Burning compounds?

[Neal Buconjic]

I have to make some flame elements to be composited with some live action footage.

I'll be making a mannequin out of wood and setting it on fire.

Just wanted to get some advice on what liquid/compound to put on the mannequin so that I get nice flames without generating a lot of black smoke.

I'd like to be able to do as many shots as possible too before the mannequin is toast - if there are different burning rates depending on the liquid.

BBQ fluid, lighter fluid, gasoline, kerosene, diesel?

Regardless of the type of combustible liquid used, believe me this will be done with safety in mind - outdoors with many means of extinguishing.

 

[Neal Buconjic]

bump

 

[Gord.T]

MMmm, don't know but since it's a bump...

Gas and I guess deisel are taboo. Bad stuff. It get's out of hand. Fume clouds explode also.

From the little I know, kerosene burns nice for pod explosions and has no after spill like gas.

Lighterfluid on a wooden model would not even show up on the cam I think.
You may need to mix the fuel with a compound to get a good burn color.

If I remember from science class 30 yrs ago, borax burned blue, iron powder burned red?
Oh I forget now. Google it or ask you local science teacher.

Jeeez, I guess your looking for black/dark smoke. Not to get off track but you could have a combo of kerosene on the model for the flames and a smoke pod blowing from under it to give more smoke. Just a thought. Maybe burning rubber (old tire pieces) underneath?

//Oh , just a guess, if you want to sustain the burn longer without damaging the model, maybe coat the model in a polyester ( fibreglass resin) coating or something first, so that it wont burn through the wood so fast.