Author Topic: 879 vinyl wrap  (Read 2927 times)

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Offline exarkun1178

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879 vinyl wrap
« on: Monday,April 22, 2013, 06:32:50 PM »
Half finished...

Offline EuropaTC

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #1 on: Monday,April 22, 2013, 09:53:24 PM »
I like the colour scheme, very "70s racer-ish"  :)

The vinyl wrap thing has fascinated me, as someone who struggles to get virtually any material crease-free when re-trimming, just how you guys manage the complex curves of something like the front of the car is well beyond me. But that looks smooth and shiny......

Brian

Offline Bainford

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday,April 23, 2013, 06:19:31 AM »
Agreed. It looks great, and the crease free application amazes me. Very cool.

I have a question; what are you running for tires?
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline 3929R

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday,April 23, 2013, 06:23:42 AM »
That looks marvelous! It could be an ad for vinyl, especially with ass half left bare for comparison. 
Mark
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Offline cal44

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday,April 23, 2013, 07:23:16 AM »
Amazing.  There is a guy down the hill that wrapped his Lexus in carbon fiber print.........
How long does this last in the desert sun?  The ultimate test..............
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Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday,April 23, 2013, 05:08:24 PM »
Thanks guys for the complements

Regards the tires,  i am running Toyo R888s 185 60 13 in the fronts,  205 60 13 in the rear. 

back when I had my Elise, i had the chance to try several r compound tires.  the R888s were by far, the best, for my driving style and use.

i havent put many miles on this set yet - still sorting through a few issue(no windshield for example)

hope to be able to report my experience with the set up soon.

As far as the no crease thing.  dont be fooled,  its a DYI job for sure.  though from 5 feet away you cant tell.  at 5 inches away, there are a few areas that show a bit.

every body imperfection on the car is visible upon close examination.  wasn't expecting that.  the plasti dip i had  for last 9 months covered just about off of these.

a few spots - inside the door handles for example, i had to place a patch.

and the front corners, ugh.  each corner i ended up having a lot of extra material. with no where to go with it.  thanks in part to the down slopping nose and steep head light buckets.  so at each corner there is a small over lap.  this over lap is hidden nicely buy the metallic  flake vinyl

the one spot i wish i had rethought was the center front.  i did each side  by it self, forcing a seam.  i used a product called knifless tape that cuts a perfect line.   the knife part of the tape is laid on a small bit of tape.  this tape, although very thin, shows clearly in the vinyl that lays over top. 

there is no chance ill attempt to remove the tape as the risk of messing the rest of the front is large.  so, i have a visible raised line there

Anyway,  its a DYI like i said, and looks good for my first attempt at it.  there are a few areas i am very proud of.  the engine cover and  the area in and around the headlight/ indicator lamp buckets  look amazing!

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 03:22:32 AM »
Finished the vinyl

up next, rear wheel lug issue, windshield, and inside

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 03:23:36 AM »
 :))

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 03:24:25 AM »
 :beerchug:

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #9 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 03:25:11 AM »
 :trophy:

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #10 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 03:26:18 AM »
new Aluminum dash.

Waterjetted.

Offline Bainford

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #11 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 06:23:06 AM »
Wow! That looks great. I love the colours, and it all works well with your wheels. Despite the problems you've mentioned, the pictures look nearly flawless. I'm curious, though; what is the patterns visible down the centre of the engine cover?

Are you going to LOG 33? If it pleases the gods I'll be there myself. Looking forward to checking out your Europa. Nice work.
The Twin Cam plays the symphony whilst my right foot conducts the orchestra. At 3800 rpm the Mad Pipe Organ joins in.

Trevor

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #12 on: Tuesday,May 07, 2013, 04:44:05 PM »
Wow! That looks great. I love the colours, and it all works well with your wheels. Despite the problems you've mentioned, the pictures look nearly flawless. I'm curious, though; what is the patterns visible down the centre of the engine cover?

Are you going to LOG 33? If it pleases the gods I'll be there myself. Looking forward to checking out your Europa. Nice work.

yes, i have made arrangements for log.  lets hope the car agrees.

those patterns are the tracks team lotus placed top of the podium in the during the 1972 f1 series.


Offline Matt

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #13 on: Wednesday,May 15, 2013, 01:50:58 AM »
That looks a very good job :)

I'm now thinking of wraping mine but I can't find vinyl on a roll thats wider than 1.5 meters  here in the UK >:(

How wide was the roll you used ? are there any mid panel joins ?

Matt

Also have a S3 Elan and S4 Elan both I am currently restoring

Offline exarkun1178

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Re: 879 vinyl wrap
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday,May 15, 2013, 05:14:17 PM »
the rolls i used came in 60 inchs 

As to seams....  i spent weeks planning how i was going to apply the vinyl to avoid the seams.  when it came down to doing the work,  that all went right out the window!

yes there are seams,  the seams range from damn near invisible to visible from 5 feet away.  as we went along, we did get better and managed their placement and... visibility better.

in hind site,  My friend and I are not experienced enough to do the car with no seams.  perhaps a professional can?


working with a 60" roll,  and assuming you have a belt line as i do, the very best i can come up with regarding seam placement at the foot of the A pilliars.  dead center foot of windshield(2")  the rear hangover of the roof at the meet point of the sails.