how do you line up text on an astra van?

[Warren Beard]

I think it is what ever looks right for the design.

Remember the spirit level is level to the ground and not the van 😉

[John Gregson]

Hi Warren,
I’ve done quite a few vans now but mainly fords, VW and so on. 1st time I’ve done an astra and i’m just not sure which way looks best. The text is just 2 lines straight on the panel, not going over the bottom line as i’ve sometimes seen.

My spirit level’s a cheapo, imported from Hong Kong, so it runs off slightly by about 500mm to every metre. 😉

[Warren Beard]

Hi John

I have not done an Astra van yet but do remember on a few occasions this being discussed and the general rule of thumb is "If it looks right then it is right"

I suggest laying it up on the vehicle and step back and have a look, you will notice the difference and see straight away what looks better.

Otherwise if the customer is there just explain it to him and ask him what his opinion is, the last thing you want to do is do it your way and he says he would have preferred it the other way 😕 :lol1:

good luck 😉

Warren

[Peter Dee]

John, I always do these with the text parallel to the ground or bottom edge of the door sill.
Use a level with a rotary angle finder, hold the level against the sill and set the angle dial.
Then you can use the level to set the same angle on the panel by rotating it until the bubble centres at the angle you set it at.

[John Gregson]

Hi Warren/Peter, The van’s coming in tomorrow morning so i’ll tape the text in place and see how it looks with the customer there and then.

Cheers John

[Chris Wool]

split the difference between the top and btm angle of the main panel. unless the latest one is different.

i made a 4 ft magnetic rule for finding the angle, on odd ones

chris

[Ade Brown]

hi,

I did side windows on a Galaxy – not matter which angle or line i followed on vehicle it looked wrong viewing from an opposite direction.

Drove me mad!!

[John Childs]

Astras. I hate ’em.

If the van has a black rubbing strip down the side, go parallel to that because from more than a few feet away the body swages will disappear and that black strip is what will catch the eye.

If you use the spirit level method, then go parallel to the sill. If you go to the ground then as soon as the user throws a toolbox in the back it will no longer be level.

Except in a very few isolated cases using the right design, it doesn’t matter which method you use because any way will look like a bag of cr@p when you’ve finished.

👿

[John Gregson]

quote :

because any way will look like a bag of cr@p when you’ve finished.
:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

I hope my customer doesn’t say that, i’ll never get me money :lol1:

[Steve McAdie]

When I do a van I take a few steps back and look at it to decide the most prominent line and then work from that. Some vehicles have that many different lines in the molding of the body it can look odd close up but when you look from a distance the prominent line will make it look correct. I do this on Scania truck cabs for a local firm close up they look odd because they slope down take two steps back and they look right even though they slope still but they follow the most prominent line. I wouldn’t use a spirit level ever on a vechicle you would probably end up not following any line in the bodywork.

Steve

[Phill Fenton]

I still can”t get these vans to look right 😕
https://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?p=252277#252277

[Matt Hards]

i have done a couple of both old and new astras, not easy, gotta find what looks best at the end of the day. I have seen a lot of interesting takes on gra[phics on these vans, driving around my area. Although i have seen a set of magnetics on the panels of a new astra. They cut them to the sahpe of the panel instead of square, and they actually look really nice. I thought Id use the idea if i ever have mags for an astra. A good solution to a bad van, lol.

[Chris Windebank]

As Chris mentioned, a magnetic rule helps. A 50mm strip of 5mm foamex and stick some magnetic to it. Place above sill or the black trim to give you a guideline