FH - number plate

 I like hand painted number plates. I like the idea that in the 1950's someone would appear at the motorcycle shop with a tin of paint and sign-write your number plate, just like his Dad did in the 1930's. No sticky laser cut numbers here!

I think it's important to get the font right too - but what am I saying? I've already blogged this post here, so I don't have to write it all again!

Here's the template as a word document:

And again, glued to some card and in the process of being cut out:

It's helpful to draw a horizontal line in pencil, perhaps using the rear lamp fixing holes as a guid, so you get your letters level. Draw a vertical line in the centre as well and line that up with the middle of one of the letters.

Stick the template to the number plate with a host of small magnets, and using a dark grey spray paint, mist coat the number plate very lightly:

Remove the template and as if by magic you have something you can use to guide your paint brush. Expert sign-writers can ignore these steps!

I used white Hammerite smooth to fill the letters in:

Sorry about the reflections from the desk lamp:

I use Farecla GU10 to remove any stray spots of the mist coat.

Looking good again!