Great work Scott, what colour was the van to start with? Was is white as the roof is?
Did you do the job from start to finish ? ie: design, print apply or was some of the work done by others?
Are the sides one print or was it done in sections ?
Sorry about all the questions !! Just want to learn more.

Hi Martin,

The van was white (same as the roof).
I did the design in Photoshop on a 1 to 5 scale and then printed it on our printer. It was done in panels aprox 1300mm (54 inch) wide and then applied from the rear to the front (to get the overlaps going the right way). The windows are printed on one-way-vision perforated window film. We used Avery 1005 EZ cast vinyl.


Scott

Great Job

Could we share some information on the tech side as you are obviously very good at application as this model van has a lot of tricky bits to catch you out the depth of some of the moldings and the side of the roof all those indentations (im breaking into a sweat just thinking about it).

What type of printer and inks was used.
What type of preperation was done to the van prior to application.
Did you use any special tools on application.

Thanks for sharing this with us

I am happy to help with any info I can, but I am no expert, I'm only learning too.

I printed the graphics on a Roland Soljet printer. It is not a true solvent printer, bit the graphics are waterproof and will last 3+ years unlaminated.
The prints are laminated using a spray before the graphics are installed.
It was installed dry (Robert would be proud!) and I used the "heat 3 times" method (which I learned here) for the recesses.

If you have any other questions, please ask.

Scott

oops,

I missed your second 2 questions

We prepared the van by firstly washing to remove normal dirt and dust.
Them we cleaned it with a solvent cleaner to remove wax, silocone pollish, grease & tar etc. ie normal road grime.
After this, and just before application of the vinyl it was given a final clean with isopropyl alcohol. This needs to be wiped off the panel before it evaporates on the surface. We usually wipe the alcohol on the area just before we apply the vinyl, to remove any finger marks, tape marks etc caused from the previous panel being installed.

Tools, nothing special just 3M gold squegee with protective sleeves, felt squegee, heat gun, knife and lots of work with bare hands and fingers!

Hope this helps a little.

Scott

...fabulous work Scott - fabulous!

Thanks Mike.

You would be amazed at how many "tips and tricks" that I learned off this site were used during installation.

Sharing your experience has helped me a lot.

Scott

excellent work mate!
very smart and eye catching into the bargain.. well done!

can i ask what type of vinyl you have used on the van and what you used on the windows mate? just me being nosey again


thanks for sharing!

p.s.
your picture isnt loading in your avatar, try sending me it again and i will load it.

Hi Robert,

I used Avery cast SEM 1005 EZ vinyl for the van body and Clear Focus Jetview perforated window film. Both of these were laminated using a spray.

Scott

Hi Scott,

Do you have a naturally high forehead or is that the result of rapping this van.

It would be very easy for someone to say it’s just a case of sticking vinyl all over it. But as all of us here know, it’s not quite as simple as that.
We’ve all had, and still get on occasion, bubbles and creases etc., and that’s on a bit of three inch lettering.

If as you say you’re only leaning, then that van must have been one heck of a curve.

I admire your skill, and your nerve.

Alan