Those (expletive deleted) Wally Bynum Numerals

[bvcg1]

Hello all,

I am finally to the point in my '71 Safari restoration that I am applying the red numbers.

Wow! What an undertaking! I found out really fast that you don't want to apply if there's a slight breeze...it's like giving a cat a bath! Anyway, I completely messed up my numeral '2' and hopefully another will be mailed to me soon.

If there are any tips, tricks, videos, spells I could cast, or incantations I could murmur that would assist me in getting those numerals on straight, I sure would appreciate some direction.

[J. Morgan]

Use a spray bottle with water and a tiny amount of soap.

As you peel the backing off of the decal, spray it generously.

This will keep an inadvertent mistake from wasting the decal, and this will allow you more than one chance at placement.

Once you have them where you want, squeegee the water out, and slowly peel the top layer leaving the decals in place.


Brevi tempore!

[markdoane]

Make sure you get them right side up.

[dkottum]

I used a masking tape reference line to level the bottom of all numbers, and a vertical strip of masking tape to position and ensure each number was plumb, and the whole number centered on the trailer.

[AWCHIEF]

If trashed you can have any local print shop make them up as a single piece. Pre space and very easy to install.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Use a spray bottle with water and a tiny amount of soap.

As you peel the backing off of the decal, spray it generously.

This will keep an inadvertent mistake from wasting the decal, and this will allow you more than one chance at placement.

Once you have them where you want, squeegee the water out, and slowly peel the top layer leaving the decals in place.


Brevi tempore!

Ditto. We use this method with all of our fleet.

[jdalrymple]

I just use a spray bottle and a few drops of dish soap.

Keep the trailer surface WET!!!!!


Peel the backing off the number and apply it to the trailer in any position you can, just keep the number flat and prevent it from sticking to itself.

KEEP spraying the water/soap mixture!

Move the number into position and wipe it gently with a rag to start moving the water out from under it.

Let it sit for 4 or 5 minutes and the glue will start to hold.

Then spray the surface of the number with the water/soap and smooth out the bubbles very gently with a rag.

Things will dry out by morning and you will have numbers the next guy will cuss when he tries to remove them.


Regards,

JD

[bredlo]

IMHO, anyone who thinks the inventor of the Airstream was named 'Bynum' ...has earned uncooperative stickers.

[Hittenstiehl]

In all fairness it is a hard name to get used to but it made me laugh also.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by bredlo

IMHO, anyone who thinks the inventor of the Airstream was named 'Bynum' ...has earned uncooperative stickers.

Yup, if you're going to piss off the Airstream God, mispelling his last name would do it.

Sacrificing a few local virgins will appease him.....until next time.

Cheers
Tony

[twolanehwy]

i'm surprised the signlady hasn't chimed in on this one.
What you do is tape the decal in place after (along top edge) measured. leveled etc. This creates a hinge so that you can then lift up the bottom of decal and peel away the backing paper. Spray with a little soapy water solution and squeegee out the bubbles. Then spray the surface of transfer paper and continue to squeegee the numbers and wipe with a towel excess solution. Carefully pull from one corner parallell with the surface so not to pull the lettering up at the same time pushing down numbers. If they don't want to stick wait a bit until surface warms up or drys out some.

[m.hony]

This is just me thinking-
Yes, it was very difficult to apply 4 separate numerals-
I think it would be easier if they were all attached-
So- Line the numerals up on another piece of poster/wax paper-
Or- Tape all the numerals together-
But, then again, maybe I'm crazy-
Another option: Go to a sign shop and get the same numerals made again and all printed together on the same sheet.
Aligning 1 thing has got to be easier/better than aligning 3, 4, or 5 things.
WBCCI Headquarters in Jackson Center- Are you paying attention to this thread?

[graysailor]

I also had a print shop make up the numbers. Single sheet of vinyl. Not that you should do this but I made my numbers 5". Think it looks a little better on the trailer.

[m.hony]

Another observation while putting 1811 on the front and rear of my trailer-
The 8 is a whole lot harder to lay down smoothly than the 1-
The 8 has to be the hardest numeral to lay down-
The 1 has to be the easiest numeral to lay down-
Maybe I should have requested WBCCI number 111, or 1111, or 11111, or 111111...
The compound curves of the end caps makes it even more difficult to lay the 8 down smoothly- it had all manner of wrinkles and bubbles in it-
The rear was even harder than the front for some reason- maybe working off a ladder was harder than working off the tailgate of the truck?


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[dkottum]

Someone on the forum had reported having all the numbers made up on a vinyl sheet, and sticking the whole sheet on the Airstream. Soon after they discovered corrosion of the shell under the sheet. I don't recall who or why this happened, anyone else remember?

[m.hony]

I was saying one sheet as in all numerals on one backing/wax paper would be easier- as opposed to 4 numerals on 4 pieces of wax paper-
I know why WBCCI does it the way they do- for flexibility in issuing different numbers-
So- the next best thing- tape all of your numerals on the backing together then apply-


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[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Someone on the forum had reported having all the numbers made up on a vinyl sheet, and sticking the whole sheet on the Airstream. Soon after they discovered corrosion of the shell under the sheet. I don't recall who or why this happened, anyone else remember?

I'm one of them. There are companies that will create a fantastic vinyl cling sheet with your numbers with the right PMS color tone and the right font on a very simple to apply single sheet. But if you leave it on (as I did for a season) it creates an ugly (and irreparable) blotch.

If you put it on a window - that would be fine. Otherwise - don't do it!

[m.hony]

I'm sure the numerals can be on the same type of backing, just all together on one piece of the backing rather than 4 individual ices of the backing. In my mind that would make them easier to apply.

[m.hony]

Ices = pieces-
Spellcheck, where are you?

[J. Morgan]

If I was in Little Rock right now I could cut a number out in about three minutes....


Brevi tempore!