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Realistic looking flames? anything for a bigginner?

3K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Bee4Me 
#1 ·
Are realistic flames anything that a bigginning airbrusher should try?

I have a flat black epoxy primered hood, and think that some flames would suit it very nicely, and think realistic flames would give it some pop, and wouldn't look too strange if they were only on the hood and not the rest of the front end.

I picked up the new Sport Truck mag, and it has a pretty basic how-to, not very in depth, and the airbrusher is a 4 time DuPont Top Gun award winner...

The task seems fairly simple, lay out a freehand set of flames in red, come in with orange and blend the inside of the red, bring in some white to make the hot spots, some yellow to bring it all together.

I have almost no airbrushing experience, just playing around, but have a beginners guide to airbrushing book.

So what do you all think? Should i go for it, or try for something simpler?
 
#5 ·
One episode of Rides on TLC featured Mike Lavalle who makes the most realistic flames you have ever seen. He was painting a 34 ford I believe and it took him about 20 layers of color and 10 or so colors, red, yellow, white , and some candies. It was something else to watch. If you get a chance watch that show. Like any airbrushing you will have to find your way and creat your own 'style'. Practice on everything. Even the garage wall!

Check this out!

http://www.killerpaint.com/
 
#6 ·
IF your going to paint True Fire You better have YOUR game ON.

It is THE hardest flame effect to pull off PERIOD!!

Besides the 500 cash just for the paint. :thumbup:

Flames in general are a blast and with some 1/8" Blue fine line tape and some practice,you'll be "in" with the rest of us. :pimp:
 
#7 ·
speede5 said:
One episode of Rides on TLC featured Mike Lavalle who makes the most realistic flames you have ever seen. He was painting a 34 ford I believe and it took him about 20 layers of color and 10 or so colors, red, yellow, white , and some candies. It was something else to watch. If you get a chance watch that show. Like any airbrushing you will have to find your way and creat your own 'style'. Practice on everything. Even the garage wall!

Check this out!

http://www.killerpaint.com/
Mikes shop is 15 minutes south of my house. Been to his shop a number of times, heck of a guy. On that note, yeah true fire is 14 coats and alot of time for the average joe. Practice practice practice, you can do anything you put your mind set to do.
 
#10 ·
Without the layering, i assume you cannot get the real look. Wonder if i should go for a not-so-real-but-better-than-a-single-color type flame job, you know the nsrbbtasc type flames. ;)

I think i'd have enough trouble with that, the more i find out about the realistic flame jobs, the less i think i'd be able to do it, so we will shoot for simpler, but not simple :pimp:
 
#11 ·
Don't give up that easy man! There is a challenger in town here that has some pretty nice flames that the local artist did. They look pretty good and aren't near as complicated as trufire. Get a scrap hood off some old pos and give er. Lay out your dark red/orange first, freehand in a nice random pattern then go over it with yellow, then white as if you were adding shadows. As you layer you should get some nice depth built up and if you screw up you can just go over it with the color before. You will find the right amount of paint for your taste and should be able to make some pretty nice flames with practice. Remember airbrushing is art not simply paint so you have to find your own style. Pick up some airbrush magazines and you should find lots of good stuff. Even if its not 'real' fire it can look much nicer than the common hotrod flame which to me is more of a graphic, like scallops or rally stripes.
 
#13 ·
Hope you didn't think I was saying you couldn't do it.Not what I meant at all.
I've tried it myself several times and the whole key to pulling the effect off is this... and as posted about the Challenger...

an ARTIST did the graphic.

You DEFFINETLY have to have an artistic gene (or several)to "visualize" and freehand,it IS 100% freehand,the job.
I watched Craig Fraiser do his verson of it and his was simpler and done with less colors and did look quite nice BUT,

Craig is an artist of world class and he can make the simplest effect LOOK easy till you get the airbrush in YOUR hand.

I've watched Mike's procedure several times and due to my family being mechanically inclined instead of artisticlly,I do what is in my realm of abilitys and True Fire will be safe with Mike.(for awhile anyway.... :evil: )
 
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