Final step to the serial number plate!

The last step of the process is to add the words "International Land Yacht" in a darker blue.   I've been terrified to do this because if I mess up I will have to do this plate over and that is not an option.  I'd rather sell the trailer (just kidding). 

This is how the serial plate originally looked.  

It differs from the reproductions at VTS in that the "International Land Yacht"  are not silver.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

First, I took a photocopy of the plate so I'd have a visual record.   

Then because none of the fonts in Microsoft word even came close I searched Identifont.com until I found one that was very similar.   The spacing and shape wasn't correct so I copied it into Paint shop and stretched and shrank it like a gumby until it matched the original!   I compared them by taping the original photocopy of the plate on my very fancy lightbox (the window !)       Please don't ask me the name of the lettering because I have a short term memory problem ... I blame the diet coke!

I scanned the image into our printer.....      

 

I really wanted to keep using the green automotive tape (I gotta buy stock in that company!), so I taped a couple of pieces on to a transparency (so I could remove it easily)  and printed the font directly on the tape.


Yeah I made that sound easy didn't I... well the secrets out, my trash can is full of botched copies!   I'm just lucky the green tape didn't ball up and clog the printer.  I would have had a hard time explaining that given that the printer is brand new!

 Here they are attached to the plate.  And my handy dandy razor
blade got a brand new blade!

 See which letters I'm avoiding again!

 All taped up and ready for painting...I'm hyperventilating already!!!!   One shot at this.....

I used the Duplicolor Dark Ford Blue.   I really like this paint, it goes on smooth.  Makes Rustolem a bad name.

Well, Serendipity is my stripper name (no mom, not really LOL) and VOILA!!!!!!

 Success!!   The process itself was a success anyway,  the lettering is a little darker than I expected but acceptable.  They've photographed darker than they are in person.      A few coats of clearcoat and I can check this off my list!   

I showed it proudly to my husband and he said "So what's different?"   Sigh...... is there a secret virus that I can infect him with so he comes down with a severe case of aluminitus?????

What's next?   The license plate holder and light!  Stay tuned!