Thread: ghost flames

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I am starting to mess with an air brush I bought 5 years ago. I taped and cut a checker flag, and flame scheme on my work thermus. I of coarse got real excited and slapped clear over the paint a couple hours later. I learned that the set up time may be longer now, as they began to run and mix the colors together, Its a shame too, it once looked nice. Thats why I guess I did the thermus first, and not my car. Any way I love the ghost flames and was wondering how they get that effect from the paint? Any insight of minor explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by mooneye777

I am starting to mess with an air brush I bought 5 years ago. I taped and cut a checker flag, and flame scheme on my work thermus. I of coarse got real excited and slapped clear over the paint a couple hours later. I learned that the set up time may be longer now, as they began to run and mix the colors together. Thats why I guess I did the thermus first, and not my car. Any way I love the ghost flames and was wondering how they get that effect from the paint? Any insight of minor explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Ghost flames (or what most people call ghost flames) are nothing more than a lighter shoot of paint. Because they are transparently (is that a word?) painted ( a Veeery light coat) or in a lighter color sprayed out, they give the illusion of 'ghosting' because the paint is transparent or you can see through the spray.

Let me know if its confusin- trying to explain in text is hard when you are good at writing stuff.

just curious why you spent that amount of time on a thermos?

The original ghost flames, from my understanding, were done in murano pearl, also marketed as "Glint Pearl". I have one job I've done with them on a '40 pickup. The problem was that they disappeared if the light angle was not right. On a curved body, like a '40 Ford, that means you only see pieces of flame.

Today, like most painters, I use a shade of paint similar to the base. At least then you can see the whole design.

does a lighter shoot mean its broken down with clear? Or a shade of paint almost identical to the surface it goes over? I see what your saying but I cant hear what you mean.

Yeah...ya want to dilute it to add to the Transparent and lighter color build. Intercoat clear works (HOK) but theres a lot of techniques to get the effect. Best to use a test panel 'til ya get what ya like. Try Sid Moses in Cal. for all kinds of trick pearl powders ...he might have the old murano.

Thanks for the insight eveyone