Blackpool Signs and Graphics Ltd.: Full colour wrap for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

We were recently commissioned to do a full colour exterior and interior wrap of a double decker bus for the Royal Zooloigcal Society of Scotland (RZSS for short) Phew! say that after a couple down the local!

We have wrapped various large vehicles over the years including double decker buses. This one though was much more tricky as they required a large amount of the vinyl to be applied to the interior featuring a very impressive (if we do say so ourselves) waterfall staircase.

Stage 1. Create scaled drawing of the exterior of the bus. Normally a standard wrap on a normal vehicle ie a car or van is generally easy as we have access to 1000's of templates already on our system. This one however was much more challenging. We first had to take many measurements, going so far as to take dimensions of window rubber thicknesses, grills, lights, etc etc..... Then we had to put all this information into the computer and create a workable scaled technical drawing.

Stage 2. If stage 1 wasn't hard enough we then had to create drawings of all the dash board, staircases, doors, ceilings. Bearing in mind that these are all 3d objects which would have to all join together to make one seamless image. From recollection the staircase was made up of over 40 sections including returns, ceilings and many parts that cannot be shown on the pictures due to the camera angle (See image below of finished staircase)

Stage 3. We had to send all created templates over to the RZSS artwork derpartment for them to create the artworks to our precise specification.

Stage 4. Once we had received all the artwork we then started cropping and tiling the graphics, breaking them up into sections or as we call tiles. Sending each part to the printer all labelled up and print outs produced which enabled the installation team to work out what part goes where and in which position.

Stage 5. Once all files were printed (which took almost 2 days of constant printing) it was time to laminate the graphics. Lamination occurs approximately 48 hours after printing, leaving enough time for the solvent print gasses to settle and disperse.

Stage 6. External Installation. It took a team of 2 of our expert fitters 5 days to complete the external wrap. Most wraps on buses are on for only a short time but as this was a promotional vehicle which would be used for years to come the finish had to be more precise which adds more time to the installation.

Stage 7. Internal installation. As the external installation, this was a slow process and took the 2 man team 5 days to install. The internal graphics were much more tricky to fit and this reflects in the time taken.

Here are some facts and stats about the job:

Fact a: The complete job from start to finish took 215 man hours to produce. (Excluding Graphic design by a third party)

Fact b: Print time was 17 hours

Fact c: Square metre of vinyl = 231sq m

Fact d: Length of vinyl 180m or 590feet (to put into perspective, Blackpool Tower is 518feet)

Fact e: Material Weight including vinyl, laminate and ink = 180kg (approx weight of a modern 1000cc sports bike)

Fact f: Total ink usage 5.42 litres

Blackpool Signs and Graphics Ltd.

www.blackpoolsignsandgraphics.co.uk

Unit 5 Brookside Centre

Red Marsh Industrial Estate

Thornton Cleveleys