I have developed an illness. I'm CRAAAAAZZZZYYYYY about Union Jacks. Without engaging in the debate about whether the MINI is a British car, or German car, or something else, and about how much some NAM members dislike Union Jacks, I thought it would be good therapy to seek out others with my affliction. First, as sort of a support group to assure one another that it really IS OK if we feel compelled to do these things. And second, so I can steal - er, I mean be comforted by - your own Jack-ification ideas.

OK, I'll start. My name is Paul, and I'm addicted to Union Jacks on my MINI. Yeah, I know, zillions of people have Union Jack roof flags, and that's cool (but maybe a bit cliche). And there are a few people with full-car UJ wraps or paint jobs - which are awesome, but a different level of this illness. But I'm talking about a compulsion to hide UJs on my MINI the way Disney hides Mickey's at Disney World. Some are subtle. Some aren't so subtle. I'm currently up to 18. And I have several more planned before MOTD07.

Here are a few:

UJ Headrests, UJ license frame (and, please pity me, the Blimey plate in quasi UJ colors)


UJ eyes and custom UJ bumper grille


There are 5 UJs in this photo (and, you could correctly assume, 7 other ones on the car to match three of these)


So - I'm afraid I'm a hopeless case. But if there's anything any of you can show me to make me feel a little more "normal" - that would be great.

Other than pix of someone's full car UJ paintscheme. Those people are just NUTS.

And I promise, if I'm compelled to copy you, at least I'll give you credit.

 

Paul, that lower grille is freakin AWESOME! Nice work!

 

I agree - the grill-jack is very sweet. I really like the rear headrest/rollbar decals as well.
I just added the US/Jack/Checker flag badge but no picture yet.
I'm assuming you have got the rearview mirror cover:


I'm getting more and more drawn into this motif as well. Just seems appropriate.

 

How did you do those headrests? They are awesome!!

 

Mike at Aesthetic Creations (www.aestheticreations.net) can do the headrest decals in lots of styles. Some standard ones are listed on the site in the stickers section - but he's usually happy to work up new stuff on request.

 

I like everything but the lights. I've never liked the eye thing. The grill looks great though.

 

Well you just stay out from under my bonnet and you won't have to see my eyes.

Glad you like the rest. Thanks!

 

Here's mine:


Got them from:
www.minipirate.com

Jim

 

I have the mirror with Homelink built in - which isn't supposedly compatible with the cover (though I bet I can cut it to fit). But it seems a little pricey for what it is - especially given that I'm going to hack it up and it still may not work.... But I may eventually succumb anyway...

 

Paul, good thing no one ever handed you a crack pipe.....

 

I love Union Jacks! I'm on the fourth UJ sunroof flag for my MINI.....and it is toast and will be coming off ASAP. I guess I've had some bad luck with my graphics! Wanda now wants to be stealth... Love your UJ-Mania, Paul!

 

Er, yeah.

Though I wish I had never tried on ladies undergarments.... JUST KIDDING

 

Thanks Clo - I saw the state of your vinyl in Richard's pix - Ewwww. I say let Wanda be Wanda.

But if she decides she wants a new sunroof Jack each year, then I think she deserves it.

 

As others have said, totally awesome grill!

 

Very nice. All I have is the rear view mirror cover and rear license plate frame.

 

Who did that grille? I could seriously do with getting my hands on one of those!

 

I made the grille!
I checked into it, but the vinyl gurus said they didn't think they could successfully cover one in vinyl with all the cutouts and have it stick. So I custom painted a stock one.

I got a replacement grille with the tow eye cover from Morristown Mini for about $35. I carefully cut out just the visible part of the grille with my scroll saw and filed the edges smooth. And cut off the parts protruding from the back. Then I traced the outline on a piece of kraft paper and spent a while measuring and drawing out the layout that I wanted.

Then sanded the front a little and wiped it down with paint thinner. Then painted it white with Krylon Fusion plastic paint, then masked (aligning the masking lines to the layout on the kraft paper underneath) and painted the red stuff, then masked again and painted the blue (allowing dry time for each, of course). Then pulled all the masking off and hand painted the bottoms of the "solid" cells (near the sides and top) with black model paint. Then touched up as needed with red, white and blue model paint. Then several coats of clearcoat. Total project time about 6 hours plus waiting / drying time. Total cost about $60.

I drilled a few discreet holes in some solid cells of the stock grille on the car, and can zip-tie this grille on top of the stock one. Looks like it belongs, but can easily be affixed and removed in about 5 minutes so I can put it on for rallies and take it off for daily driving (because, around here, this would be asking to get keyed or worse...).

 

Nice Grille! I think Nelly even wrote a song about that Grille!

 

Ahahahahahahahahahahah!!!

I was just thinking that!!

And Paul, like I said, I LOVE your grille and the headrests especially but your whole MINI looks fantabulous!!

Very genious to attach the painted grille to the original as well!!!!!!!!!

So far, Stella has U/J pink mirrors......... but I want to do a lil bit more. You'll see it for sure if I get it done

 

Thanks to Mike at Aesthetic Creations, the UJ count is now 21!

Just received and installed my custom Blimey UJ door sills - I LOVE them!
UJ with Chrome MINI wings and Blimey in chrome "keep on truckin" font.
These are the "domed" sills - they look really nice in person (nicer than the stock plates).



I also ended up with a couple of extra labels that had a very minor defect that only Mike and I would have noticed - so I cut one down and put it under the bonnet inside the scoop - we'll see how long it lasts with the temps in there...



So all you UJ-aholics better get busy, cause I'm not standing still!

Still deciding what to do for stripes - but I'm definitely ditching the black factory stripes for something that fits the theme.

Oh, and in case any of you get close to my UJ count, I have a little sheet with about a hundred little UJ stickers on it, so I have no fear.

And my wife is getting UJ shirts for my boys to wear to MOTD, so I guess that's two more...

 

I can't believe I haven't posted on this thread yet. Here's Zippy:

 

I have lots and lots of UJ on my MINI. It all started when MINIMania had the UJ side mirror covers that were handpainted and cost an arm and a leg. Now of course, they are plastic and are even sold by the dealerships.

I have UJ on the inside, seatbelt covers, rearview mirror cover, UJ keychains, UJ mints, UJ sunglasses and countless other things in the glovebox.

On the outside, I have of course the side mirrors, little UJ magnets over the sidelights, UJ rally light covers (handpainted of course), UJ antennae *****, UJ screw covers for the license plate, oh and I haven't include any of my UJ clothing/purses, shoes, undies!

Will post pics later but I know everyone knows my MINI and what it looks like!

At MTTS, there was a fellow who pulled up in the Memphis parking lot that admitted to copying my MINI - I felt betrayed yet a little flattered at the same time!

 

I feel ashamed for just having the UJ mirror caps..........im gonna go hide in my room now

 

Cool UJs! I like anything that makes MINIs more fun. I only have 1 UJ, but it is a doozy!

 

Here is my newest UJ: