True Fire - Airbrushing Flames

I've been drawing flames since I was a kid and have passed the fascination on to my own kids.  A few years ago, I watched a Hot Rod Magazine TV segment on a guy named Mike Lavallee who developed a distinctive and unbelieveably realistic style of airbrushing flames that he called True Fire.  You can check out his website at www.killerpaint.com.  He is an amazing artist and does a whole lot more than just flames.

So I got a little obsessed with learning to airbrush flames, and watched a bunch of instruction videos on painting realistic flames.  It's a tricky technique that takes a lot of practice and really requires that you find your own style.  The best and probably simplest instruction I found is here:
Airbrushing Realistic Flames

My first major project was my garbage can.  I only used yellow, so it's not too realistic, but I thought it came out pretty manly.  I'll post a photo soon.


~ Flint

Test Firing the World's Largest Caliber Rifle

Here's one for those of you who want to go after Cape Buffalo, but have been mocked and ridiculed by dangerous game when they saw your pathetic .375 H&H.   No, forget the .700 Nitro, that one is for fat sissies.  There's no substitute for the .950 caliber, with it's 2400 grain bullet and 240 grains of powder. 

Yikes, look at those beasts.  Looks like they unclipped them from an Anti-aircraft gun belt.

Here's a video from the boys at Knight Rifles test firing the .950 JDJ from SSK industries.

Pay particular attention to the look of uneasiness as they prepare to pull the trigger, then the look of stunned confusion after the recoil - like they had been kicked in the face by a horse.  The third stage (just before survivor's guilt) is when their sight and senses return, followed by dazed laughter as they take a quick, silent survey of their limbs and realize they are still somewhat intact.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/want-to-see-the-worlds-biggest-caliber-rifle-in-action/

Project '33 - Hot Rod Build

Drumroll please….the inaugural post of substance.

For me, this guy is the definition of "old school." He's a hot rodder, which, by definition means that he's a mechanic, a frame man, suspension man, and a body/paint man. His website tracks the build of a 1933 Ford 3-window "high boy" coupe - from the frame rails up. Built mostly in a storage unit, the car took 6 years to complete working weekends, spare time, and late nights. In all, the builder, Scott Nelson, wrote 951 posts/articles over the course of the build. It’s really an incredible project and something worth going through post by post. If you’re working on a hot rod build, there is a ton of reference material, and Scott has worked through literally hundreds of details with all of it documented.

Check it out – it’s very cool. And definitely manly!

www.project33.com

All Things Cool and Manly

Welcome to the inaugural post of the Flint McManly Blog. The purpose of this blog is to be a forum for the whole gamut of things that I personally find cool and/or manly. It will run the range from hot rods, to guns, to airbrushing flames, to comedians, to 4x4's and anything else that strikes me as cool. I don't in any way claim to be an expert in any of these areas, so if something is inaccurate, I really don't care too much. Feel free to comment on any post if you have something cool or manly to add. This is a family friendly blog for the most part, since my kids will be reading it and contributing to it.