anthof,
I have a little trick for the checkerboards. If you look at them closely (on the tail feathers of the Slow Poke) you'll notice that the white squares actually are connected together. This was done by cutting the checkerboard in white monokote and laying it over the red. I've attached a copy of the pattern for you. Resize the graphic so the squares are the size you want. Then print it out, and cut out the boxes that aren't connected. To transfer it to your monokote turn over the monokote and trace the pattern to the back of the monokote. Then cut it out on the monokote. Remove the backing and use the windex method to apply it.

Hope this helps

Ken