Interior Exterior
Q:
My Union Flag stickers arrived and I immediately danced with glee to my freshly washed Elise and promptly completely f-ed up applying the first sticker to the car. Does anyone have advice for applying these?
MickOpalak seems to have performed it with wonderful success (), and in fact kindly directed me where to get the stickers.
Now that I have screwed one up I am thinking of putting the remaining one under the LOTUS 'T' on the back, but need to be armed with some novice sticker application knowledge before I try It's probably just common sense but if anyone has any tips I would love to hear them.
A:
Try using some dilute soapy water on the car before placing the sticker. It will act as a lubricant so you can get the sticker positioned. When you've got it, squeegee any air bubbles out with your fingers. The water will evaporate, and the flag will be stuck where it's supposed to be.
You might want to get a sticker of similar size (or cut a piece out of something) and practice on another car or a window. I learned to do this when covering some bumpers with 3M Scotchcal film. I threw my first try out too.
A:
Good advice thanks!
I was cleaning and drying the area of the car before applying the sticker. Bubbles were many and didn't budge, eventually damaging the sticker surface.
I'll try it in a couple more weeks when I get the next lot delivered from the UK (ordering a load this time)
p.s. yeah I arsed up the second one last night.
A:
www.edecals.com has the Union Jack flags. You can get a package of them for <$10, IIRC.
I ordered my stripes from them. 20' of silver 6" stripes for $60 (to do 2-wide).
They are also fantastic for custom graphics and logos. I sent them an image for another project and 1 day later they had emailed me a proof. I approved the design and they were sent out the next day. Plus it was dirt cheap.
I think they'd be great for forum membership decals, windshield banners, 111S badges, etc.
EDIT: Set of 6 4"x2" UK Flags for $11.
http://www.edecals.com/Merchant2/mer...ct_Code=CNF307
-Dave
A:
Such a small sticker is a lot better to do a dry application on. Get one edge level and then squeegee it from that line up to work the air out and it will be bubble free and stick well. If you don't think you can handle that, then use a spray detailer like Meguirs "instant detailer" wet the surface and the back of the sticker and it will be repositionable until you squegee it down. You can use a credit card or a spatula as a squeegee if you don't have a proper vinyl one. If you just rub it down with your fingers you aren't really going to apply enough pressure to really set the adhesive and it will have a hard time holding up to car washes and stuff. The most important thing is a clean surface first. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the surface. Cleaners like windex will leave a residue behind and the ammonia will eat the adhesive. If you need any more info, or any high quality graphics, decals, banners, stickers, magnetics, etc please feel free to contact me at the address in my signature. Many other board members have been happy with the stripes, windshield banners, Colin Signatures, member names, Race numbers, etc that I have provided to them.
A:
I got some 3" Union Jack stickers that I mounted below the turn signal.
I got mine from a Norton motorcycle shop in Illinois. I would recommend
NOT wetting the sticker or surface first.
A:
I think Lotus sport may have little Union Jack badges if you guys want a more finished look.
A:
It you end up with a bubble in a sticker, you can poke a hole in it with a fine needle/pin. That will let the air escape, and you can press it smoothly to the surface.
A:
I finally ended up getting 3x6 inch stickers, putting them as shown below.
Hmm - I just realised the one on the left is printed upside down! Thankfully a spare I have is the correct way up.
A:
Your comment about what way up the flag should be got me thinking (rare event).
The broader white part of the St Andrew's cross is at the top on the hoist side (and below on the fly), so the question is which is which when it's a decal on your car? My theory is that the flag should be considered hoist-forward on each side, as the flag would fly that way if it were a real flag.
I wonder if people do that with the US flag (which has an obvious difference between hoist and fly).
So you actually have it wrong on both sides. The two sides should be different, but the other way round.
Convention when printing a flag is hoist left.
I think I'll avoid any problem by putting one each side of the license plate. (And try and find stickers with a flagpole)
A:
*pout* this is because I told you to clean your car at Larry's isn't it?!
Your point is however valid, unless of course I drove around in reverse most of the time. I think I'll leave them like they are until I need to replace them, as you are probably the only person within 100 miles who would notice!
A:
Convention when printing a flag is hoist left.
I think I'll avoid any problem by putting one each side of the license plate.
The Union Flag has a top and a bottom...
http://www.monikie.org.uk/proud-gb-ans.htm
Wrong
Correct
A:
The Union Flag has a top and a bottom...
I like your use of the smilies
The left side of the following image should be attached to the pole, or pointing the direction in which one is going (i.e. NOT the way I did it! )
A:
Nobody has addressed the rest of the question, so let me change national bias. Should the stars on the US flag always be towards the front of the car (wind oriented), or on the left (print convention) absent a displayed flagpole?
(No jokes about displaying your flagpole, please)
A:
Google to the rescue!
Flag Rules and Regulations describes use on the side of a vehicle.
A:
I was always told, if a flag is put on something moving, it is placed as if the wind were blowing it back... so the blue field is always to the front. This explanation about "being closest to the heart" seems a little forced, since both sides are more or less equidistant from the heart.
Left Flag
Right or "reversed field" flag
To wear our country's flag properly, the field of stars should be worn closest to your heart. Thus, if your patch is to be worn on your LEFT sleeve, use a left flag. For patches worn on your RIGHT sleeve, use a "right" or "reversed field" flag. Since the law does not specifically address the positioning of the patch, a decision is left to the discretion of the organization prescribing the wear. Some elect to use the "left" flag on both sleeves. [Note: many states and cities have ordinances pertaining to the use of the flag; you may wish to contact the Attorney General of your state or the City Attorney's office regarding this matter.] If you are planning to wear only one patch, it is recommended that you wear a "left" flag on your left sleeve. Military guidelines specify that in support of joint or multi-national operations, the "right" flag is worn on the right sleeve, 1/4" below the shoulder seam or 1/8" below any required unit patches.
- http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html
I would go with the military myself... for somewhat obvious reasons.