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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-spray
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Message started by JPSBOBBER on 04/11/13 at 05:55:59

Title: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-spray
Post by JPSBOBBER on 04/11/13 at 05:55:59

Hi !!

I Have always wanted these kind of WWII inspired paint jobs, flat camo green painted, and with the shark mouth on the side of the gas tank. I think it suits the bobber style pretty well also.

The question is, how the heck do I do it ??

Should I get it airbrushed, or it might be possible to do it by taping, spraying, untaping, spraying, etc etc ???

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Doody814 on 04/11/13 at 06:58:48

I love the idea! I'm kinda bummed I didn't come up with it.

I think you could do either, and it look good either way. I guess it depends on what look you're going for.
The original WWII fighters planes that had this look were P40's serving in China, before America entered the War. They wreaked so much havac that the locals referred to them as "Flying Tigers". The pilots and ground crews latched onto this idea, and painted a small winged tiger & a sharks mouth (which fit the air intake cowl perfectly). They did this with crude tools that they had on site.
If you're keeping to this theme, a masked off paint job would look good, as well as have an attitude that says "you bet I did it myself!" For similar reasons, it would also look good this way if you're going for the "rat rod" look.

On the other hand if you're going for a more clean look, an airbrushed job could show more detail, shaddowing, etc...especially if you added airbrushed panel lines, rivets, oil leaks, etc.

Dang man, you've got my wheels turning! I'm thinking "next project" already, lol.

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Borracho on 04/11/13 at 06:58:53

I am not sure how this is done, but I had just decided the other day to paint my tank with a shark mouth. Mine will look like this...

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by JPSBOBBER on 04/11/13 at 09:59:57

Love the historical facts !! You are darn right about preserving the cachet so i will go down the homemade route!

I like bikes that express personnality and have a vintage "worn out" look, like these rat bobbers out there!

I guess tape-and-spray will be sweet, thanks for your advices doody !

And btw Borracho that gas tank is darn sweeeeet for a clean rat (yes i believe they do exist :P)

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Dave on 04/11/13 at 18:06:01

Now this is just a guess.....but I would not be surprised if the original mouth and teeth painted with a brush. There was a war going on.....and I am not sure how much tape and spray paint equipment they had.

I have a freind that is very active with planes, is the pilot for the EAA Ford Tri-motor, and I bet he would know.....I will ask him.

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Cavi Mike on 04/11/13 at 18:10:26

393033212C656562550 wrote:

I am not sure how this is done, but I had just decided the other day to paint my tank with a shark mouth. Mine will look like this...

If you don't know how it's done then your tank will look nothing like that. That's all air-brushed.

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Borracho on 04/11/13 at 20:03:36

Cavi, you are correct, the plan is hire a pro. I'm colorblind and can barely draw a stick man! My wife won't even let me paint the house without supervision...

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Cavi Mike on 04/12/13 at 00:26:37

I actually know how that's done and I couldn't do it. You can be sarcastic all you want but that's all free-hand stuff with stencils and some tape for the sharp lines. If you didn't know that, you couldn't even begin to do it and especially if you just compared using a paint-roller on the side of a house to an airbrush - you've just insulted every person to hold a gun to a canvas.

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by jcstokes on 04/12/13 at 02:14:22

Shark mouth thing

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by raydawg on 04/12/13 at 03:29:01

1634233C183C3E30550 wrote:

What????????????

Dude, the guy shared what he desires to do with his bike, and you go off assuming he is being sarcastic, goodness. Are you proficient in English?

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by ToesNose on 04/12/13 at 04:21:35

Not cool Mike....uncalled for

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Arnold on 04/12/13 at 05:46:49

Anyways, how about decals and spray clear over?

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by Dave on 04/12/13 at 06:13:22

Well this is funny......I emailed my aircraft friend about the Sharks Mouth. The family is so "ate up" with airplanes.....the wife emailed me back the answer!

"They were P-40B’s that were originally scheduled to go to Britain, but Britain refused the order. So, Chenault got 100 of them. They were originally painted in the British Camouflage color from the factory, with a sky blue belly, and the British 3-color camouflage scheme on top. They were hand painted in the shark scheme after one of the squadron guys saw another British P40 with a shark scheme. (The Brit’s stole the idea from Messerschmitt BF110 (based in Crete). They figured, correctly, that the air scoop of the P-40 would lend itself perfectly to the mouth. "

It is pretty amazing that this sharks mouth got so famous from only 100 planes that went to China!

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by JPSBOBBER on 04/12/13 at 09:00:31

744F4255444853554E464B54270 wrote:

Awesome story bro !! I'll definately do it with a brush and a little or no tape, i'll head to the art supply shop and get a good paint and clear it afterwards, to keep the spirit of the WWII !!!

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by old_rider on 04/12/13 at 09:10:52

I say go for it! I recently did a paint job on my new toy 300 ninja and it came out ok for a krylon spray can job with a few graphics from military-graphics.com
it went from this
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/Orphistle/Ninja%20300/IMAG0417a.jpg

To this
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/Orphistle/Ninja%20300/G2256a.jpg

I didn't clearcoat it nearly enough so it chips easily, but now I know what I can do, and I know enough now to do even better next time.
Tins and cowls are easy to take off, and if you have the time, keep experimenting till you get what you want.

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by old_rider on 04/12/13 at 09:53:58

You could try this site, it has shark graphics on this page
http://www.military-graphics.com/badges3.html

Cost is minimal, usually about a dollar per inch, get it large enough to wrap around front? At least you could get a look at what it will look like if you paint it....

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by JPSBOBBER on 04/12/13 at 15:24:39

2320283E2528293E4C0 wrote:

Hey i have a great idea for your bike, if it chips easily try plasti-dip, they make a clear coating, plasti dip is a rubber coating, so you can peel the clear (or any color they make) off when you dont want it anymore, and since you live in the us it will coast a bout 20$ shipped to do the whole bike

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by old_rider on 04/12/13 at 15:42:56

It was a practice paint which turned out pretty good (IMO), but i'll probably do a real job when I get the stuff together to do it right. Plastidip clear sounds like a good idea if its tuff enough, lol, boot scuffs and glove scuffs are like skidmarks on a white tile floor. I'm using plastX lens cleaning stuff to keep it at bay now, but eventually I will repaint it.

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by WD on 04/12/13 at 17:54:44

If you plan to hand paint it, get One Shot or a similar professional sign paint. They are clear coat safe, your generic hobby shop/discount store Testors is not.

Proper military stenciling is a pain in the neck...

Title: Re: Shark mouth paint job, Airbrush or tape-and-sp
Post by ToesNose on 04/13/13 at 04:23:00

JPS have fun doing it and learning along the way :)

Old_Rider the Ninja looks cool, how do you like the bike? (maybe start it's own thread in Cafe?)

WD you have too many cool ass toys!!!!!!!!!!! ;D