I saw this image in my mind's eye a while ago, but didn't have the knowledge to pull it off.  This thing has a ton of postwork that's going to be needed to add and repair the smoke.  When you work on a scale of ten thousand plus bus, textures go to hell rather quickly.

The image is based on an idea I did back a few years ago called "Outrunning Hell".  It's based on the Great Peshtigo fire.  The deadliest and largest forest fire in US history.  It is said that fireballs were thrown out of the firestorm, five miles out into Lake Michigan.  It actually jumped Green Bay to start Door County on fire 10-20 miles distant. A lighthouse on an island 3 miles off shore caught fire.

That was the inspiration for the image I guess.  Would love to get your input.  I've yet to start the lighthouse on fire, pack the decks of the Tashmoo with people, add a fireball or two, and postwork the crap out of it. :c)

Attached Link: WIP Gehenna's Shore

Very interesting subject to base your pic on! I had almost forgotten about the Peshtigo fire, and just how massive it was.
Looks like you have a very good start. I sent you an IM about something related you might find of interest. Keep up the good work!

I'm a Wisconsin/Great Lakes history fan, so...  I know a bit about that fire.  Over 2000 dead, a 5 mile wide tornado of fire deleted the entire city of Peshtigo.  People in the rivers could not get relief from the heat because every body part exposed was burnt, or they drowned.  And then, after it was over, no help came... because it was all sent to Chicago which burned the same night.

Danamo, Got your SM, sent a response.

You might think of creating a terrain wake for the water at the shp's front[prow?..I live in the prairies remember] and giving it a that foamy water texture, forget it's name, falling off by slope and height to the water texture you're using...just a thought...great image already btw...gonna be a good un when you're done.. ...

I hope so bobby... I hope so.

Right, I may have to put the wake in post work... but I hope not.  One thing about fresh water wakes is that they don't leave a luminescent foam like they do in sea water.  They vanish as soon as the dissolved air percolates out, and if nothing in any thermoclines was disturbed.  Why do I know this stuff???  Oh yeah...I have no life.  LOL

might i suggest a trick i use for distant mist/smoke, is a cloud plane turned vertical and aligned with your view.

Actually I've done something similar behind a lot of stuff back there.  It's what gives the firey black sky.  When it comes to snow or rain, I use spheres, cylanders or squares with surface mats of the rain in front of the camera.  But because I have to make things 10-20k bu in size, it's not working this time.

I sense that this is going to be a very interesting image, it has great potential.  Look forward to the next stage.