Project Flashback: Ford Raptor and Son

Back in 2013, a client brought their brand new Ford Raptor to Killer Paint for some custom paint.

The stock blue color of the truck is already quite vibrant, so there was no change to the base coat paint. For the front end artwork, the truck got some pretty straightforward True Blue fire, running off the front of the hood and off of the front wheel wells.

On the truck bed, the stock Raptor logo and graphics decals were removed, and Mike painted some faux shreds down each side, running from the tail lights, and tapering off toward the middle of the cab at the front doors. Some smaller licks of blue flame trail back from the front end down the sides, and even more fire flickers out of the dark openings in the shreds.

All of the wheel well guards were painted with a faux carbon fiber pattern, and given a matte clearcoat, to match the non-glossy surface that many of the other trim pieces on the truck have. (click photos to enlarge)

Back on the tailgate, the Raptor emblem was pulled off, and some claw-mark faux shreds and a flicker of fire were painted on behind it before it was reinstalled. The oval Ford emblem was repainted with a compact portrait of a raptor-style dinosaur and a faux carbon fiber surround. (click image to enlarge)

The shreds and fire interweave from opposite directions to combine into a larger overall design that stretches the entirety of both sides.

The customer picked up his newly painted Raptor and left happy. Little did anyone know that this wouldn’t be the end of this blue beast’s story. It would be back… with company.

When the Raptor’s owner returned to Killer Paint, he wanted to have the Ford lettering on the grill painted with some True Fire™ as well. A pretty simple addition.

However, he had brought another project to take on- he had purchased a Power Wheels Raptor toy truck, and wanted to have it painted to match for his son. So the Lil’ Raptor got a some blue fire and shreds design to match the big one. (click photos to enlarge)

When all is said and done these two trucks make a pretty badass (yet adorable) pair.

The Bickford Ford Dealership, where this Raptor was originally sold, has a small post about this project from 2013 on their blog as well. Click here to view it, and additional photos of this truck.

We hope you enjoyed taking a look back at this project. Let us know if there is anything you would like to see us post here in the future!

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Maybe this project gave you some ideas, or you already have an idea in mind for your own car, truck, motorcycle, refrigerator, etc?

If you would like to contact Killer Paint about working on your own project, visit our website, or contact us at info@killerpaint.com

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Related Links:

The Original Killer Paint Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-Original-KILLER-PAINT-INC/297040465604

The Official Killer Paint Website: www.killerpaint.com

Killer Paint’s “True Fire™ Basics” Blog Series: https://www.killerpaint.com/true-firetrade-basics

True Fire™ Instructional DVDs:
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 1
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 2

True Fire™ Freehand Templates: Artool Freehand Airbrush Templates, True Fire Template Set

House of Kolor Official Website: www.houseofkolor.com

Bickford Ford “Raptor in Flames” Blog Post: http://www.bickfordperformance.com/?p=997

Ford Motors Official Website: www.ford.com

Black Pegasus Semi Truck, Down Under

This past spring, Mike traveled down under a few times, and spent some time teaching painting classes and doing some extra painting work as well. One of the projects he got to work on was this Volvo semi truck for KS Easter Trucking.

East Coast Airbrushing owner Rod Tickle, a long time friend of Mike’s, brought him in on the project. There was a tight deadline in which to complete it before it was to be revealed at a special event at the Kenworth plant, so Mike and Rod worked had to work hard and fast to get this sizable project done on schedule.

The company wanted something special for this truck, so it got the custom paint treatment from bumper to bumper.

All of the paint used in the artwork on this project was from House of Kolor, the paint brand of choice here at Killer Paint. Fortunately, it is available down in Australia as well.

The front of the truck is painted black, which then “shreds” away to reveal a vibrant orange background with True Fire™ flames. (see more on painting shreds here.) Each side has a large coal-black Pegasus, with a fiery mane and eyes. Its wings are also wreathed in flames.

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Mike was able to shoot this video of the finished truck on his last full day, showing some more details of the paint work on the project.

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It’s only been a matter of months since the project was completed, and we’ve heard that this truck has already starting winning awards at major truck shows in Australia.

Mike enjoyed his visit to Australia, and wishes it were possible to visit more often. Especially when he gets to paint projects as cool as this one while he is there!

We hope you enjoyed seeing how this project turned out. Let us know if there is anything you would like to see us post here in the future!

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Maybe this project gave you some ideas, or you already have an idea in mind for your own car, truck, motorcycle, refrigerator, etc?

If you would like to contact Killer Paint about working on your own project, visit our website, or contact us at info@killerpaint.com

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Related Links:

The Original Killer Paint Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-Original-KILLER-PAINT-INC/297040465604

The Official Killer Paint Website: www.killerpaint.com

Killer Paint’s “True Fire™ Basics” Series: https://www.killerpaint.com/true-firetrade-basics

True Fire™ Instructional DVDs:
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 1
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 2

True Fire™ Freehand Templates: Artool Freehand Airbrush Templates, True Fire Template Set

Airbrushing Shreds Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE1P3pYJ78

East Coast Airbrushing Website: http://www.eastcoastairbrushing.com/

East Coast Airbrushing Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EastCoastAirbrushing

House of Kolor Australia Official Website: http://www.houseofkolor.com.au/

KS Easter Transport Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/K-S-Easter-Pty-Ltd-Brisbane-171436189578290/timeline/

TV Flashback: Rides “Under Pressure” Biomech Challenge

This episode of “Rides” (Season 4, Episode 3) originally aired August 9, 2005.

