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Can anyone tell me how to do ghost flames for a bike tank I am doing? I have been all over the net looking for a "how to", & have had no luck. Is the secret in the type of paint used, the technique, or what? Or, if anyone knows of a site with the info on it, I would appreciate it! Thanks a lot.
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Well I don't know how anyone else does them, but the way I do a set of ghost flames is to lay down my base color, mask of the tanks everywhere but the flames, spray clear with a similar color pearl to the base, then pull the mask, and spray the rest of the part with straight clear, do your normal wet sanding to eliminate the build up line of the first clear, and clear again with either straight clear or a different color pearl in with the clear, makes for some neat effects...
This is just what I've learned to do from experimentation, no formal training here
Shawn
-------------------- Shawn Setzer Signs by Shawn 826 Hwy 47 East, Troy, MO Posts: 241 | From: Troy, MO, USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Thank you so much, Shawn! That is very helpful. My customer is an Auto Body man, & we are together on this. This may a beginning of something good, here. Bobbie
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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Old school is cool..... nothing new about ghost flames but the name. lay down your base, mask and spray your flames, outine or not, then build your clear with a tint wetsand the build up.... the real art/talent is in making it deep and subliminal to what suits ya. last one I did was black base, metallic green flames, then I tinted with the same green in the clear also added some H.D. graphics off the edge the finish was a wicked deep green... a mild "ghost" and a trophy. No need to buy trick paints and blow $1500.
-------------------- "No excuses!.... No regrets!..."
quote:Originally posted by Bobbie Rochow: Can anyone tell me how to do ghost flames for a bike tank I am doing? I have been all over the net looking for a "how to", & have had no luck. Is the secret in the type of paint used, the technique, or what? Or, if anyone knows of a site with the info on it, I would appreciate it! Thanks a lot.
I dont want this to sound bad, but if you have no idea how to do this work, you have three choices as I see it :
1 - be honest, tell them you dont know but you're willing to give it a shot if they dont mind being your crash test dummy. Profit this way, more than likely $0. You're looking at a LOT of upfront cash for equipment, supplies, and a potentially steep learning curve.
2 - farm it out to one of the megatalents that frequent this board and others. Your profit this way - $100-500 depending on who/what/where/how much (low profit with a hardcore painter, higher profit with airbrushed vinyl then cleared locally like Mike Pipes work)
3 - get a local guy to do it and let you watch, etc. Dont be too pushy, no one likes to share their livelyhood. Profit this way - $50-250 but higher risk of your 'source' being a pain later, or bragging on doing your work for you.
I'm all for option 2. If you cant do something but can sell it, GO FOR IT. Sales is the hardest part of this business... if you can get your price and do what you want, you're better off than 95% of your peers.
get the money first, no matter what you decide to do.
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Thanks to ALL of you who have replied!!! I am going for it. The customer has an Auto Body shop, & is a very nice humble guy. He knows this is my first shot at it, & he has the pearls, clears, everything I need. If it turns out well, we may be doing more work together in the future.
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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