Featured below is an unedited email from Robert Barrow from August 2017 keeping us up to date with his fantastic experimental aircraft which Race Paint/Fleeting Image painted in a multi award-winning design.

VH-EFX continues to win major awards. At the Avalon International Airshow earlier this year it won Best Amateur-Built Aircraft. Avalon is the biggest airshow in the southern hemisphere and the competition for this award was keen, a LOT of amateur-built aircraft were there vying for this award.

As a result of the awards it has won and the publicity attached thereto, the plane is becoming one of the best known Experimental aircraft in Australia, ever! Of course the eye-catching paint job is a big part of the appeal. No-one can forget it.

When we first discussed the paint job I told you that I was building a very fussy show plane. I had 6500 hours over 11 years invested in the build and I was looking for a paint job that would be commensurate with the quality of the construction.

Actually I had you earmarked for the paint job years before the plane was due to be painted. I was convinced years earlier that you had both the technical expertise and the artistic creativity to produce a showplane finish to the quality I desired.

In the end we obviously both came to the conclusion that handpainting a fixed wing plane properly to an artistic finish is a very demanding task from a logistical point of view. So many parts to dismantle and reassemble. And all of them so very fragile and easy to damage. The painting process was a very nervous time for me. At various times I was concerned that the sliding canopy could be damaged, or a wing dropped, or small but difficult-to-replace parts lost etc etc.

So I was a bit stressed through the ordeal and I probably passed some of that stress on to you, sorry for that!

But in the end we worked together to produce something that was both beautiful and worthwhile. I see you have the plane on your Fleeting Image website, that’s terrific!

In retrospect I think if I was doing something similar again I’d do it differently. I’d paint the aircraft a single base colour myself and get you to apply some groovy wraps.

I’ve attached a pic of the plane taken earlier this year in Bendigo (where I now live). That’s me in the plane with my daughter Skye and my grandson Arkady.

Anyway, I haven’t forgotten you John. We did something special together. And give my regards to Lucy.

Cheers Bob

If you have chosen to go ahead in restyling your vehicle with a wrap, then you’ve made an excellent decision to enhance your ride or maximise your fleet vehicle’s advertising potential.

However long-gone are the days of just a handful of respected, experienced vehicle wrapping companies to choose from to ensure a professional job.  Like so many emerging industries, vinyl wrapping’s popularity has resulted in a lot of hastily established and less-experienced outfits flooding the market looking to make a quick buck, so it is now more important than ever to choose the right company to wrap for you.

But how can you ensure that you are choosing the best car wrap company available in your area?

• Experience: Consider a company that has been in the business for many years. This means that they have vast experience in the industry and have a wealth of knowledge working on different models of cars, boats and aircraft and are fully prepared to get the most out of your design. At Fleeting Image we pride ourselves in both our unparalleled performance and experience, and it is not by chance that we’ve  been at the pinnacle of the industry since vehicle wrapping first burst onto the scene. But don’t just take our word for it!..

• Reviews: In this day and age you can find company reviews on the internet with ease. You can look up the businesses that are available in your area and compare them with others. Check out our pics on the Fleeting Image site and judge for yourself or have a look at our feedback on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FleetingImageAustralia/

• Samples of their work: A company that provides a complete custom vehicle enhancement is only as good as their latest work. You can ask the company to show you samples of what they have done for customers previously or check out their website. At Fleeting Image we have a huge and diverse portfolio of award-winning and successful work to enjoy.

• Use of Premium materials: A true craftsman tends to use the best tools available, and with vehicle wrapping, a good company will only use the best quality and most durable of vinyls. Undercutting companies skimp on materials used, and supply inferior films made in China and Taiwan and often risk avoid using overlaminates entirely to scrimp on costs. This ultimately results in cheaper wraps lasting a fraction of the time a premium wrap would. Under the harsh conditions of the Australian sun, why risk using a company which products aren’t fit for purpose? Fleeting Image only use premium vinyl, from the most respected suppliers in the industry which come with manufacturer warranties.

If you are fortunate enough to find a company in Melbourne that has all of the traits mentioned, then you can be rest assured that you have found a company that will take care of your vehicle and be trusted to see your project through from start to finish professionally.

Do you have a company that you are trying to promote? If you are a business or company owner or involved in the promotion of your brand to keep the orders flowing in for your products or service, then you are probably constantly on the lookout for ways to keep a steady flow of traffic coming into your business.

Have you ever considered car wraps as a method of business marketing in order to get the people of Melbourne talking about your products or services? If not, then you definitely should, as it has been proven to be very effective. If you want to drive local traffic into your shop or onto your website, then car wraps are the way to do it, because they are an extremely useful and effective method of business marketing in Melbourne. Here are some of the benefits that come with it:

• Advertising whenever you travel: Each and every time you get into your car and take to the roads to travel from one location to another, your business or company is getting exposure. Others who happen to be sharing the roads with you will see your brand and know what business or service you offer. They can then be giving your business the chance to gain new valuable clients and customers each time you take to the roads to run your daily errands.

