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  • Vehicle Graphics – local charity VW bus

    Posted by David Rogers on 23 October 2006 at 10:00

    It’s not my design – I just executed it, and it actually looks MUCH better in real life.

    Yes, that IS ‘Curlz MT’ and ‘Comic Sans’ on the same vehicle….

    The stripes were a bit of a pig to do with the severe contours, but it’s to be a big, bright means of transport for disabled kids…without having disabled plastered all over it.

    Client wanted ‘rainbow stripes’ and DDCA as per their headed paper.
    All done in Ritrama O-series (5-7yr) calendared, not stretched into contours (except door handles), just ‘folded’ in. All done dry.

    A few niggly bits I would change in hind sight – but they were chuft with it!

    Dave


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    Shane Drew replied 19 years ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Shane Drew

    Member
    23 October 2006 at 11:46

    Hey Dave, good job mate. I imagine it would have been a real pig to do too, that green stripe would not have been fun at all.

    Strange looking bus. Is this an off the shelf VW Bus or a custom job?

    Thanks for sharing 🙂

  • David Rogers

    Member
    23 October 2006 at 14:43

    Hi Shane,

    I’m pretty sure it’s a custom bus – at least specially adapted at a coachworks.
    Yes, that green one was a tricky….getting it perfectly spaced…and making sure it was seated right into that recess.

    If it wasn’t for the reaction you get from customers like this, ultimate appreciation for bringing their idea to life…I swear I be charging a hell of a lot more for this!! Besides – charities get an extra special deal.

    Dave

  • Shane Drew

    Member
    23 October 2006 at 22:46

    I agree Dave, Charities get extra special prices from me too. I’ll do the smaller jobs for free if I can. I mostly donate my labour for the bigger stuff. Not so easy when you are employing a lot of staff though, or working for a larger company.

    Just curious why you used a cal on something with so many indents, when I probably would have used a cast.

    Never used the Ritrama brand, it must be good stuff?

  • Andy Gorman

    Member
    23 October 2006 at 23:05

    Good job, more challenging than it seems, I’ll bet.

    I sometimes do charities’ minibuses for free or, as Shaney says, for materials only. It’s good for the soul. 😎

  • David Rogers

    Member
    23 October 2006 at 23:49
    quote Shane Drew:

    I agree Dave, Charities get extra special prices from me too. I’ll do the smaller jobs for free if I can. I mostly donate my labour for the bigger stuff. Not so easy when you are employing a lot of staff though, or working for a larger company.

    Just curious why you used a cal on something with so many indents, when I probably would have used a cast.

    Never used the Ritrama brand, it must be good stuff?

    Charities should always get a good discount – at least the value of the tax, but more often a hefty chunk off a normal bill. I do a lot of work for various volunteer groups such as a wildlife rescue trust , marine mammal rescue, R.E.A.C.T. search & rescue and it works out a good deal for both of us. They get free stuff – (whatever they want…signs, liveries, banners) & I get a helping hand from a member (big lad) when I’ve got large installations, esentially ‘free’ labour!! In fact, he helped a bit with this bus. I don’t go down the ‘sponsored by….’ route with non-profit groups as word of mouth works FAR better than a sticker on their van / bus!

    You’re right – I can’t just ‘give it away’…well I could as it’s my department…but charged with making some sort of a profit so can’t be entirely altruistic! Materials cost next to nothing – it’s time that’s my biggest resource.
    Another company had already slightly ‘dissapointed’ them with their building signage – so just coming in and giving realistic dates, promises, prices & working with them made everybody’s life easier. They expected to pay a lot more, and I came in well within budget. I think the fact that they are entirely self funding influenced my pricing!! The guy I spoke to knows we are both in business to raise money & expand our names (if you look at it in its most basic form) – we each appreciated that honesty, and mutually respected each other for it.

    Re: Materials: I just used calendared for a few reasons – I have it in stock, and use it for 90% of my vehicles and as I didn’t stretch it into the recesses, but ‘laid’ it into the parallel recesses there wasn’t any need to get a really conformable vinyl. "Horses for courses" as they say. The yellow just had a single ‘fold’ with no stretching – and the green simply had a double angle – but flat & parallel. Door handles are a doddle – been doing them in calendared for umpteen years, likewise the flared wheel arch, only the front of the recess where it ends on the front wings was a bit of a challenge. A bit of gentle persuasion!!

  • Shane Drew

    Member
    24 October 2006 at 00:26

    Sounds like we think the same Dave. Andy’s right too. Its nice for ones conscience to do a good deed.

    We should start wearing our undies on the outside of our uniform :lol1: Charity Champions to the rescue…… no? 😉

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