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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Been looking on eBay for a decent hood bird. Any one have suggestions for websites/people? I have white paint and original emblems were gray. I since got red ones and they look great in my opinion and pop. Hopefully looking for a red hood bird? And advice on applying it.
I wanted to wait until I had it painted but that won't be for a very long time sadly
I had mine airbrushed onto the new white paint before the clear coat came on.
Don't know where the original decal came from, though, since it was on there before I got the car.
In case you were wondering how a red bird on white paint looked like:
And yes that's the ta I had in mind! It looks nice!
Thanks, man!
You could always ask around for a vector graphic bird (.psd file) and have it printed by a random shop.
Regarding the decal's application, I believe it's best to spray the hood with a dish washing detergent/water solution, then placing the decal where you want it.
The detergent/water mix allows you some movement of the decal before it settles down.
You can then push out remaining water and air bubbles from beneath the decal with a squeegee.
I suggest using masking tape to mark some spots on the hood where certain decal edges should meet up, so you get it on straight and evenly.
Or you can let it be done by a professional, because decals this size are a royal PITA to position if you don't apply them on a regular basis.
Aaand there's an increased chance of screwing it up under these conditions.
i have it as pdf, some different versions if You need it. Might have changed some tiny detail, cant remember. i went to a local place who cut it in gold vinyl for me. i think you can check it in my pictures.
Here is a link to an .eps file with the proper bird in the proper head orientation.
Take this on usb or send a copy to the sign shop of your choice and they can plot it out for you... I literally just did a whole bunch of these birds and "trans am" emblems at work for my car... They have me learning the vector programs and cutters so I took the opportunity to cut some out... Unfortunately we don't have a machine big enough for the hood bird.
I would get them to install it, this would be tricky for a novice (not impossible, but not cheap to mess it up and get a new bird)
i have it as pdf, some different versions if You need it. Might have changed some tiny detail, cant remember. i went to a local place who cut it in gold vinyl for me. i think you can check it in my pictures.
Wow, that's different. You too NCC-1701, er, 2539 or whoever
I always thought the white/red & orange trim as well as the white/blue trim late 2nd gen Z28's were sharp, so I wouldn't mind seeing what an orange or blue bird on a white car looks like. ANYONE?
If you use soap and water, make sure not to OVER soap. Too much soap and sure, it'll move around and make placement easy, BUT...it'll never dry. We used to use a standard spray bottle from any hardware store, and use about a M&M or Skittle sized dab of soap. Doesn't take much.
Here is a way to make application easier. The wings are rotaded 180, and a part is double, just to get the placement right. Ive seen many different versions of this, and made way too many myself, to know what is "original"
The prepress-guys will have no problem mirroring the file if needed( trust me, thats what I do for a living), but the smaller "bonus" text-logos will not be usable.
Forgot to mention, the pdf contains vector-graphics only, so unless the rip-software is really outdated(10 years or so), it should be fine. If not, and if someone wants/needs it, Ill upload an Illustrator or postscript(eps) file.
Well, I didn't think about cutting the wings off...
I'll see what way I can orientate it on the plotter at work to get a full size bird out of it... If I can keep the inner wing width under 12" I should be able to make it work.
I have a couple bottles of tint application spray in the garage, I use it for my dirt bike graphics usually.
I usually plot out reference points with a sharpie on masking tape on the surface and then put some marks on the transfer tape and line it up using that...
If you guys use the wet technique, when do you pull the transfer tape off? if you try to pull it while the solution hasn't evaporated I would imagine you would pull the decal off the car? So would you wait for it to dry and then pull the tape off?
I usually squeege pretty hard and thoroughly to get as much out from under the decal.
I'd pull the application tape off just a few minutes after application. Just make sure to go slowly, and don't pull up, away from the hood. Pull parallel to the hood. We use a solution called Rapid Tac for applications, and it's not a problem. Like I mentioned earlier about the soap and water though, too much soap will do exactly what you mentioned. Makes it super hard to remove the application tape.
....you can also spray the application tape with water, and lightly rub it in with your hand. It'll loosen up the adhesive on the tape, and it'll release from the graphic easier. It'll probably tear a little, and won't come off in one nice piece, but sometimes it can make it less likely to pull up the vinyl.
06-16-2016, 01:51 AM
