Pinstriping Flames

[hijacker]

I was asked to do a tutorial on how I created the flames on the 1/18th scale body I've entered in this month's paint competition.

Adding pinstripes to flames, stripes or almost any design you put on a body adds a whole new dimension to your work. I hope this quick tutorial helps some painters out.

[hijacker]

Here is a close up shot of the flames I painted on the M18 body. As you can see I did a fairly classic and basic yellow/orange flame design with a red outline.

[hijacker]

Here's how I created the flames.

I simply drew a bunch of flame designs on paper until I got some that I really liked, then I cut them out with an exacto knife. I always keep the stencils I make so here is a few of my flame designs, including the ones used on this body.

[hijacker]

I then use the stencil to trace the flame onto blue painter's tape. Here's a good trick: you can stick the blue tape to a clean piece of glass, do your drawing and cutting on the tape while it is on the glass and the glue on the tape will not be damaged when you peel it up.

Here is a few shots of this process...

[hijacker]

After you have cut out the traced on design, simply peel the excess, unwanted tape away, leaving your flame on the glass.

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At this point, I don't remove the flame yet. I've found it easiest to draw the line where my pinstripe will be while the design is still on the glass.

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At this point you can remove your design from the glass. Be careful in places where there is a sharp inside corner because the tape will tear.

[hijacker]

Once you have placed the design mask in your body, you should cut along the line you drew for the pinstripe. I cut the line before I put any paint on the body because any paint you spray over the masks may cover your line depending on the transparency or opaqueness of the paint.

For the purpose of this tutorial I have removed the pinstripe from the body of the flame before it was placed in a body so y'all can see what I am talking about.

[hijacker]

Hopefully this quick and dirty tutorial will help out some painters who have never attempted thin pinstripes before. It is really quite simple to do and will take your work to the next level.

Just remember to be patient and use a very sharp blade when doing the cutting. I often toss out several masks because I screwed them up before I get the design I want.

Give it a try, post your results for us to see and happy painting!

[FESTER2004]

thanks,for doing this,i will try to give it a whirl!

[civicwil]

Thanks hijacker, I do mine like this but I cut out the pinstripes when the mask is on the body.
Great Paint job on that body also, love the colors.
WIL.

[MaxxThrasher]

You did an awesome job with the write up, very nice and great pics too!

Only next time you might apply the tape to some wax paper instead of directly on the glass, cut it all out then apply another strip of tape over the whole design using it as transfer tape. Lift the whole design up pinstripe and all, then position it on your body and apply it.

[Aluma]

Thanks hijacker, I do mine like this but I cut out the pinstripes when the mask is on the body.
Great Paint job on that body also, love the colors.
WIL.

me too...seems like a lot of trouble to cut outside, then position it.
I just mask the whole body off, cut out everything and take off the tape as I need it.

[hijacker]

I do cut out the pinstripes when the mask is on the body, not before. I just did it this way for demonstration in the picture for the tutorial.

[Barry_Scott]

don't you find that you blunt blades using glass to cut on. Cutting on lexan is bad enough but glass is worse. Good tutorial, I wonder if you have used liquid mask becuase it is so much simpler. no need to burnish edges and problems of stretching tape and folds to deal with.

[MaxxThrasher]

That's true, but have you tried much to cut a design in an 1/18 scale body? It's very hard to move around in there! Especially if your design calls for much detail.

[CarbonMadness]

Thats why you should invest in a mini hobby knife. :)

[hijacker]

Barry - I do blunt a lot of blades against the glass, so I change them often because it is important to use a sharp blade. I figure it is just a part of the hobby.

Like Maxx said, it is really hard to cut fine details inside an 18th scale body because of the confined space. It is hard to tell in the pics but the handle on that hobby knife is cut down to about half lentgh just for this reason.

I am going to try some Bob Dively's, probably tonite actually, it'll be my first time using the liquid mask.

[Barry_Scott]

make sure you use a couple of good thivk coats and you should not have any problems.