Starcraft stripes & decals

[austinado16]

So my latest camper project is to restripe and redecal the entire camper.  I've got a local sign shop that does great work and they've done a lot of vinyl automotive decals and number balls, etc. over the years for me.  They've got access to a line of strip tape and the colors are nearly identical to the original Starcraft colors of metallic dark red, metallic bronze, and solid navy blue.

The 3 colors of tape arrived today and I'll probably restripe this weekend.  I made rubbings of the big star logo on the propane tank cover and spare tire cover, and the "starcraft" name, so the shop is working on those next.

Here's a shot from the 1987 brochure to give you an idea of the original look and color scheme.  There was also a scheme where the red was the dominant color, so the big star was also red.


Started restriping the rear panel today and once the old stripes were off, it was obvious just how faded the plastic panel had become.  But, being plastic and the same color throughout, I simply melted it back to the original color by washing with laquer thinner.


Here it is finished.  The tan is a little washed out in the upper portion of the photo. The area below the stripes and tail light are more indicitive of the color.


I'm very happy with the result.  It looks like it just rolled off the dealer's lot.  Can't wait to get the stars and logo decals and then get the sides and front done.

So....if anyone with a tan bodied, '85/'86 to 1989 Starcraft want in on stripes or decals, let me know.

[Brauma]

That looks great. Good job!

My Starcraft decals are pealing off an I have thought about ordering them (if they are available). But luckily they are on the backside so it's doesnt look too bad. It's a future project.

[austinado16]

Finished the left side today and here's a shot showing how it compares to the nose panel, which I've yet to do.


I'm very happy with the results, but made a sizing error on the width of the stripes.  Turns out that from the star at the rear side of the body, around the tail panel to the other side's star, the stripes are wider then the stripes that go from the stars forward and around the nose panel.  So I've had to cut the stripes back to the correct width after installation.  Wasn't too bad to do, and still looks nice.

Still waiting the big metallic blue stars and the "STARCRAFT SS" names, but so far, so good.

[austinado16]

Finished the right side today.  Wound up cutting my own blue stars.  Here's a before and after shot:

[waygard33]

Looking great, as usual! :#


Wayne in Oregon

[austinado16]

Thanks for the kind words Wayne.  It sure has improved the look of the camper.

The other thing on my camper beautification list was to paint the new awning's bag.  About a month ago I scored a 10' Fleetwood awning off a wrecked '07 in southern CA.  The awning itself is white with brown stripes which couldn't be better for my '80's look, but the bag was grey and stuck out like a sore thumb:


And here's how it looks repainted with "SEM" brand vinyl/leather automotive upholstery paint:


Next on the list is repainting the propane tank cover because the plastic won't remelt to the original color as you can see in that first photo.  Then it gets the star decals like you see on the side of the camper.  Might have time for that this morning before we leave for Sequoia Nat'l Park.

[Recumbentman]

Austin
You are very talented in your restoring your PU. its going to look new when you get it all done or will you ever really be done on modding it
Whats your secret on having all this time to work on your different projects :eyecrazy:

[JimS]

Looks Good!  Nice to know this can be done when the time comes.  I wonder if the stripes and other patterns could be painted on instead of using decals, and which would be cheaper.

[wavery]

Looks Good!  Nice to know this can be done when the time comes.  I wonder if the stripes and other patterns could be painted on instead of using decals, and which would be cheaper.

It depends on who does the labor. If you are providing the labor, painting would be a lot cheaper. However, you'd better know what you are doing. Getting the lines straight can be a real challenge. It's even a challenge getting the pre-cut decals on straight.

If you pay to have the job done, the decals would be cheaper by far for the reasons listed above and more.

[austinado16]

I restriped an '83 Starcraft Venture 20 last week and it was something like $32 for about 28' of stripe tape.  No way you could paint and have it turn out for that kind of money.......especially not in metallic.

Plus, if/when these stripes start looking bad, they're easily peeled right back off.  If they were painted on, it would be a huge project.