STEP 16
BUILDING A SOUTHERN TUXEDO GP7 by BOB HARPE

GENTLEMEN,
BELOW IS THE METHOD USED TO APPLY THE DECALS ON MY GP-7. YOU MAY HAVE
DEVELOPED BETTER AND QUICKER WAYS TO APPLY YOUR DECALS AND I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO USE THE METHODS YOU FIND THAT YIELD THE BEST RESULTS.

I AM CONVINCED THAT DECALS ARE FEMALE IN NATURE. THOUGH THEY ARE NOT
DIFFICULT TO APPLY OR TO WORK WITH, THEY DO REQUIRE PATIENCE AND LOTS OF
TLC. TAKE YOUR TIME AND FOLLOW EACH STEP CAREFULLY AND YOU'LL BE WELL
SATISFIED WITH YOUR RESULTS.

I PREFER TO USE MICROSCALE DECALS FOR MY SOUTHERN MODELS AS THEY HAVE ALL
THE SIZES NEEDED AND BECAUSE EACH DECAL IS ON IT'S OWN CLEAR BACKING WHICH
HELPS IN CENTERING AND LINING UP THE NUMBERS AND LETTERS.

TO BEGIN THE DECALING PROCESS, I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING TOOLS: A SOFT, MEDIUM
TIP PAINT BRUSH, A NEW, SHARP # 11 X-ACTO BLADE, A BOWL OF DISTILLED WATER,
PAPER TOWELS, SMALL SCALE RULER AND SOLVASET SOLUTION.

I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING MIXTURE FOR APPLYING YOUR DECALS. USING A THREE OZ. 
JAR, MIX SOLVASET AND DISTILLED WATER 50/50 AND TO THIS MIX ADD TWO 
TABLESPOONS OF 70% RUBBING ALCOHOL.

THE STRIPES ON OUR SR GP-7 WILL HAVE TO BE CUT TO FIT. THE MS STRIPES MEASURE 
21" FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND WE NEED 18" STRIPES. VERY CAREFULLY AND USING A 
NEW # 11 BLADE AND YOUR SCALE RULER, REMOVE 3" FROM THE BOTTOM OF FOUR (4) 
STRIPES (YOU'LL PROBABLY USE THIS MANY BEFORE THE DAY IS OVER). NEXT, LAY ONE 
STRIPE IN THE BOWL OF WATER AND LEAVE UNTIL YOU SEE THE DECAL BREAKING LOOSE 
FROM IT'S BACKING. THERE IS NO NEED TO ALLOW THE DECAL TO FLOAT FREE, BUT 
JUST BECOME LOOSE. LAY THE DECAL ON A PAPER TOWEL AND REMOVE ANY EXCESS WATER 
FROM THE DECAL.

NOW, THE FUN BEGINS!! REFER TO PIC 15A BELOW:
AND SEE WHERE I BEGAN MY WORK.
USING YOUR SOFT HAIR BRUSH, FLOOD THE AREA YOU SEE IN SCAN 15A AND LAY YOUR 
DECAL IN PLACE. YOU'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GET THE DECAL IN PLACE 
BEFORE THE SOLUTION BEGINS TO TAKE EFFECT, SO WORK SLOWLY AND SMOOTHLY BEING 
CAREFUL NOT TO TEAR THE DECAL. ONCE THE DECAL IS UP AGAINST THE STEP AND THE 
WALKWAY, GENTLY APPLY MORE SOLUTION FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, WORKING THE 
SOLUTION INTO THE DECAL. NOW, USING THE CORNER OF A PAPER TOWEL, REMOVE THE 
EXCESS SOLUTION AND ALLOW TO DRY.
I SUGGEST ALLOWING EACH SECTION OF YOUR DECAL TO DRY THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU 
ADD THE NEXT SECTION.


IF YOU ENCOUNTER A FEW AIR BUBBLES ON YOUR STRIPES AROUND THE DOOR HINGES, 
DON'T WORRY, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THEM WHEN WE'RE THROUGH WITH THE STRIPES.

CONTINUE THE STRIPING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE MODEL, CUTTING EACH SECTION TO 
FIT. I WOULD SUGGEST WORKING FROM THE FIREMAN'S SIDE LONG HOOD AND CONTINUING 
TO THE STEP BEHIND THE ENGINEER. NOW CUT THE SECTION FOR THE BATTERY BOXES ON 
THE ENGINEER'S SIDE AND ON THE FIREMAN'S SIDE. NEXT, ADD THE STRIPE BETWEEN 
THE STEPS ON THE SHORT HOOD. WHEN COMPLETELY DRY, ADD THE SMALLER PIECES OVER 
AND UNDER THE STEPS ON THE SHORT HOOD AND ALSO THE STEPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE 
LONG HOOD.

I'LL POST A FEW MORE SCANS TO SHOW THE ENTIRE PROCESS.






NEXT, THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS.

BOB

© Bob Harpe 2003
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