Need install help.... above my head. Literally.

[formanek]

Okay. Return customer with the NDSU Bison bus. Interior is being customized. Now he requested I skin the ceiling of the bus. I used a test piece and it stuck great. My question is how the hell to install it? My thoughts are to start at one end and only roll out 3-4' at a time and tape the roll to the ceiling so I don't have 14' of material trying to fall all the time. Any ideas or experience?

 

[mikey-Oh]

Panel and magnets if you can?

 

[formanek]

Panel and magnets if you can?

Damn thing is aluminum. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

 

[JKADesigns]

Just my opinion... never done this before, but when ever I've done drywall I just made T-posts that fit just right under whatever ceiling I was doing. I can see you doing that here. I thought maybe you should do it in several different pieces, but then you'd have to align it, and that would be a pain in the ass. Your best bet might be just to profile cut a few pieces of plywood to the contour of the bus ceiling and screw posts to those, and use those to support your vinyl as you're installing it. Think a huge squeegee, in three or four pieces maybe?

 

[Sticky Signs]

I'd first try to convince the client to go with something very simple and forgiving. If that doesn't work, I'd make the prints match the size of the roof panels. Use two or three people if possible for lining up the image. Start from the centre of the bus and work your way out. Use a good vinyl with stretch/shrink capabilities to help "cheat" the alignment if need be. And charge accordingly. My 2 cents. Let's see some finished photos.

 

[GAC05]

Looks like a tough one to hang.
I agree with using smaller panels to match the breaks in the roof, but alignment between them will be tricky.
Maybe get some waste material and install one or two to see what issues are going to show up before you trash the real prints.
Good luck and charge a lot.

Worst case get someone with a lift or crane to bring the front up high enough to do a single panel vertical install......
wayne k
guam usa

 

[formanek]

worst case get someone with a lift or crane to bring the front up high enough to do a single panel vertical install......
Wayne k
guam usa

hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SignStudent]

The solution seems simple enough to me...just turn the bus upside down.

:Big Laugh

 

[GAC05]

hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!

Works on expensive imports.

 

[mikey-Oh]

Let's see some finished photos.

Big fan of completed work here

 

[formanek]

Big fan of completed work here

I will for sure post some pics of the finished inside. Hope to hit it this weekend. I am still welding up the seats for the customer.

Here is a pic of the outside when I completed it last fall. They love their Bison.

 

[Gino]

Try Michael Angelo's approach.... lay on your back. :Big Laugh

Actually, I've wallpapered ceilings in my time and that's no easy task. I don't think you need to make smaller widths, but an extra pair of hands will make it work. Once you get it going and you're sure it's straight, you should be fine.

 

[formanek]

Big fan of completed work here

So I spent about 8 hours putting the skin on the ceiling of Thundar the Bison Bus. I thought about the process a lot and finally came up with 8 panels. Gravity sucked and only two hands means my neck and back are killing me. I have much more respect for Michelangelo. All I know is that cost is going to be twice as much as a normal skin I complete. One other thing.... never again.

 

[Alti-Plotter]

Very nice job, thank you for showing it.

 

[GypsyGraphics]

my neck and back are killing me.

wow, nice job on a very intimidating install!

i'd have found a way to use sawhorse type ladders, plywood sheets and a creeper, so i could do the job on my back.
8 hours working over my head would drive me nuts.

i'm impressed!

 

[boxerbay]

my best guess would be make each panel the same as the existing cut/rivets. then tape it in place with backer. hinge tape it in the center of the rook. then hinge it by peeling the front all the way to the center of the roof and work out from the center to the outside. then turnaround and install the other half work from center out again.

turned out great.

 

[mikey-Oh]

Nice, thanks for the process!

 

[Mason]

Nice work man!

 

[Sticky Signs]

Looks great! Thanks for sharing.

 

[GAC05]

End result looks very good.
Smart move splitting it down the center.

wayne k
guam usa