Thinking about adding cigar bands to an existing body--help

[lafromla1]

I have a white strat with a poly coating that I was thinking of adding cigar bands from my favorite cigars onto the body, over the white, and then recoating the body back with poly.  I am thinking that these are just slightly thicker then a decal.

What's the proper way to do this to make it smooth so it appears that the bands were part of the original finishing scheme?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

This guy did something not too unsimilar.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=4349.0

 

[lafromla1]

Saw that post and I'll pick up some of that stuff.

Do I first sand down the poly coating thats on there now or do I keep whats there and add on top of it?

I'd like to get it to be a flat, smooth coat, so I'm sure that I'll need multiple coats of poly, what should I sand it down with between coats until its perfectly smooth?

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I'm not a finisher, but I'd think atleast sand enough of the poly to rough it up so whatever goes on it could have something to grab.