The End of this Journey!Flame Done!!!

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Jim Baldwin

Guest
I finally gave in last nite and shot some clear over my front fender for my Harley that I've been "Going to School" on. It's got four coats of clear at this time and today is wet sand and then more clears. As always, I'm not happy with my paint, but will live with it! I've got to thank everyone here for the support that was provided to take me through this! Now, all I've got to do is the back fender and tank.........Another year later!!!!! Just a word of thanks, truly, I couldn't have learned as much in 40 years of struggling by myself as I've been shown on this board. You guys are a great influence on us all..... I'm including a link(hope it works) to a couple of pictures of my project....Thanks again, JB!!

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/MVC-027S.JPG

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/MVC-015S.JPG

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/MVC-026S.JPG
 
J

Jim Baldwin

Guest
Big Stinkie, thanks for the feedback! You're right about us being our own worst critics. I wasn't feeling too bad about it last nite when it was dark in the shop! Out in the daylight today, I could find tons of flaws. Tape lines that weren't even or a bit ragged. White on some edges of the flames but worst of all was some bad areas in the basecoat itself. I'm thinking of trying to clean up the flame edges by taping them off with either an outline(which would take away from my original intent) or minutely taping inside the flames and reshooting the base under it. Either way, it'll eat at me till I do something with it!!! Bad part of it is, I want this on my scoot as the kind of work I can do and this won't fly! I can't have people saying: "Not bad for your first job!" Anyway, thanks for the input. Back to the drawing board. JB
 
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kevsLX

Guest
Man I've seen people pay so called "pros" alot of money to do flames that wouldn't hold a candle to yours. Looks good!
 
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rex

New member
You're being too hard on yourself,
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B

big stinkie

Guest
Looks mighty fine to me. I like those long flame tails. You, being the 'artist,' know where all the mistakes are, so it might not be perfect in your eyes. I fall into that trap everytime I paint something. Keep up the good work.

And you're right about the folks on this board. A true goldmine of information.

Andy aka Big Stinkie
 
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TWISTED

Guest
I find the biggest problem is when it isn't what you expected it to look like. No matter how good the quality of the job is I'm not happy if it isn't what I pictured before I started.
Looks like a good job from where I'm sitting. And you are right about this board. No matter how long you been squirtin' colors you can always learn something new.
 
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houlnwolf

Guest
Man, and I thought I was picky.... but, as I told my buddy when he was all like, "just ride it, it looks ok..." I am the one who is gonna either be proud, or kinda self concious every poker run or rally or whatever... so I stripped it. Yours, however, looks really good. But we are our own worst critics...
 
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Jim Baldwin

Guest
I really appreciate the comments and do understand that it's going to be as good as it can be!!!! What I'm trying to do with this is to overcome a failing economy here in Montana. The body business has dropped off the end of the world probably due to a bunch of different things, but I've only got one trade I ever learned and was hoping to be able to add something that was really a cut above what anyone else out there offers to add some stability to my business. You guys on this board have made that happen with your help and input... I've got to do this right! It's an advertisement for my skills!! So, I went back, retaped the flames out to help straighten out the screwups and it worked great. Redid the base coat, added some more green pearl and now, I'm finally happy with the results. Hope you all understand what I was intending... Couldn't have done it without your help...!! JB
 
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TWISTED

Guest
I know what you mean about the economy. Cleveland isn't much better. I got layed off in august and the only thing that helped me keep my bills paid was painting. I was lucky it was during the winter and I had a few jobs lined up. I just started back to work Monday after being off for almost 9 months.
 
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Jim Baldwin

Guest
Hey, Twisted, sorry to hear that it's the same at your end. I started my shop by myself in 1983 and have pretty much been the only one in it since. About a year and a half ago, it seemed that business just quit. Not sure why, but I just waited for things to happen and it didn't. Usually, every year, between february and april, things naturally slowed down due to tax time, etc. but now, things just quit! I added windshields to my business about 9 years ago and made tons of money with that along with chip repairs. This has slowed down also. A lot of the problem is "Insurance Companies" directing customers to their "Preferred Shops". So, I've got to figure out something else to add that will bring in people. Maybe a strip joint, pawn shop or some other fun thing to get bikers to come in! I've found that you can always count on your riding Bros for support... Anyway, I hope things get better at your end. Never give up or let the bastards get you down!!!!JB/We ride here even when it's snowing!!!!
 
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rex

New member
It's happening all over now so don't be too down.If you're in a local that keeps the fenderbenders going you're making money,but once you get outside the buisy spots it's getting bad all over the country.I agree on the insurance monopoly creating lots of problems but I won't get into that rant now,but they are a bunch of no good ****** ******* ****** of ****.All I'll say about them is they set up someone in a completely sterile environment with everything they need at hand and start the clock to figure the times,that's why times keep dropping.They don't think about real world times and after confronting them they don't seem to understand why the labor rate needs to catch up to mechanics who have books and programs to help them out.What do I have for manuals,a friggin frame spec book and a color book.I'm no rocket scientiist but why do I get the cheaper pay to remember twice as much?OK,I lied about the rant,I'll stop for now.
 
J

Jim Baldwin

Guest
Just a quick note on my flame job. I got some spare time and finally got the tank done and put on. Sure makes a difference. I couldn't have even gotten close to doing this without this board. Every bad turn in the road was fixed by asking here..!!!! Thanks everyone for the help..Now to finish the rear fender and side covers. JB/Montana.

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/tankJ.JPG

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/harleysideleft.JPG

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/tanksideright.JPG

http://www.ttc-cmc.net/~jbaldwin/tanktop1.JPG
 
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nooshie

New member
Jim, I think your flame job is really impressive. You have the color match nailed and I think the crossovers are really cool. I think a guy should be able to judge his or her work honestly but you should also be able to feel good about your talents. Keep doing what your'er doing.

Nooshie
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Jim Baldwin

Guest
Hey, Nooshie, thanks for the feedback. You know, worrying about whether it's good or even acceptable sure worries a person but what happened last saturday makes it worth it. There was a free polish sausage day at the local store here and I happened to need to get some groceries at that time and when I came out with my food stuff, there were two young kids around 8 or so with huge polish dogs in their hands looking the scoot over. They must have spent ten minutes wanting to know about it, telling me how cool it was and all the time they had forgotten about the polish dogs in their hands. Made my day....!!!! Good or not, it's an attention getter and it's mine!!!!Thanks for the good words...JB
 
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albertamike

Guest
Paint job looks great Jim. Very impressive. Sometimes we are our own worst critics. But if we're not happy with it, maybe someone else won't be either. Especially if it is going to be a riding billboard for your work. Your right about this site. It is fantastic. Helped me get the balls to paint my bike. It is nice when you see people eyeing up your work. I get that at the weekly bike gatherings here. Had to make up cards because so many people asking who painted my bike. I have a few lined up to do now. Entered it in my first show and shine and placed first in the cruiser division. Way cool. Anyways keep on flamin and hopefully work picks up for you.

Mike
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