Signwriting one of the great Aussie icons
A BIG signwriting project.
The final 'touch' carried out on the Qantas Hangar 245 upgrade, the first hangar to be upgraded (the big one!) as part of the master planning for the Central Hangar Line Project at Sydney Jet Base.
You can't see the branding of the great Aussie icon when it's inside a hangar. And when it's not in the air (also most of the time unseen!) it's hidden in a big shed!
Why not signwrite the Roo on the sliding hangar doors? Sixteen metres high. Easier said than done. Not as simple as the 'mask and spray' procedure on the smooth glossy surface of the big red tail.
That looks like the job of a traditional, qualified and experienced signwriter.
A classic case of the need for a corporate signwriter.
There were a number of logistics involved.
1. Site survey - The 'lay of the land' and surface check.
2. OH&S requirements
3. Security and onsite communication.
4. Projecting the artwork - the big point!
5. Signwriting the Roo
1. Site survey
Clearance not only to walk on the airfield - but a scissor lift would be needed. Staying close to the perimeter of the hanger would be less problematic and that's when most of the work would need to be done anyway - given the signwriting was to the hangar doors. But standing back to check the shape of the Roo not just at the signwriting stage but also as it was being 'marked' out would be a different matter.
Also getting a look at the difficulty of the surface was good. It would provide challenges. But signwriting the 'wide' corrugated surface was why we were here (so no complaining)!
2. OH&S requirements
The usual procedure resulting in the Safe Working Method Statement, site inductions,
up to date White cards and machine operation certification.
3. Security and onsite communication.
Having a 'full-time' security guy was nessessary. We could barely move without him.
Our security guy needed to make a few calls and get clearance each time we had to check how the roo was 'progressing'.
4. 'Projecting' the artwork - the big point!
Projecting relates to transferring the image up onto a wall (or in this case the doors). It also often means using an overhead projector (you probably had to go to school back in the 80's to be familiar with one of those). Not really doable outdoors and certainly not on the end of an extension cord in the middle of a Sydney Airport runway!
The only way it could be done is to 'grid' it up. That is a grid made of numerous squares also consisting of an outline of the artwork. A similar configuration of the grid is scaled up onto the doors with the corresponding points plotted onto it.
Sometimes that can now just be a join the dots process. The challenge here is that the squares are one metre!
Once the high points of the corrugations were plotted the recessed parts needed to be added. Masking tape was used to help achieve the big curve shapes of it's back, tail and outstretched leg in particular of the classic design.
This process was helped by second signwriter on the ground helping to guide the shape and keep it free from bumps.
With the grid squares so large. The 'smaller' angles and curves in and around the head and arms would require some traditional freehand shaping and through the gridded points.
5. Signwriting the Roo
The surface had to be free from dirt, dust and grease then etched with an oil-based primer to 'key' the surface. Binding the final coats of water-based paint to the hard smooth surface.
This would provide the next challenge. The signwriting of the primer would need to brushed fast to stop the paint from drying too quickly and 'dragging' - creating an unsatisfactory finish. When I say signwriting on a project like this - I don't mean with a small chiselled edge - We use 2 inch (yeh still talk in old metrics too sometimes!) signcutters or sashcutters which basically look like regular paint brushes.
The final signwriting would require at least two coats of white for coverage.
The Roo can be scene from the terminal. See if you can spot it next time you're there!
If you would like to find out more if traditional and/or corporate signwriting is required for your project please call me -
Kel - on 0407 289 312