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THE RETRO PILOT
"Retropilot" is a passion project of James - a Royal Australian Air Force pilot by day, and certified sticker and pin magician by night.
He is currently a Captain on the C-17A Globemaster for 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley (Queensland). Throughout his career he has also flown the CT-4, PC-9, Hawk-127 and the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Retropilot is not a cult, but the enthusiasm that customers have for their Retropilot purchases may convince you otherwise.
Keep scrolling to find out why Retropilot stickers and enamel pins are the best in the business.
PRINTED THE HARD WAY
Retropilot stickers are made in California using an old-school printing method called Screen-Printing.
Screen-printing is a time-consuming art form that requires a meticulous approach to detail and quality. You can't simply press "Print" on a computer, as many of the steps of the screen-print process are still done by hand!
All up, it takes about two weeks to print a new batch of Retropilot stickers.
Hardly anyone prints this way anymore because of the extra set-up costs involved, but the end result is absolutely worth the extra effort.
VIBRANT AF
Thanks to the screen-printing process, Retropilot stickers have some of the brightest and most vibrant colours you'll ever see on a sticker.
This occurs because screen-printed ink is, on average, 700% thicker than what you'd find on 'regular' stickers that come out of an inkjet printer.
Thicker ink results in incredibly eye-catching colours that really make the designs pop.
THICKNESS MATTERS
The ink is so thick that you can literally see it raised off the sticker surface. The darker the colour, the more the ink will be raised.
For a truly sensual sticker experience, run your finger over the design and feel the undulations of each colour change.
In this close up picture of an F-111 sticker, you can see how the black ink is noticeably raised above the rest of the colours.
The textured finish is a truly spectacular feature of screen-printing, and one that you will quickly fall in love with.
SIMPLY THE BEST
Screen-printed stickers are your best option if you prefer a higher calibre, higher quality, and longer lasting sticker. All stickers in the Retropilot store are rated for indoor and outdoor use.
When applied properly to a smooth, dry and clean surface, they will easily tolerate brutal ocean waters, harsh desert sun or freezing Arctic winters.
If you choose to put them on an indoor surface (e.g. a laptop or toolbox), they will likely be uncovered by the archeologists of the future.
BEAUTY IS PIN DEEP
New to the Retropilot store are high quality 'hard enamel' pins. They are highly polished, wonderfully detailed, and incredibly beautiful.
The process of creating a new batch of enamel pins is a combination of man and machine, with many of the steps still required to be completed by hand. All up, it takes about three weeks to produce a new batch of enamel pins.
No expense has been spared to bring you something truly unique and collectable!