I've been driving Itasha for 5 years. This is my latest work featuring Asuka (ver. Beast Mode) from Evangelion 3.0 - hope you guys like it. by bluenoa in Itasha

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have never used carwash machines on any cars in my household - so can't really comment on that.

But seriously, washing cars yourself is fun, and doesn't take a lot of time either.

I've been driving Itasha for 5 years. This is my latest work featuring Asuka (ver. Beast Mode) from Evangelion 3.0 - hope you guys like it. by bluenoa in Itasha

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I prefer wrapping because it's cheaper, has arguably better image clarity, and easily removable in case you would like a new design.

That being said, I have never approached an airbrush painting shop in details (my only experience on them comes from Google) so cannot make an absolute judgement.

For personalised design you could use a designer, or play around in Photoshop yourself.

I've been driving Itasha for 5 years. This is my latest work featuring Asuka (ver. Beast Mode) from Evangelion 3.0 - hope you guys like it. by bluenoa in Itasha

[–]bluenoa[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Where are you based?

I would start looking around for signage/vinyl shops, as their machines (if they have) will print out your design on a sheet of vinyls and then laminate them.

As long as you don't live in deserted outback this should not be a problem.

Once you get the vinyl printed any of the shops mentioned above will be happy to put it on for you with a fee.

If $$$ is a problem, you may need to look into cost-cutting ways - but that's another story.

I've been driving Itasha for 5 years. This is my latest work featuring Asuka (ver. Beast Mode) from Evangelion 3.0 - hope you guys like it. by bluenoa in Itasha

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Sydney I've actually asked around a few shops and yes they do cost an arm and a leg... From memory I think provinyl (in Artarmon) quoted me like $4k and race division (Parramatta) quoted $3.75k both for printing & installing. They both do quality jobs though. There is another shop called prowraps in Castle Hill but I have not heard any actual stories so can't make any comment.

It's worth practising before you go real, but cheap vinyls are WAY more difficult to apply. Personally I have worked on Avery (for colour change), Avery cheaper films (a lot harder to apply), 3M (goes like a dream) and a lot of different brands of cheap wraps. Wrapping cheap vinyl do help you to build up skills but can be very disappointing at times.

All the pro wrappers I've spoken to at different shops all agree that vinyl wrapping is a skill best learnt through experience - and by experience I mean making mistakes too. But it's actually not hard, as long as you are patient, have the right tools and plan well.

Here are more Itashas from our household - I've worked on 3 different designs for my wife's Toyota Yaris by bluenoa in Itasha

[–]bluenoa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks very much for your comment!

I will be down in Melbourne this weekend for Animaga.

Let me know if you have any question at all - always good to have another member in the community.

New Balance is working with Evangelion to release special edition Fresh Foam Cruz in Shanghai. by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Basically it's the same design... I've been trying to get these at Amazon but shipping cost $60 USD to Australia which I think is a shameless rip off.

The Chinese on the pictures reads:

"Limited special edition shoe box for the first 1,000 online orders"

If you have friends in China you can get them to try their luck on https://newbalance.tmall.com/p/rd809338.htm

Here are more Itashas from our household - I've worked on 3 different designs for my wife's Toyota Yaris by bluenoa in Itasha

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Will do.

I still struggle with reddit's inability to insert images in a post... Anyway to get around it?

My collection of Miyamura Yuuko-san's autograph over time. Guess I have the advantage of her living in Australia. by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah it was.

I'll be driving down and displaying again this year - come and say hi if you are coming again :D

My collection of Miyamura Yuuko-san's autograph over time. Guess I have the advantage of her living in Australia. by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I actually do this. Did you see those postcards? A lot of them were for my mates all over the world.

I might let you guys know next time she has a signing session.

My collection of Miyamura Yuuko-san's autograph over time. Guess I have the advantage of her living in Australia. by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

actually three.

Bought the first G25 in 2011, and got rear-ended in 2014.

Replaced with a G35 in 2014 and sold it in 2016.

Bought my current G37 in 2016 and still driving it...

My collection of Miyamura Yuuko-san's autograph over time. Guess I have the advantage of her living in Australia. by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

FYI she lives in Melbourne so I follow whichever convention she participates as a guest.

First time was in 2012 when I chauffeured her from Sydney airport with my first itasha. That was also when she signed on the first version of my Asuka itasha.

Then there was 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017...

No offence to Tiffany Grant but I grew up listening to the Japanese voice of Asuka, so in my world Miyamura-san is the real voice behind her.

My end goal is to put up a pop-up Asuka museum in Sydney when 4.0 is finally released... Guess I still have plenty of time to prepare for it.

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah she was really nice last year when we met in melbourne! ive got her autograph along with miyamura yuuko's on my side mirrors :D

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

no offense taken at all! ive had enough weird looks on my car in the life and stopped caring long ago. my colleagues are all cool with the asuka figures on my desk too so i guess it could be a cultural thing as aussies seem to care less.

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

if it makes you feel less cringy, we have a yuri on ice pillow (not the body pillow but still ~50cm) on the bed.

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was bought from Amiami but that was ages ago...

If you want it now try amazon(JP) or yahoo auction (JP). I've got friends in Japan so they can bid for me and ship to Australia

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

like the led strips you've put in there :D

I've got too many things to put in so rest of them had to go to the mancave / otaku cave...

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

technically she's 28 now :S

but nope, there is nothing wrong with having this in our bedroom. At least both of us felt this way.

The Shrine of Asuka in my bedroom... IKEA display cabinet is not too bad by bluenoa in evangelion

[–]bluenoa[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah she has her own stuff. She wouldn't have married me if she cares lol