how to apply flames on factory clear coat

[Dave Thomas]

I have a 98 gmc ext cab truck that has the factory clear/base coat on it. I want to add flames to it. How or what do I need to do to prep the surface where I want to put the flames? I want to do a dual flame job with the first(front most) set of flames in the original color of the truck, so that part will be not painted, the second part will almost like a ghost flame. What about just using a clear coat with a metal flake in it? I wanted to use a flip flop type color, but the cost is to high at this time. Any help would be appreciated

 

[rex]

All you need to do is sand the panels you're going to be flaming with 800 on a DA sander or wetsand it with 600-1000 grit,800 again's a nice #.Mask off for the flames and after they're painted clear the whole panel(s).Using flake won't be much of a ghosting but the flipflop will work same as pearl for the ghost effect.The newer ones like Kamelion and Harlequin are expensive,but the original Flipflop was made by Metalflake and have been told they still exist but i've yet to find them.

 

[Dave Thomas]

What is the best brand and type of paint to use on top of the factory paint? I would like to ahve either, and I ahvent decided yet, a real subtle ghost type of flames, or a real bold making a stament type of flame(havent decided yet) The truck is what I believe pewtr colored, it is a grayis brown colr, what would look best on it in your opinion? And what brand type of apint will be the easiest to shoot and use? will an inexpensive type touchup gun work fime or should i buy a good gun to do this with?

 

[rex]

A cheap detail gun could be used for the flames at most but you wont get much of a pattern from it so you'll be wasting material and really have to concentrate on the overlap to keep it even,and way too much area to shoot the clear with.For ghosting any pearl will work if cleared down properly,it all depends on your color preference or mix a few different color pearls together.The trick is clearing it down enough (with basecoat clear) to get 1 or 2 coats to give you the effect.Doing a test panel is the best test of your mix.If you want bold just pick some well contrasting colors and blast it.Even adding black to the original color will make a good contrast and if there's pearl in the factory color adding some more of that to the darkened mix will brighten it up while keeping the sharp contrast.