Letter-templates

Hi,

I want to make templates for some letters that I´m going to paint (CF) on both sides of my duc (Ducati, 1/12). Now, is there any good way to achive this (if it´s not as good as perfect there´s no idea) or is the only way to cut them free-handed with a x-acto on Tamiya tape? Any suggestions are welcome!

Regards, Fredrik

Try a sign writer that uses Vinyl Lettering. They can make a template for you.

As far as I know any book store or store that sell paper, pens etc. have letter stickers that have surounding paper around them, so you take of the letter and you have template. There is large diversiti of styles and size so you should be able to find it. I don't know where you live but if we have that in Croatia than it should be no problem to find.

Try a scrapbooking store. My wife is into scrapbooking and she has tons of templates of different fonts. They're made of what appears to be Lexan or Plexiglass and you trace the letters out using an Xacto super fine-point blade, the ones that swivel at the tip. They also have letter/number punches that are easier but I doubt they're cost effective for modeling.

If I understand correctly, you want letters to appear as if they were carbon fiber?

you are going to paint them carbon fiber? you might want to try to trace the letters onto some carbon fiber decal and then put them on. you might have better looking results with that...just a thought tho

No, I won´t use a CF decal, I don´t want the letters to look like they´re raised above side surface. I´m also intending to do some serious rubbing and in order to do that you´ve got to seal it with clear. That leads to another problem, that is getting a good shine on decals (if the clear does´nt fuck up the decal before it even hardens) and getting a even shine all over the cowlings. Look at the third pic in this link, that is what I´m going for, damn that is one sexy bike...
Do I want the letters to appear as if they were CF, well actually they ARE CF since the cowling is made out of carbon fibre, then painted with that beautiful ferrari-red paint, mmm.

http://www.raceshop.org/motorcycle/ducati/998r/bike.htm

So yes, if I´m going to have carbon-looking letters I´m going to paint them. I´ve used the "spray through mesh"-method many times before with some pretty good resluts;

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/245022CF_Fender_1-med.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/245022CF_Fender_2-med.jpg

These Lexan-templates sound very intersting, but I´m pretty sure they´ll be hard to find here in Sweden so I guess the good ´ol Internet are going to be my best (only) chance.

Thanks everybody for your replys!

/Fredrik

sorry for the thread jack..but does anyone know what that squiggly sign is on the wheel (right beside the "DYMAG")? (7th pic in the link)

That's "JWL." It is, and I am quoting the literature that accompanied my Konig rims here:

"...the abbreviateion for Japan Light Metal [Standard for Passenger Vehicle Use Light Alloy Disk Wheel Technology] is the safety standart for light alloy wheels used in passenger vehicles (excludes passenger vehicles that exceed 11 passenger capacity and 2 wheel automobiles). This JWL mark is reflected in all products tested by the manufacturers in compliance to the above standard."

Why it's on a bike, I'm not sure, since "2 wheeled automobiles" are exempt. However, the symbol is that.

Does anyone else have any other ideas, on where to buy these kind of Lexan-templates? I´m open for ANY kind of suggestions,

Thanks, Fredrik

Do a search for scrapbooking templates. There are tons of online vendors specializing in that sort of thing. I really couldn't recommend one to you since my wife buys all her stuff locally.

It looks like what you want to do is paint the CF first, put on the letter "masks" then paint the base color over? What if you print the letters you want and trace them onto thicker paper, then cut out the letters with a knife?

Another idea is liquid mask. Paint the panel with CF. When dry, apply the liquid mask all over the panel. Cut out your letters on cardstock then trace them over the liquid mask with a knife. Peel off the rest of the mask, leaving the letters intact.

Seems like whatever method you use, the hard part will be pulling off the letter masking without lifting the color around it.