Is there another way to create engine fires other than cotton, say Cold War era? What's the best to simulate the black smoke coming out?

Smoke - ouch. Smoke and fire are tough to model.
I have seen a burt out Panzer IV (I think) that had smoke billowing out of it that was pretty good. It was done with steel wool. Lots of various shades of grey and black spray painted on it.
I just looked for a link and could find the images

Have you tried scented candle? #:-)

Matt, I tried angel hair for smoke. Looks alittle bit better than cotton. Also looks good for simulated moisture in intakes. Fire? No idea here, sorry, Mav

What do you mean by angel hair?

Hair from an Angel of course!!!???!!!! Uhh, right?

No seriously, just cut some hair off of the next angel you see...and voilá angel hair! Uhh, still wrong??

Thin stranded nylon that is white. Looks like thin, white hair - hence the name. Should be readily available in any craft store...

Thanks! I've never seen it before, but I've also never looked, does it require anything to stay where you want it, like hairspray or anything, or is it pretty tangible?

#:-)

Matt, you can get angel hair in the craft department at Walmart. As for staying put, my smoking ruin wasn't big enough to require any holding agent. You will just have to play with it and see what works best for you. It does look pretty good though.

Alrighty, thank you everyone. I'll have to get some and play around for a while

wel i have a suggestion for the fire. clear plastic heatit and form it and cut then tint with clear paints. it's a gundam trick i see here in japan. i'm using it in an shadow box for a cookfire, i hope it works for you stug

I think I understand, sounds neat. Just a clear sheet of plastic heated and shape the sheet, give a vac-formed look? Thanks.

Maybe even a miniature light bulb with very low wattage to give it illumination...fiber optics maybe???

That would be cool, maybe two or three little bulbs, one red, one orange, and a yellow one, that with the grayish-black smoke coming off of it partially obsuring it would be really neat, I'm gonna have to buy an a/c and destroy it now so I can try this out