Stripe Layout

[ggunter]

Does anyone have any layouts for stripes on a MKIV. I thought I saw something in the manual but not. So if anyone has a lay out could they post it. Thanks

[daberry]

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[JohnK]

Just keep in mind that it's not quite as straightforward as that drawing might make it seem. The body is not symmetrical and if you assume it is you'll end up with some odd results. Just one example is that the license plate light is off center. If you "connect the dots" between the license plate light and the trunk handle with the stripes they'll end up angled. You can see examples of that here:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?40369-Is-the-25th-anniversary-trunk-lid-a-straight-swap

[alexmak]

Any vinyl stripes kits out there for some temporary stripes if I feel adventurous?

[ggunter]

Thanks daberry, Thats what I was looking for, I do know there isn't much symetrical about these cars. I found that out on my original body fitting. Make it appealing to the eye and your just about home. Thanks again.

[Avalanche325]

I used that layout, which is from ERA as a starting point. It was a LONG night getting them right, because as stated, these cars are not symmetrical.

The stripes don't have to BE straight.......they have to LOOK straight. If you pop a centerline and lay out perfectly measured stripes, they will look crooked. I had to fudge the hood to make them look even at the hood scoop. Then the back end took some work, centering between the roll bars (I have 2) and the trunk latch, which give you visual, but not true, centers. I have ridden behind a lot of Cobras where the vertical part of the trunk and down under the body is angled. I paid a lot of attention to that area.

[first time builder]

I used that layout from daberry 15 yrs ago on this car. They look even as you are going to get. Layout took 4 hours. I dont know why the photo went sideways.
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[Chilly]

I notice the dimensions are different on both diagrams on the front and rear of the cars in the diagrams by daberry. Is one a better layout than the other?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Here's how I do 'em. Mount up the license plate lamp and mark it's center on the trunk lid. Measure the body between the headlights and mark that center. Pull a string all the way from front to back. That's your centerline. If you have 2 roll bars you might have to fudge it a little, less than 1/4" so that it's even between them. Measure 1/2" each direction and that's you body color center. After that's established I do this (this is a Mk3 but Mk4 measures the same):

Nose

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151425&d=1627675479

Front of cockpit

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151426&d=1627675516

Rear of cockpit

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151427&d=1627675543

Trunklid before it rolls from horizontal to vertical

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151428&d=1627675574

When you're all done it'll look something like this.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=151429&d=1627675623

Cheers,
Jeff

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[first time builder]

That is a real beautiful Job love the color !!!

Kenny

[CaptB]

Why not use a laser? Here's someone using a Harbor Freight laser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIaXteo2AKM

[phileas_fogg]

Truth in advertising: I'm not a painter, and I've never tried to lay out stripes in my life. But,

My experience using lasers - at least the ones I could afford - is that the beam dispersion makes repeatable measurements difficult. Notice how the beam is nice and tight (thin) close to the laser, at the nose of the car. By the time that beam gets to the top of the wind screen, it's 1/4" wider. So the center line could be 1/8" left or right.

Add to that the fudging required by our asymmetrical car bodies (and roll bars, and license plate pads, etc.) and - for me anyway - I feel that eyeballs and a string are the best tools for laying out stripes...in that order.


John

[j.miller]

A saying I learned many years ago in painting..."It don't matter how it measures, only matters how it looks" Can't think of a more apt place that this applies then coming over the back of the deck lid where the shape is different from left to right......You need to be close to the center of the nose. You need to be in the center of the oil cooler. You need an even reveal on the sides of the hood scoop on the leading corners and dead center on the deck lid bump.....level the back end of the car and use a plumb bob to finish the back of the deck lid....GOOD LUCK ! ...oh' I never worry about the roll bars. Sometimes its not a problem and others, if you chase the gap, you will pull your stripes so far off you'll end up in a flat spin going out to sea yelling at Goose to punch us out ! ...da Bat

[ggunter]

Thanks to both Jeff's for the info. It is getting close to stripe time and that info is very helpful.

[ggunter]

By the wat Jeff, love those colors on the car. Superb!!!

[Chilly]

Jeff,

Appreciate the information, thanks.

Chilly