whats the best way to aligning on a vauxhall astra van?

[Peter Normington]

Alistair,
its always a bit iffy with Astras, but if you are only doing the panel, I normally line the words up with the roof line.
If you are also using the door then I tend to use the rubbing strip to line everything up with.

but in general, stand back and look at it, if it looks right, its a s near as you will get.

Peter

[Alistair Richards]

Thanks Peter for your fast response and help. 😀

[Richard Urquhart]

i have done lots of these and i lke to keep the text in line with the roof or depending on text or print a balance between the 2

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[Jayne Marsh]

As has been said already, I would line it up with the roof line, also if it looks right by eye then that is what I go with. Richards piccy shows that really well. My old boss used to say ” fit it in line with the road so that it reads level”

[Peter Normington]

Just another thing with astras, its not really noticable, if the graphics slant towards the front, but if they are even slightly slanted to the rear, they look cr@p
especially when the van is loaded
Peter

[Richard Urquhart]

i pin a thin coach line through the panel first to get a line then mark of from there i think on that van i start left of rear 1/4 panel and ping the line up b post about 9 cm

[Peter Normington]

Rich, why do they put a “do not open sticker” on the tailgate,
Mini do it as well? one of lifes great mysteries?
Petet

[Richard Urquhart]

because if you do it rips the sticker !!!!!
no idea mate

[Nicola McIntosh]

i usually draw a line from the top of the petrol cap to the top of the door handle, which runs along parallel with the rubbing strip, then measure up from there, i wont line up from the roof as i dont think it looks very good…i like everything to run with the contour of the van 😀

nik

[John Childs]

quote Peter Normington:

Alistair,
its always a bit iffy with Astras, but if you are only doing the panel, I normally line the words up with the roof line.
If you are also using the door then I tend to use the rubbing strip to line everything up with.

but in general, stand back and look at it, if it looks right, its a s near as you will get.

Peter

What Peter said.

And accept that whatever you do, eight out of every ten Astras will look like cr@p.

Which is better than the nine out of ten if you work on Vitos.

😮

[Alistair Richards]

Thanks for all your help. Any tips on the best pen to use when marking and drawing lines on cars. I’ve tried kids felt tip pens on the inside of my car, but they don’t seem to rub off brilliantly.

Thanks

[Peter Normington]

Try chinagraph pencils, they wipe off easy, but you can also use a line stretched along the panel and stuck with masking tape

Peter

[John Childs]

We use chinagraph pencils too. Black ones.

But always keep a white one in your toolbox for the occasional dark van.

Use decent quality pencils too. The ones with the string down the side are the ones we prefer. Some cheaper alternatives are no better than your kids felt pens.

[Neil Davey]

I usually keep things parallel with the rubbing strip. measure up 200mm ish each end and run fineline tape thru and use that as a guide. Also don’t use chinagraph pencils use AllStabilo either white or blue should do for most jobs. These are water soluble so wash of easily.

Neil

[Aaron & Chris]

We use chinagraphs, if ya don’t press on you can usually use your felt squeegie to remove tick marks quickly.

If ya press on on a white van, it can be a pain to get off. Same with foamboard.

I did an astravan a whileago and I remember being confused, as said stand back and take a look, it’s usally your best bet.

Oh and mine looked cr@p also!! 😀

Aaron

[Chris Wool]

quote :

i have done lots of these and i lke to keep the text in line with the roof or depending on text or print a balance between the 2

astra side.jpg
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astra side.jpg

i have altered to how i think it should look

chris

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[Peter Normington]

Are yo sure you posted the right pic Chris, I cant see a difference?

Peter

[Chris Wool]

yes peter right wing down abit.

chris

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