Red 5 Deco Day

Mike Syfritt, owner of AesthetiCreations positions the logo of the Rebel Alliance on the bonnet.

Mike applies the right side boot strips. Look to the right of Mike's hands and you can get a peak at the Incom logo. Incom Corporation is the manufacturer of the T-65 X-Wing Space Supiority Fighter.

I woke up about three times Friday night/Saturday AM. The excitement of finally having Red 5 decorated was upon me. I was up at 7:00 AM, showered, ate breakfast and was out the door by 7:30. First stop, the bank for cash and then dart across the street for a coffee. Next stop, Star Carwash in Columbia for a rapid fire wash of the areas to be adorned with vinyl. Nothing fancy, just get the dirt of the previous week off rain off. lastly down the road to Laurel, MD and to the car shop. I was there at twenty till nine and Mike, having seen me pull in, walked out to meet me. After we introduced ourselves and shook hands Mike said, "Hey, ummm, look I forgot the Imperial kill logos."

I have a bad feeling about this.

"How much longer for that pulley job?" Mike called out.
"TWENTY MINUTES!" came the reply.
"Well I can get the bonnet and side logos on in that time and we can do that outside, so let's start," and Mike went into the car bay to get his equipment and the vinyl for Red 5. Twenty minutes later we had all the small vinyl applied and the bay opened up. I hoped in Red 5 and slid her into the bay.
"Okay," said Mike. "Let's get your roof vinyl out and get this on your..." he paused and looked close at my car. "Umm, that's a '05 Cooper. Umm." For the second time in less than thirty minutes he had me worried.
"Yes. That is an '05 Cooper," I replied. "I told you in my emails and on the phone that I have an '05 Cooper."
"I think I may have sized the roof graphic for a Cooper S. I do so many Cooper S's that I thought you had an S too. See the S has a spolier and we don't carry the graphic onto the spoiler, soooo the very back of your roof might be white."
On the outside I was calm. On the inside I was getting a little hot.
"You should get a spoiler for your MINI. Well, I may have made it right. Only one way to find out." We picked up and unrolled the HUGE roof graphic. I was a little fearful that the scan - of an 8x10 original - was not going to hold up to such a huge enlargement. Unrolling the vinyl I quickly saw that my fears were unfounded. It looked grrrrrreat! Mike removed the radio antenna and laid it on the workbench. We then laid the vinyl on the roof for positioning. It was cut for the Cooper S. I guess my next exterior mod will be a spoiler afterall. Applying the graphic to the roof is a two person job and this is where I would get some experience working with the material. With the piece positioned we removed a section of the backing and started the process. During this time another MINI owner arrive.
"Hi! I am here for my ten o'clock appointment to have my graphics applied," says the newcomer.
"Wait. What? Ten o'clock?" says Mike somewhat puzzled. "Wait a minute. Will, didn't I set apart three hours in my schedule for you?"
"My appointment was for nine. You indicated to me that I'd be here for three or four hours, but I sawon the forum that you had people scheduled all day at one hour intervals. I figured you had assistants."
"Oh how I wish. OH SHIT! I overbooked myself again. I only put you down for an hour! OH MAN HOW DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?" He talks with the arrival who is a very reasonable fellow and things work out. Guess what? Another MINI owner arrives at eleven and another at twelve and we are still working on my car. The eleven o'clock arrival I know as DeeSquared and he tells Mike that he is here for the boot stripes on his MINI convertible.
"Umm you have a convertible?" Says Mike.
"Yeah. We I mentioned that in all the emails I sent you," says Dee.
"Umm, I don't remember that and the only boot stripes I brought are for the other MINIs. The boot stripes for the convertibles are cut special for the extra latches on the boot. BUT, I can custom cut them and fit them. No problem and no charge," says Mike sounding frustrated with himself. "Damn. I overbook and I forgot stuff."
Everyone is cool about everything and all the MINI owners - about six of us now - all talk about each other’s cars, mods and deco. A good time is had by all and they all wanted to see the Star Wars MINI anyway. They had been reading about my plans on the North American Motoring forum. Yes, I am a member. Yes, I shamelessly self promote. Everyone there... EVERYONE... thinks the Star Wars MINI is awesome. After much talking Mike and I got back to the task at hand. Around 1:30 we finished and with the exception of the Imperial kill markers, Red 5 is finished. I am happy with the way things turned out. Real happy. I pay Mike the balance I owe him and head home. I stop in Target and pick up a micro-fiber towel and the Mr. Clean car cleaning kit. I arrive home and clean the exterior and interior of the car and then I notice that my antenna is missing. Mike and I both forgot it and it's back to Laurel I go. What a day, but it's over now and Red 5 is all ready for the big unveiling tomorrow at 3:00 PM (party starts at 2:00). It's going to be awesome.