Vac-U-Pickle
TMWindshield Decal Set Application Instructions
for Unlimited, Atlas, and Prototype Decal Sets.
Some duplicate decals are provided in case you make a mistake. Decals should be only installed on fully cured paint.
Unlimited Hydroplane Cowl Decal Application
The Unlimited Hydroplane Cowl Set includes two windshields, two intakes, two exhausts, one silver exhaust shroud, and two afterplane Vac-U-Pickle decals.
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| You will need scissors, masking tape, pencil and a ruler. | Trim the intake decal close to its edges. | Test fit the decal to see how it aligns to the intake. |
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| Lay the decal on a flat surface and peel away the backing. | Holding the cowl between your knees, visually align the decal to the intake. | Press the center moving your finger up and down, then outward left and right to avoid air bubbles. You can use a piece of still plastic, like a credit card, to press a decal by wiping from the center outward with slow even pressure. Easier to use your finger on a curved surface. |
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| Peel off the application tape. | Trim and remove the backing from the exhaust decal. | Press from center outward to apply. Remove the application tape. |
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| Measure 1 inch from the bottom of the cockpit front and apply a piece of masking tape. Mark the center of the top of the tape with pencil. | Use the trimmed windshield to locate a 2nd piece of tape just above the windshield. | Mark the upper tape's center as well. Use visual references to ensure the marks are centered. |
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| Remove the windshield backing paper. | Note the windshield has centering notches at the top and bottom of the center. | First align the bottom mark and press just the edge at that lower mark. Then, align the top mark. Run your finger from the lower mark to the upper mark to adhere the center. |
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| From the front center, run your finger around the middle of the decal to either end. DON'T PRESS ALONG THE TOP OR BOTTOM EDGES YET. You can press the top and bottom of the sides only. | Remove the mounting tape. There will be wrinkles along the top and bottom of the middle of the windshield. The mounting tape is not as flexible as the vinyl. The mounting tape must be removed before the wrinkles can be eliminated. | Put your finger below each wrinkle and push upward or downward to remove them. Large ones may need light pressure at their center to split them, then repeat as they get smaller. A tiny fold may remain in some areas. This is normal and will not be visible from a distance. |
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| The windshield should fully conform to the curved surface. | Trim the exhaust shroud close. Remove the backing. Set on the deck 1/16 inch behind the turbine. (tiny gap visible at the front of the decal) | Starting at the bottom, slide your finger front to rear, moving upward slowly as you wrap the decal over the top of the shroud. |
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| Finish by wrapping the rear corners around the rear of the shroud. | Remove the mounting tape | Large air bubbles can be removed by using a needle to puncture on one side, then push from the other side of the bubble to expel the air. Needles leave a less-noticeable hole than a pin. |
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| The cowl decals are complete. | Front view. | Leftover parts for future repaints or to try again if the first attempt failed. |
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| Trim the afterplane decal. | Decide where you want to install it. Avoid the area where the cowl will be taped to the hull. | Important: Lay the decal upside-down on a flat surface. Peel the backing away slowly. The decal is more likely to stick to the mounting tissue when the backing is curled away in this manner. |
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| Align the decal and let the center drop to contact the hull. | Draw a credit card from the center outward to the right, | and left to adhere the decal without trapping air bubbles. Remove the mounting tape. |
Atlas Style Hydroplane Cowl Decal Application
Atlas Cowl Set includes two windshields, two sets of exhaust pipe decals, and two afterplane Vac-U-Pickle decals. Trim the exhaust decals in full sets of six. They are spaced to align with the exhaust dimples on the Atlas Cowl.
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| Trim a row of six dots together. They are spaced to match the dimples on the side of the cowl. | Remove the mounting tape. Works best if you lay the decal face-down on a flat surface and curl the backing away. | Concentrate on lining up the end dot and holding the decal at the same angle as the dimples. |
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| Once set, press each dot from both sides. | Remove the mounting paper and press again so they will conform to the curved shape of each dimple. | The windshield can be mounted by centering it vertically halfway between the top and bottom of the windshield slope, and holding it level. Press at the center, then run around left and right. |
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| A more accurate method involves cutting only through the backing paper with a hobby knife. | This lets you remove the backing paper one side at a time. | With the backing paper still attached, align the windshield and hold in place. |
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| Secure 1/2 of the windshield to the cowl with a piece of painter's masking tape. | Lift the other side. Remove that side's backing paper. | Then, starting at the front center, press the decal in place, running your finger around to the end. |
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| Remove the painter's tape. Remove the backing paper for the other half. | Press and secure from front around to the other end. | Any wrinkles at the top or bottom of the windshield can be smoothed out with your finger. |
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| Trim the afterplane decal. | Decide where you want to install it. Avoid the area where the cowl will be taped to the hull. | Important: Lay the decal upside-down on a flat surface. Peel the backing away slowly. The decal is more likely to stick to the mounting tissue when the backing is curled away in this manner. |
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| Align the decal and let the center drop to contact the hull. | Draw a credit card from the center outward to the right, | and left to adhere the decal without trapping air bubbles. Remove the mounting tape. |
Prototype Hydroplane Cowl Decal Application
Prototype Cowl Set includes two windshields and two afterplane decals
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| Take a stiff card and draw it across the decal to ensure the decal is in good contact with the mounting tissue. | Trim the windshield close to the vinyl without cutting into the black vinyl. Tiny notches are already cut at the center top and bottom of the windshield to help you align it vertically. | Before removing the backing, practice aligning the windshield. Hold level, and centered on the cowl. Then, remove the backing and repeat pressing the center of the decal to the cowl. |
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| After pressing the center, run your finger around the sides from the center. The sides of the windshield will wrap around and air bubbles will be avoided. | Once pressed in place, remove the mounting tissue. | Installed windshield. |
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| Trim the afterplane decal. | Decide where you want to install it. Avoid the area where the cowl will be taped to the hull. | Important: Lay the decal upside-down on a flat surface. Peel the backing away slowly. The decal is more likely to stick to the mounting tissue when the backing is curled away in this manner. |
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| Align the decal and let the center drop to contact the hull. | Draw a credit card from the center outward to the right, | and left to adhere the decal without trapping air bubbles. |
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| Peel off the mounting tissue. If you have a large air bubble, pierce the side of the bubble with a needle and push the air out from the other side of the bubble. |
