August 16th, 2014 - Update: Side Decal Installation

August 16th, 2014

For some reason, I tend to have controversial opinions on things. One of those opinions is the use of replica parts. I don't have an issue with using them on my car; I have a VIS front bumper -vs- genuine Mugen after all. What I don't like are people who use replica parts and try and pass them off as genuine. I think it's safe to say that most people feel the same. Some might even say that the use of any replica parts hurts the 'scene' because some copies/replicas are so good it becomes easier for people to get ripped off, and harder to tell the genuine article from the copy.

With regards to replica decals, however, my opinion differs somewhat. I will never place a replica decal on my car without a) first owning the original and 2) having that original duplicated myself. Often these decals are ~25 years old and the adhesives used aren't always in the best of shape so it's sometimes necessary to copy them.

What bothers me about the replica decals in particular is that the copies aren't always taken from the original and are only "eyeball"ed  for size and color. If you're going to go to the time and trouble to purchase decals for your car, why wouldn't you do it right? Wouldn't you want to purchase copies made directly from the originals?

I have many replica decals on my SiR, including the Mugen and VTEC logos on my rear tail light, a replica Personal Box decal for everyday use, and lastly, I have a set of CR-X Mugen PRO.2 door cap decals which I haven't installed yet. I was originally going to wait until I painted the whole car, but I decided not to wait. I can always have more decals reproduced from the originals if I choose.





My first step was to consult YouTube where I found the following video to help me out.

Then I headed out and get some supplies like grease pencils and good masking tape and raised the CR-X to a height I could more easily work with.

I consulted my collection of CR-X pictures to determine placement options. Using a Mugen brochure from the EF7 I was able to determine that the lines in the door cap can be used for fitment measurements.

So the top of the bottom part of the "C" lines up perfectly with that line on the door cap.

Laying out the decal on a shelf, we can follow the line and see where it would line up on the R and the X.

Next I placed the decal on the car in an approximate position and measured the lines on the car with calipers then double-checked the points on the C the R and the X. Following the tips in the video I also marked the edge of each letter with the grease pen on the car and in a Sharpie on the transfer paper to assist in lining up the letters during application.

I "eyeball"ed the front-to-back placement, and I think I got it fairly close, measured from the body side, across the door gap, following that line to the beginning of the C (as shown below).

Unfortunately, my installation was less than stellar.The "-", the "G" in Mugen and a line from the "R" got a little messed up during the installation.

From a distance, however, it doesn't look too bad I suppose but I certainly won't be keeping it like that... I never ended up installing the other side. I only have two replicas left and I went today to a local shop today to speak to someone about having the right side replaced and the left side installed. I'm looking forward to it -- I really like the decal on the CR-X.

 

Remember, this blog was written in chronological order so, you will need to click OLDER POSTS to move forward in time, and click NEWER POSTS to go backwards.