Here are completed pics of the Purple Edition BadBat VW Drag Bus! I only did TWO of these. They are hand signed and numbered underside of body. Smoothed noses…multilayer candy purple flames on lower sides with silver high metallic and black graphics coated with a dusting of pearl flake…reeeeally pops! Will have actylic case with custom graphics!
This layer is the first one and is eventually going to be more of a glow or background when subsequent layers are applied. So it is done loosely, mostly freehand with the nozzle of the airbrush tilted at a 45 degree angle, blowing towards the rear of the casting.
Now I begin adding tighter defined licks with a mixture of AutoAir Wicked detail White, Transparent Base and High Performance reducer. Its almost a milky looking liquid. 2 drops of Detail Blue wicked is added to the mix when in airbrush. I am using a Badger Sotar for this step and HotDawg stencil from FlameMasks.com to create the fire licks.
Adding more fire licks. Notice these licks generally are inside the confines of the first layer but do not follow it completely. The first layer also acts as a “road map” of where the fire will go on in subsequent layers..
And the last of this layers fire licks are done. Notice these licks while more defined than the previous layer, are still a bit wide and loose. This is how each layer should progress. Each layer becoming tighter and more defined than the last while still not following the same paths exactly.
I used a trans parent black to define and “erase” unwanted licks or areas of the 2nd layer fire licks. This should be done with care.
This is the final step for the second layer of fire. Candy blue is applied in several light layers fading from dark to very light towards the front. More layers of candy are applied at the rear than the front, creating a fade in the color.Well I’m not quite done with it yet, but thought I’d give you a peek at the stretch merc. She has some semi ghosty tribal flames freshly designed I might add! Pearl and chrome base coats for the candy tangerine, red, to purple fade.
I have some ideas for a layer or two of candy pagan gold flames …we will see. But for now..I’ve got some pretty colors to build upon!
More soon 🙂
Sorry Dave Chang…lol..but I got the urge! It was not the easiest thing to disassemble tho.
I did THREE VW Drag Buses with this Wicked Tribal Graphic set,
EACH ONE however was given its own unique Paint Scheme, thus is really more like a “One of One” that a series car…or maybe its the best of both worlds!! Either way, these are all killer pieces!
Here is the one have dubbed “Black Gold Pearl” obviously for its sparkling paint which has a slight shift, showing more black than gold in some lights. Really nice! There were four different types of gold and gold pearls custom mixed and used in various ways to create the unique fades of golden tones. All PAINT!! Detailed lights and logo too!
Please See the HTC Shop Item
for more pics and in depth information..and if its not too late, you can add to your collection while your there!!
Only ONE Black Gold Edition was made, so when its gone, its gone!
So….here are the last wip pics. Its just gotten its last intercoat clear to seal up final details and the lights..now its in line for final clear process. Wont be long before its ready for sale! Notice the signature on wing..hand painted. In fact the only things “not” hand painted are the lights. But even those are ultra high quality metallic ink decals!
Heres a one of one from 2010, a Merc from Hot Wheels (well, ok they call it Purple Passion..lol) ..but…its definitely NOT “stock” nor is it picked fresh from the toy aisle pegs at your local WalMart!
Paint…..theres another animal entirely!
After all the body work and priming was completed, AutoAir Sealer Dark was applied and the topcoats then came along starting with a Black Pearl. Next I added masking to the sides lower rear and around the top fender body line. Then a mix of pearl Silver and Alclad Chrome was used to add the base for the candy red main color. On the sides however, I used a special SnakeSkin stencil to get that scaled look. Several coats of candy red were applied after remving the side maskings and allowed to dry, then the Candy Pagan Gold flames were added in multiple layer style over the nose, top, and sides.
Detailed Headlights, two color tail lights, grill black washed, and then automotive Urethane Clear was shot on and finally it was color sanded and hand polished for the final gloss look that rivals any real size show car!
This One of One piece is one of my favorites from the past..hope you enjoy.
Heres a quick look at a reeeeeally killer led sled Ive just put together (finally). Its a 100% 49 Merc with double candied fade and flames, plus some Majik Blue Pearl licks that were shot, and remasked with a slight offset making some licks appear to have a slight highlight or shadow (depending on available light). A base of candy gold, tangerine, red, violet, to blue candy fade was used for the roof and upper side flames, which were masked and a SECOND (altho light) candy fade was applied..giving it that ‘double’ candied look.
The body received a side window post removal as its only major change (and even thats subtle!). This one was a pain however due to the ‘real’ tail and head lights used in the original version. The headlights could not be removed without destroying them, but the tail lights were saved and reapplied after MUCH (and I DO mean ALOT!) aggrevation due to their size. I actually lost one and had to steal a replacement from another stock cast..but thats ok..when I do that one, it WONT be needing the stock lights! 👿
IF I had not been so happy with the way the paint had turned out..at one point, I woulda just forgot about using the tail lights and started over, filling in/remolding the rear lights area entirely. But..eventually..they made it. Im not totally happy with how far they protrude, but, this is it, and honestly..the paint more than makes up for that!
OH..the front lights are brass brads with the heads machined down to size for the lamps to fit with a slight ‘frenched in’ look.
Here is the official store item link where you will find larger pics and of course have an opportunity to adopt this piece.
