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This was one of those paint projects that doesn't come along just everyday. I lettered and flamed this brand new Eurocopter EC130 back in February at the assembly plant in Fort Erie, Ontario. It's a brand new machine that was purchased by a company in Western Canada who had contacted me about doing the artwork while the aircraft was being painted and assembled at the factory.
The true fire would have stood out nicer on a darker background color but this yellow is their fleet color and that is what they wanted to stay with. Regardless, they have told me that it is drawing a lot of attention and was also featured on the cover of one of the trade magazines as shown here.
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It's beautiful, Bevin. If I was flyin' that thing, I'd surely rather have fake flames than real ones pouring out the side. As the old aviation saying goes: "The only time you can have too much fuel on board is when you're on fire!"
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5089 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Wow, what a great oppurtunnity to do a job like that.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3819 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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cool job man! I havent done a helicopter yet but its on my wish list. Very nicely done especialy hard to do fire on light colours and make it work, i think you nailed it.
cheers from the land down under!
Rod
-------------------- Rod from, EAST COAST AIRBRUSHING "Airbrush Art & Graphics" Nambour; Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Australia E.mail: rod@rodticklesigns.com Web: www.rodticklesigns.com Posts: 635 | From: Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Registered: Dec 1998
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I have run out of superlatives to describe your work.
Awesome just doesn't seem to cut it anymore...
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Bevin , you are one of the best, but I'll go out on a limb here.I think too much red isn't working.The close up of the rotor looks great.The side shot doesn't work for me.I know black or dark base works best on flames and a yellow base is a tough task.My eye sees a subtle grey smoke shade would have worked better.Take it for what it's worth as I haven't painted a new chopper or amassed the amount of work you have.Respectfully....D.
-------------------- Darcy Baker Darcy's Signs Eureka Springs. AR. Posts: 1169 | From: Eureka Springs, AR | Registered: Nov 2007
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Awsome work mate ... just the layout bugs me.
"Smoke Patrol" invokes the concept of fire then smoke to me.
Thinking "Smoke Patrol" should be imerced in the fire, which would highlight the Words, trailing off into smoke in a straight line back thru the centre of the back rotor.
Flicking the fire up the tail doesn't work to my eye.
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Thanks for all your wonderful comments everyone and your corrective critiquing as well. Not a problem!
This was a challenging project for me. The customer was very much involved with the entire layout of colors, lettering, etc. I went through six computer rendered design drafts before receiving final approval on this design. There were things I personally liked better in some of the earlier drafts but this is how they wanted to see it and that is what I tried to give them.
Not trying to make excuses though; I'm pretty critical of my work, and if I could turn the clock back just a bit, there are some things I would do differently for sure. ( like I haven't said that before )
My favorite area is actually the rear vertical fin where the fire turns and comes up. That close up that I took before the clear coat was applied shows the detail nicely, but I feel there is a bit too much congested flame running down the length of the tail, especially when viewed from further away.
I wish now that I had tried to fix that and if the background color had been black, I most likely would have went back in and erased or toned down some of the fire around the edges. Working on the yellow made me a little more apprehensive about using a low hiding color like yellow to paint over areas of intense color.
This is why I drive myself nuts sometimes... haha
The customer was very happy with the entire job though, and thats what matters the most! Maybe I'll get a crack at another one again some day!
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