• Advertising just sitting in place: Even when your vehicle is not in motion, but sitting in the parking lot of a shop or other location that you are within, then you are still getting exposure. As others walk into the parking lot to get back to their own vehicles, they will see the colourful and eye catching vehicle wrap your car is sporting and notice what business you are promoting and the products and services it offers. Especially if that person is in need of the product or service you are promoting, they will be able to commit your company name to memory or jot down your contact information in order to soon become one of your many valued customers. If they don’t need the product or service you are promoting, they may even still recall the name of your company if your design is memorable enough for when the need does arise for themselves or for someone they know.

• Local traffic: Particularly if your business is a local one, car wraps are a great form of business marketing. This is because you will be sharing your message with the other people you are sharing the roads with in Melbourne, so you know that they are local and can easily make it into your shop or be within the range that you offer your services to. With car wraps as your form of advertising, you can rest assured that the message is reaching your intended audience because all of your viewers will be local to Melbourne.

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to invest in car wraps for business marketing. So what are you waiting for? Contact a local car wrapping company today and get started designing your custom car wrap.

Are you considering having a vehicle wrap applied to your car to make it look new, professional and eye catching? Getting a vehicle wrap done on your car is one great way to make it look revitalised and beautiful once more, with a custom design of your own choosing and creation with the help of a professional designer so it will look exactly as you wish it to.

However, there are some disasters that can happen when it comes to vehicle wraps if you are not careful, and these are things that you would definitely want to avoid. You would hate to drive away being disappointed after investing in vehicle wrapping on your car, truck, bus or motorcycle, only to get home and instead of showing it off to all of your friends, family and other travellers on the road, you might find that you are lamenting over how hideous the whole thing looks.

You can avoid that terrible situation and ensure that you are completely thrilled with the end result of your vehicle wrap b simply following a few precautions in order to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. Not only do you need to be cautious regarding the process of how you go about designing and having your vehicle wrap applied, but you also need to have realistic expectations regarding what your vehicle wrap can and cannot do. Here are some of the do and don’ts you should keep in mind when it comes to vehicle wrapping so you have the best possible chance of ensuring your success.

• DON’T assume that your entire vehicle will be able to be wrapped: This may be the case, but you don’t want to find out that it’s not and end up disappointed. Talk to the company you are working with about what is possible.
• DO make sure your design is realistic: Talk with the company that you are working with in order to ensure that the design you have in mind is truly feasible.
• DON’T design your vehicle to be viewed head on: Remember that the vehicle you are driving is a three dimensional object; therefore, it will be viewed from all sides as you drive along the road, so the design should be created while keeping this fact in mind.
• DO place small text on flat surfaces: If you place small texts within the groves of the vehicle, it may be too difficult for the viewer to read your message. This is particularly true while you are driving along the road at high speeds. Placing such texts on flat areas allows for easier reading.
• DON’T use fonts that are difficult to decipher: If the other drivers on the road can’t read your text, then it might as well not be there at all because it is not doing you any good.
• DO keep your design simple: Your goal is not to overwhelm the viewer, particularly because as you are driving, they will not be viewing your vehicle wrap for long.

As long as you keep these things in mind, you are certain to love the end result of your vehicle wrap!

If you are interested in having a car wrap applied to your vehicle, then you might be wondering what they are made out of. Vehicle wraps can be used on cars, trucks, motorcycles, busses, or truly any kind of vehicle you could think of. The materials used to manufacture these car wraps can vary from company to company, but the basis is the same overall.

These wraps are typically based upon vinyl, which is usually printed on by Fleeting Image here in our modern studio and workshop in Braeside. Often this printed vinyl is then laminated with a protective layer finishing the process and protecting the printed image and finish from the sometimes harsh Australian climate. These protective coatings that go over top of a completed job can be made from a variety of materials in order to achieve a variety of styles. The company would typically choose the finish that best compliments the style and design of your car wrap. These variations range from matt, semi gloss and regular gloss along with a number of stylish finishes such as pearlescent and colour tints.

Nearly all of the materials that are used in creating a wrap that would be applied to your vehicle are offered with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers both its durability and promises it will not fade as a result of being used outdoors. Furthermore, car wraps are able to be removed from the vehicle and leave behind no damage to the paint beneath or any remaining residue afterwards should you wish to resell your vehicle.

Some car wraps include an application to the windows. In such cases, the material used to create the design on the window’s surface is typically a perforated film. This film essentially appears as if it is part of the same wrap that is covering the rest of the vehicle, but at the same time, it maintains a clear view to the outside for passengers to look through.

Are you unsure of what material for your car wrap is best for you? Well, that’s okay, because we can suggest the most suitable, eye-catching and durable vinyl for your vehicle and budget. We know everything there is to know about the huge range of different materials and finishes that are available. We can offer you a variety of choices for a variety of budgets, and will educate you about the pros and cons of each option. Whatever the case, the things that you want to keep in mind when choosing the wrap material that is right for you and your situation is the looks it offers, how durable it is, the reputation it comes with, how easy it is to remove, and the warranty.

We are here to help you through this process, and you can trust that we will guide you in the right direction towards a high quality material to work with in creating the custom car wrap that best fits your needs.

One of our clients was inspired by the original Seawitch Sandman to do his own 2015 Seawitch Redux! Here’s the result.