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vehicle graphics: mini
Hello, long time no see/speak/read/post/repl…
you get the point, hope everyone is doing great and having a fantastic new year.
after about a year in the industry here’s my first attempt at curves on a vehicle (Finally!), it’s nothing special, but all my workmates were scared to attempt it, and I jumped at the chance, wish one of them had helped me hold it though, can’t imagine being short (I’ll name no names…)It’s a christmas pressie for someone, the guy who gave us the design blatently nicked it from the mini website and said he wanted it pretty much the same. (don’t you hate that?,. my designing muscles need flexing damnit, even if it’s irregular lines… I’m good at irregular!)
used A.P.A vinyl, nothing special, the front left corner gave me some major headaches, and I kept forgotting to breathe on some of the larger areasP.S, gotta love the new premises’s’s
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33 Replies
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Nice one Ramj, different from the usual union jack. Guess it was some stretch across the roof, but easier to fit that regular straight lines.
Well done and welcome back again.
Dave
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Looks good,
I fit them for our local dealer.
So it looks genuine.
I presume the roof was black to start with?
Can I ask what you charged?
mini dealers vary but about £***+ would be about right
Peter -
Wow your avatar changed as I typed!
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I’m very low on the employee ladder, don’t even know the price of my work 🙁
(get the violins out)Yeah, the lack of straight lines was fantastic, what wasn’t so fantastic was the vinyl (calendered), I’m suprised I managed to get it to conform as much as it did, especially in the freezing cold. I was worried about it coming off but I’ve seen it driving around, and it looks fine for now (It lives near me, I’ll keep an eye out)
our company is extremely outdated in some departments, and we’ve only got the van lettered (again it was me), so now I’ve got the vehicle-bug I can’t get enough of it, literally, no vehicle jobs in the forseeable future 🙁
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The other alternatives, and sorry that the flash caught the zebra roof, but you can see your copy is not far our.
Peter
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Nice work Ramj.
Peter, I would get worried driving the one with a target on it around airplanes.
-Marek -
airplanes?, I’d be more worried about large birds, or any birds for that matter,
then again they don’t need a target most of the time
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I would be more worried about spiderman!!
peter
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i wonder how the stars and stripes one sells in the middle east 😮
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I’m not sure how it’d sell in the middle east, but I hear D.I.Y “convertible” mods are rife on that particular design over there.
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Probably quite well in kuwait! Without the good old US, they would now be part of Iraq
Peter -
hehe, god I@ve missed this place. It’s good to be back
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i agree peter :lol1: but i still think you’d need a fair set of jewels to drive one :lol1: :lol1: (red rag to a bull :-?)
nice job ramj btw
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nice work ramj 😀
how long did it take you to do? 😀
nik
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mumble mumble…
mumble about 3 hours mumble…
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Nice work Ramj, you did a great job!!
Good to see you back around the place too.
😀
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Ramj,
you will get quicker, first one is always the longest, look for a target of about an hour, the setup probably takes the most time, did you cut the graphic in one piece? or in several? the zebra stripes dont need to be aligned precisly, as long as you make them a bit bigger than the roof, and trim to size.
Peter -
the setup did take the longest, I did the stripes hap-hazardly, like you said. tbh it was probably less but what with procrastinating and swearing breaks, it seemed longer.
The left corner I did about 4 times, the first one was great, and I slipped in the trimming 🙄
the next 2 were disastrous, damn non-conformist vinyl,
the 4th was touch and go, but came out brilliant.
the rest went down pretty well, apart from the thick section where two “arms” joined. Which I was having a terrible time with, until I came over all zen and did it straight away in what I can only describe as a trance.
so yeah, I’m confident in speeding up, especially if I had some more maleable vinyl. 😀
The customer LOVED it, couldn’t stop singing the praises
Now I just want to vehicle wrap SO BADLY!, … no, actually, I want to vehicle wrap well, but want to badly… ignore me.
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Ramj,
There really arnt really any “hard” curves on the zebra stripes, if you analyze them, most of them are only going around one curve and none are really double curves.
Did you apply dry? What type off squeegy did you use? how did you “hinge” the decals. Just trying to see if you can do it easier next time.If you had trouble with this you will need some practise/advice before trying a rap.
Peter
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the bottom left one has a double corner, that’s the only bit that delayed me
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Ramj,
That is not really a compound convex corner, most vinyls would conform, did you apply with the app tape on or with just the vinyl?