For this show, Mike was tasked to go head-to-head on a painting challenge with California airbrush artist Yvonne Mecialis. Each would receive a silver Pontiac G6 to paint, and only a week to do it!

Afterward, both cars would be brought together to determine whose brush was mightiest!

(It’s hard enough to paint on a deadline, but there is also the camera crew filming the process to contend with as well!)

Mike decided that the car would get a biomechanical look, a la H.R. Giger, fused with an ancient Egyptian theme.

First, the car was covered bumper to bumper with biomech elements and hieroglyphs, with a Pharaoh dominating the hood. Small “Easter eggs” and other hidden nods/homages were scattered throughout the design. Airbrushes and Killer Paint’s skull logo were placed amongst the symbols, and the scarab used in the House of Kolor paint logo was incorporated as well.

At this point, covered in elaborate silver biomech designs, the car looks like a job well done. However, what came next made some viewers’ jaws drop. Much of this design was now to be painted over!

The car was masked off with an array of tears and shreds, and then painted blue… leaving the elaborate biomech elements peeking out, revealed only where the paint areas appeared to peel away. Shading and painted peeling effects added depth to the multilayer effect. A portrait of Mike’s competition Yvonne, is on the trunk lid in back.

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Here are some more details in the finished paint job. A mechanical spine is revealed on the roof, and some of the hieroglyphs on the hood.

Once the car is done, it is sent off to the site of the showdown…

…where the competition is waiting.

Yvonne’s car also has a biomech flavor, and possibly some inspiration from the 1927 Sci-Fi classic “Metropolis.” She incorporated bright swooshes of color into her design as well.

In the end, the show’s producers decided that they couldn’t determine a clear winner, and declared the showdown a draw. Everybody wins!

Unfortunately though, the two cars painted for this competition were not production models. They were not issued VIN numbers, and were not street legal. As such, they were scheduled to be destroyed after the show wrapped. Some removable parts from the car were saved and brought back to Killer Paint before its final demise.

The hood featuring the biomech Pharaoh is still hanging on the wall of the Killer Paint shop as of this posting.

Did you see this show when it originally aired? What did you think of the competition, and what was your favorite part of this project? Let us know in the comments!

Also tell us if there is anything you would like to see posted here in the future.

Oh! and Here is a bonus Wallpaper image featuring the Biomech G6 as well. Enjoy!

We hope you enjoyed taking a look back at this project. Let us know if there is anything you would like to see us post here in the future!

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Maybe this project gave you some ideas, or you already have an idea in mind for your own car, truck, motorcycle, refrigerator, etc?

If you would like to contact Killer Paint about working on your own project, visit our website, or contact us at info@killerpaint.com

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Related Links:

The Original Killer Paint Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-Original-KILLER-PAINT-INC/297040465604

The Official Killer Paint Website: www.killerpaint.com

Killer Paint’s “True Fire™ Basics” Blog Series: https://www.killerpaint.com/true-firetrade-basics

Killer Grunge FX™ Spray at Coast Airbrush: https://www.coastairbrush.com/products.asp?cat=789

True Fire™ Instructional DVDs:
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 1
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 2

Biomech FX™ Spinal Trap™ Freehand Templates : Artool Freehand Airbrush Templates, Biomech Spinal Trap

Killer Paint on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/killerpaint1033/

Happy Trail-ers to You…

Our customer Yanee brought in her Can-Am Spyder a while back to get the Killer Paint treatment. So Mike laid some sick shreds and True Fire on it, and she was crazy happy with the result. So much so, that she came back to us to get her accompanying trailer done up to match.

Here is the result:  Plenty of shreds to look like the original paint is being torn away, and rich, hot orange True Fire underneath, matching the existing paint job on her Spyder.  And of course, a flaming skull on the front end.

 

Mike added a little something extra on the top too- A Seattle Seahawks tribute on the top for her. She is a big time “12th Man.” She loves her ‘Hawks, and loves to show it, too.

We hope you enjoyed seeing how this project turned out. Let us know if there is anything you would like to see us post here in the future!

---

Maybe this project gave you some ideas, or you already have an idea in mind for your own car, truck, motorcycle, refrigerator, etc?

If you would like to contact Killer Paint about working on your own project, visit our website, or contact us at info@killerpaint.com

---

Related Links:

The Original Killer Paint Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-Original-KILLER-PAINT-INC/297040465604

The Official Killer Paint Website: www.killerpaint.com

Killer Paint’s “True Fire™ Basics” Blog Series: https://www.killerpaint.com/true-firetrade-basics

Killer Grunge FX™ Spray at Coast Airbrush: https://www.coastairbrush.com/products.asp?cat=789

True Fire™ Instructional DVDs:
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 1
The Secrets of Airbrushing True Fire™ – Part 2

Masking for Shreds Tutorial on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE1P3pYJ78

Killer Paint on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/killerpaint1033/