanks again, like has been said. one for reception wall 😉

[Steve-Smith]

yes thats right rob the swirls etc are all layers of vinyl applied to the base colours
the only printed bits are the athens logos on the tail and the prints on the engines
heres another we done last year for robbie williams tour
quite like the picture of this one we get them of the plane spotters that always have a habit of popping up

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[John Singh]

Steve: I work from home and I sometimes get folks to bring their vans round for me to do.

My question to you Steve: With these planes have you ever asked……. 🙄

John

[Robert Lambie]

what type of squeegee do you use for fitting these mate & how many would you go through on one plane?

are rivettes an issue?

when using the cherrypicker of the curved areas, do you pad the bucket up so it doesnt bang against the plane?

last one, do you ever mist up the window with a your breath, then right with your finger, “help, let me in! im out on the wing!!” only for it to show up with the condesate at 33000 feet 😉 :lol1:

yeh john, i can just see him now…
“ok ok, back a bit back a bit, (shouts) “love, can you switch the outside light on next to the shed to we reverse this thing up the drive”
(wife shouts) what the hell have i told you about bringing your work home?” :nagnag:
:lol1: :lol1:

[Carrie Brown]

quote Robert Lambie:

last one, do you ever mist up the window with a your breath, then right with your finger, “help, let me in! im out on the wing!!” only for it to show up with the condesate at 33000 feet 😉 :lol1:

:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: Excellent!!!! Could you imagine peoples faces!!

Carrie 😛

[Steve-Smith]

ha ha nice one!
yeah the bucket is padded around the outside thankfully wouldnt fancy a bill for damaging a aircraft
the cherry pickers have got a tilt mechanism which is good but a bit scary
squegee wise we use felt ones and the window squegee type

[image]

Hi Steve,
in the latest years we make some sailplanes :lol1: , but this B747 is really big! 😮
Exactly what kind of vinyl did you use for this work (MacTAC, Avery etc)?
Can it take the cold at 5-7 miles altitude?

[Steve-Smith]

hiya
we normally use avery and it does stand upto the pressure etc
there are points on the aircraft (danger points) where the vinyl is susceptible to erosion etc like the nose and leading edge of the tail
normally the liverys are painted and we just supply paint masks(stencils)

[autosign]

I think the speed of the air over the surface of the aircraft actually makes it warm.

[image]

Avery 900 Super Cast?

[Steve-Smith]

yes thats the one or 3m scotchcal is good but the price isnt unfortunately

[image]

Thanks for the information!
Do you have website (your company)? I would like see it, if it’s possible.

[Steve-Smith]

yeah it should be up now barna

[image]

Nice works! I like the Gulf Air design!