The end result looks fine, I just thought I could save you some time, that is why I am asking a few questions, I can then tell you if there is an easier or quicker way, diferent people have different styles and techniques for applying, but in the end it is down to practice and what you feel comfortable with.Peter
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Ramj, it looks really good. now will you please answer Peters question, coz I’m in the mood for learning a few tips from the master! 😎
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I heated up the areas with a hot air gun before applying, I cleaned thoroughly,
I place the lines on haphazardly,
I then hinged in the center as far as I could reach, and worked back toward my self with a felt squeegee, cleaning as I went with a lint free cloth, at times on the corner one I used a hot air gun (actually its a welding gun on low) sporadically to help the vinyl conform. I then went around the other side and did the same there.
like I said most of it was easy, the only bit I had a bit or trouble on was the bit at the front, after trying that I was frustrated and made alot of mistakes because of that,and so I calmed down and it was easy again, it didn’t help that I had a superior workmate telling me to do it wet.
I have confidence in my ability to learn, and when I said I want to vehicle-wrap, I didn’t mean this instant, I meant I want to learn to be able to.
Yeah, If you have any wisdom to impart, please do.
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Yeah, its a bummer when somebody is looking over your shoulder.
You seem to have the method sussed Ramj. All I can add is that you may find that it is easier if you squeegy as far as yo can with app tape, then remove the last bit, carefully, without stretching the vinyl, then apply to the curve, do not use to much heat though. Things can go wrong though, and like you say, go have a cuppa, regroup, and dont let it bother you to much, after all its just a bit of vinyl.Peter
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Application tape??, I didn’t use any, I find personally that it can either make or break a job, and I personally thought that it would be better if I could get more contact direct to the vinyl on this one, what’s the advantages of using it on something like this? apart from, obviously, stopping the vinyl being scratched
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The main purpose off app tape is not to pevent scratching, but to prespace the design and prevent stretching where not necasary.
I would have cut the zebra design in one or two pieces and used app tape.
It is a lot easier then to layout the job before you start to get everything in the right place.. also especially if you are doing say, a union jack.
The zebra design ok, is not so crucial to get right but if you do lay the vinyl down wrong, with app tape you stand a better chance of lifting it to re-lay than just vinyl.
App tape also will prevent the paintwork from getting sctatched, either by your squeegy or Knives scalpels scissors or whatever while you are working.
BMW original decals always come with app tape, even the printed flags etcNot saying that app tape is essential, but I think you will find it makes the job easier, and quicker for most .
Peter
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ah yeah, for crucial jobs I’d use it,
I couldn’t plot it in two bits because I’ve only got a little 2ft plotter
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talking of mini roofs, ive been asked to do the checkard design , are thay hard to do and what would be the best way to tackle it?
Cheers
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Ramj
The roof looks fantastic, this is the first time i’ve seen Zebra stripes on a mini roof. . . I think if I owned one I’d want the whole car Zebra’d !
Peter can I ask, do you charge an hourly rate for fitting these ( bmw supplied ) if so how many hours do you quote for 1.5 / 2 etc. . . . ?
The reason I ask is that I had a customer call today who had genuine BMW decals ( full racing stripes, bonnet, roof, boot ) he wanted fitting.
Not having done these before ( to a new shape mini )and not knowing exactly what to charge I quoted for 2.5 hours labour. The guy pretty much bit my head off. . .
I know for a fact my labour rates are not even half of BMW’s, so I told him he’d better have the dealer fit em.
I also know in the back of my mind this guy was probably a messer expecting to pay some mug twenty quid for having the responsibility of working on his new £18,000 car.However I just need a little reassurance, is a quote for 2.5 hours labour realistic ( time wise ! ) as this has left me feeling a little crap.
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Dave
Peter is out at the moment but I don’t think you will do full viper stripes in 2 hours!! did you quote so much an hour ? or just told him a price?Lynn
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Del they are quite straight forward, and I would allow 2 hours if you are doing them first time, Mini do 2 types, one that covers the roof from side to side, and the other with slightly smaller squares that leave about a 50mm a border round the edge
Dave, It takes me between 3.5 to 4.5 hours to fit a full set of viper stripes. there is quite a lot of fiddly bits especially if the car has had extra body bits fitted.
BMW plain vinyl decals are nothing special, usually mac 9800 series.
the dealers pay around £90 for the set so I guess they retail at double that plus fitting charge. I dont Know how much the customer pays total, but I do know that the BMW dealers hourly labour is £100! dont now if the charge the same for mini thoughPeter
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Peter, Lynn
Basically from what you are saying it looks like he’s done me a favour as I under estimated the time needed to complete the job. This confirms my suspicions that he was after getting it done for nothing.
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sorry I forgot to thankyou. .
I’m feeling better now 😀
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