Need help making smoke

I don't know if this will help, but a year or so ago I built up a 1/87th (HO scale) 1880's steam engine in a static display. Since I wanted to represent it underway and crossing a high trestle I had to come up with some method of simulating billowing stream of smoke coming from the stack. I used cotton which had originally been the packing in a container of aspirin. Once I formed the "smoke" into the shape I liked, I ran a stiff piece of wire through it. I then used some of the wife's hair spray and gave it a good coating. Then I began painting it. I first used flat black at the base and gradually lighter shades of gray until at the tip the "smoke" was nearly white. (Reference material showing steam locomotives was a big help here!) I then gave it another shot of hair spray and once dry, attached it to the stack. It turned out decent and people have commented that they think I have the engine actually powered up.
Dick McC

ur talking about making smoke right? ive been thinking about doing a rally car dio with dust from behind it, and am thinking about using cotton wool painted... dunno how it will work out but i thibkj its the best way to go coz u can get the wool wispy and fine... holding it in place might pose a problem tho.. although the paint may hold it?

Are you doing smoke discolorations or actual "billowing smoke" from the exhausts?

Most flying rockets will produce little smoke, but I have seen it simulated with cotton-wool glued to a stick and than painted or the expandable foam sold in cans used to fill/water-proof RC-Models, etc.

BTW, the stick was used to susped the rocket/plane in mid-air.

HTH.

Couple of ways to do it ...

1) Tamiya makes some paint called "Smoke". It's very translucent black, almost transparent, and works great if you have an airbrush.

2) Get some plain old artists chalk from any art store. Don't get the greasy, waxy kind just the plain old hard chalk. Rub it across a piece of sandpaper to make dust, then use a paintbrush to paint it onto your model. This works best on a flat surface because it will rub right off of a glossy surface.