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I am painting a brass scorpion and want to make the armored plates look hot like embers or like the metal is melting and splitting does anyone have an idea on how to do this?

The power of Google compels you!

https://www.google.com/search?q=painting+glowing+hot+metal&oq=painting+glowing+me&aqs=chrome.1.57j0j62.10080j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Image examples for a goal to replicate:
https://www.google.com/search?q=hot+glowing+metal&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IhHBUcCsIIXh0gHb-oA4&biw=1366&bih=667&sei=JBHBUa-gLbPp0QH3xIAg

and now how to do it, specifically:
You say splitting metal? http://www.heresy-online.net/forums/painting-airbrushing/6438-power-weapons.html
Glowing: http://handcannononline.com/blog/2011/04/18/tutorial-basics-%E2%80%93-smooth-it-over-two-brush-blending/

Depending on how "hot", it's "glowing" would mean some OSL work:
Bar none, best tut I've seen for OSL: http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Zenithal_Airbrushing%2C_OSL_and_Snow_and_Ice_Tutorial%2C_subject_-_Grey_Knight

Now, seeing your post count says you're new HERE, so I'm not sure how new you are to the hobby. So I'll just say this: what you're looking to do won't be easy unless you have a good understanding of wet blending. It's tricky, and takes a great deal of patience. I already know I couldn't do this unless I did it with my airbrush, which may or may not be available to you. Just a fair warning, in case you aren't aware of what you're attempting. If you've been around the block, good luck, post pictures, more power to ya!

Fluorescent paints can be used as a shortcut to painting glowing objects.

The lava in these craters was primed white followed by a coat of fluorescent yellow. They were then reverse drybrushed (light to dark) with fluorescent orange, fluorescent red, dark red and a dark charcoal gray to represent the cooling lava. They are MUCH brighter in person.They are bright enough in person for Steve Jackson to think that there was a light source under the craters. Were I to paint another set, I would add a bit of fluorescent red or orange OSL on the sides of the crater.