How do I create a column of fire?

you could try using some colored transparent film...check the craft store in the scrapbooking supplies...yellow orange red...place them like you would grasses or weeds.

Try white cotton. Get the shape by glueing it to a stick or something for support. Remove and spray paint lightly the bottem yellow then a bit of orange to red. Blend into dark grey and lots of black after the flame ends. Spray lightest colors first and work up the stack. Orange and red very short bands before the black 'smoke'. Below is a example of dark grey and black sprayed on cotton.

Thanks suppression.  Your ME-262 looks great.  That sounds like it would work. 

Thanks

Just double check your referances, knocked out tanks flash like a pile of gun powder then pour out heavy black smoke. Thinking it should just be black unless you want to depict the initial few seconds of the tank burning. Think battlefield footage with all the towers of black smoke.

Have fun with this one and post some pictures

This is what I'm going for....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NUYXrDYw9g

Not sure at what point in the burning I'll go for but I like the last few seconds of the video with the flames coming out of the bow mg hatch and plumes of dark smoke from the commanders hatch.  I would post pics if i could figure out how. This is myssecond day on FSM

Armorama has a great flamethrower tutorial which shoud be about the same thing you need to do.
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?%20op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1816

Well, Jininva, here's how to post photos (the way I know for a fact works)

1. First, you have to get a host-site for your immages (like photobucket) and then up-load the immages there.
2. Click on the uploaded immage you want to show on the forums
3.  click on the URL adress labeled IMG code, which will highlite it in blue.
4. Right-click on the adress, and hit "Copy"
5. Then, come to the post/reply page, and hit the Insert Media button (it looks like some old-time movie film frames. It's one button to the left of the "smilies" button)
6. Once you ckick on Insert Media, paste the immage URL adress (which you copied earlier) in the box labeled Link To media
7. Hit Insert, and that will place the immage link on your post without the photo (don't panic. the immage will show up after the next step)
8. Once you complete writing your post, hit the "Post" button, and your immage will be posted.

For an example, here's a photo I have of an F-7F Tigercat I did for the "Red, white and YOU!" group-build:

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Yes, it's easy. Take it from me, someone who learned the hard way (after a few hundred failures with trying to post from E-mails or directly from a hard-drive)

Let me know how it worked out for you.

Sure would like to have seen that film in color.

Railfan is correct in his description but you can save a step.  If you use Photobucket, and other photo sites too, there is also an IMG file If you copy that line you can put that directly in the body of the test and skip the Insert Media button.

The Armorama toot should work well for that.  Note in the film there is no smoke at the top of the column of flame.  That is a super hot fire and the combustion is complete so nothing to smoke off.  Keep the red/yellow/orange colors all the way to the end without the darkening.

Chenille works better. It comes in a variety of colors which can be mixed together.

Sculpt it with 2 part epoxy or clay then paint it...

I don't believe that no one has suggested this yet! Try SPRAY FOAM - This can be manipluated anyway you like. It dries fast, hard, and it makes the most convincing fire plume of any material available. You'll have to practice on newspaper to see what shape you desire, but the more you spray - the more of a bulge effect it gets. As you pull away from it while spraying, it'll make a smaller plume effect. A member of another forum did this for an AT-AT diorama from " The Empire strikes back ".  When dry, you can shave it down with 220 grit sandpaper, or add more to it if you don't like the overall effect. It only costs about three dollars a can. You can find this at most hardware stores, or home improvement stores like the Home Depot.

                                                                                                ~ Cobra Chris  

Cobra Chris, where were you 3 days ago? I just threw out several cans of the spray-foam when I was finished using them.

Well, now I know for next time.....

You have gotten a good amount of very sound advice.I just feel compelled to ad this.If you want very delicate scale sized flames coming out of that hatch then do this.Take a very small amount of cotton wadding and glue some to the edge of the opening .Stain it red with orange streaks and let dry. Then hit it with a water based hair spray ,let dry. NOW, take a wire brush.One of those little wire brushes thet you can find at a hardware store(ask for a small fine one) take this and CAREFULLY drag it upward in the cotton until you get the effect you want, Hit it again with the hair spray ,VIOLA!! flames.I did this years ago on a sea battle diorama and walked out with first place in only my second diorama ,so go for it!!  tankerbuilder

That's a good idea Tankerbuilder.

Mabe I out to try it out one day.

SuppressionFire

Thanks

Just double check your referances, knocked out tanks flash like a pile of gun powder then pour out heavy black smoke. Thinking it should just be black unless you want to depict the initial few seconds of the tank burning. Think battlefield footage with all the towers of black smoke.

Have fun with this one and post some pictures

Lots of tanks burn like volcanoes for awhile. It usually takes more than a few seconds to burn up all the ammo that is the source of flames belching out the hatches.