*FINISHED!* Dave Murray 'Aces High' Signature Strat

[ORCRiST]

Hi all, just thought I'd offer an update on my baby - it's not done quite yet there's still some details that need to be added and cleaned up, but so far - everything I hoped for!  :headbang1:

ORCRiST

 

[Patrick]

NICE

who finished the body?

 

[Twelvebar]

Yowsa that is sexy!!

Did you paint it yourself?

 

[JaySwear]

MAN that thing is badass. did you opt out of the little pilot picture in the top corner? looks great!

 

[whyachi]

So Sims is actually painting your body? What's the trick? I've been waiting six months and haven't heard a mouse fart from this guy and you get pictures and just sent it like two months ago?

 

[ORCRiST]

MAN that thing is badass. did you opt out of the little pilot picture in the top corner? looks great!

Thanks all!   I thought you might like it J!

No, Eddie is still going to be there, thats one of the last stages...

The paint is courtesy of the dreaded Sims Custom shop. Despite the horror stories (see Knucklehead G's response below), Patrick has been
a stand up guy and he's been a pleasure to work with honestly. I don't know what else to say.

So Sims is actually painting your body? What's the trick? I've been waiting six months and haven't heard a mouse fart from this guy and you get pictures and just sent it like two months ago?

I dunno what to tell you man... its all in the PM I sent you previously...  :dontknow:

 

[nexrex]

WOW, thats looks awesome. Is that airbrushing? I have played with things like that before, but was never able to get clean lines.

 

[DangerousR6]

Hi all, just thought I'd offer an update on my baby - it's not done quite yet there's still some details that need to be added and cleaned up, but so far - everything I hoped for!  :headbang1:

(Exhaust maniforld before first clear coat)

ORCRiST

Very cool, Dive Bomber Strat.... :icon_thumright:

:headbang:

 

[ORCRiST]

D, Where did you find those pics? Schecter's are they?? Cool! I know I'm not the first person to come up with this kind of theme for
a guitar, but I haven't found (nor looked) for anything similar. It's always cool to see though! One of the challanges I had was that obviously
stratocasters have a pickguard, and unlike rear-routed guitars like those Schecters - a pickguard means a lot less 'canvas' to work with for
the paint. I originally wanted a two-tone camoflage as well as British Spitfires we're usually painted in a green-grey camo scheme, but thats one
of the many concessions I had to make due to the limited 'working area'.

This is what I drew up originally back in January...

Prototype Design #1

Design #2

The nearly finished paint is pretty damn close (layout, not the colors thank God - theres only so much you can do with colored pencils) and IMO,
a hell of a lot cooler!  :icon_biggrin:

 

[DangerousR6]

D, Where did you find those pics? Schecter's are they?? Cool!

Surfin' the net, yes they're Schecter's.... :icon_biggrin:

 

[DangerousR6]

:icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

 

[ORCRiST]

Awesome, thanks! That Swedish one is the best! I can't believe they painted the neck on that one, but its sweet!

Some of those go a little overboard with the rivets too... but I'm just nit-pickin'.

No British ones though, ha-HA!

 

[ORCRiST]

Things are going really well! Got another update just now with yet another step on the road to 'Finished!' status!  :hello2:

 

[DangerousR6]

That's bad ass for shure, could use one of these.... :laughing7:

 

[JaySwear]

eddie looks amazing! how is he on there? looks extremely professional. man, this guy knows his finishing stuff

 

[ORCRiST]

eddie looks amazing! how is he on there? looks extremely professional. man, this guy knows his finishing stuff

It's a very thin decal printed on a color laser printer, fixed via spray-on adhesive. From what Patrick told me, he will mask off the picture and shoot successive coats of clear to build up a shelf around the decal, then remove the mask, shoot more clear and the result should be two fold. First, to make the decal completely smooth to the touch from the surrounding surface, and two, give more depth to the picture - enhancing the illusion of it floating above the body surface, while still being under a layer of glass. That's the effect I'm looking for anyways.

 

[ORCRiST]

As I wait for the body to dry, I firgure I better start working on some of 'finishing touches' which involve some more artwork on my part.
Then, just like the paint - I have to hand it off to another person to produce the final product.

Up on deck today? The neckplate and a headstock decal. What do you guys think?

The headstock decal will be 1" in diameter and will go on the round 'circle' tip of the strat headstock. I'm still working on the colors,
but the circle containing the letters will be the same dark green as the body, as will the big 'V' in the center. The 'S', the words and the
Spitfire I'd like to get in a darkish chrome like the dark chrome Warmoth decal out there. Despite hours of searching the 'Net, this is
closest approximation of what I could find in regards to an 'official' Supermarine company logo or coat-of-arms.

This is a hood ornament off a car from an employee at Vickers Supermarine. Apparently, the company had a car club among its workers, and this the
emblem they made for the club...

The neckplate will be a impact-printed or diamond-etched one, in black. I tried to get Doug in on the action, but no dice there due to
technical reasons. The image will obviously be scaled down to neck-plate sizes at the time of manufacture. The serial number K5054
belonged to the very first Supermarine Spitfire prototype.

I'm also debating on whether to go with a black pearl or solid gloss black pickguard. Thoughts?

ORC

 

[Cagey]

As much as I like pearloid patterns, I think it might be too busy, considering everything else you have going on. So, I'd go with the gloss black.

Also, I'm not sure about the font used for "Dave Murray" on your neck plate. It's too extreme. You have to look at it for a while to figure out what it says. Almost looks like "leetspeak" as it stands. Otherwise, that's a great design. If you don't have a source for that kind of metal impressioning yet, I've had good luck with Wholesale Signs.

 

[ORCRiST]

As much as I like pearloid patterns, I think it might be too busy, considering everything else you have going on. So, I'd go with the gloss black.

Also, I'm not sure about the font used for "Dave Murray" on your neck plate. It's too extreme. You have to look at it for a while to figure out what it says. Almost looks like "leetspeak" as it stands. Otherwise, that's a great design. If you don't have a source for that kind of metal impressioning yet, I've had good luck with Wholesale Signs.

I work in IT, I know all about 31337 speak.  :icon_jokercolor: The font is the same lettering as 'Iron Maiden' is.

 

[Superlizard]

I've always said that Ed the Head fellow could use a little moisturizer.