QUOTE: Originally posted by ORDGuy737
...Anyhow, my real question is, when finishing this kit, the control surfaces are recessed quite a bit and I wanted to add the black lines in them that I see on so many kits to make the surfaces stand out. I first tried using a pin dipped in black paint, but that didnt work. Next I tried a thin tip permenant marker, but that didnt work either. Ok guys, how do I go about doing such detail? ...
|
|
And now, the ModelNerd will assume the lotus position and impart wisdom (Ohhhhhhhmmmmmmm). Here is the little-known, but easy, fun, effective, and CHEAP way of adding life to those recessed panel lines: Do not buy "The Detailer" at $11.00 (or whatever) a bottle. Do not concoct a mixture of this n' that, cut with dish soap, or whatever. Go to your kids' arts n' crafts supply cupboard, and reach for the water-based tempra paints. We all know about tempra paints, right? Well, anyone who attended grammer school knows, anyway. Squirt a dab of brown, along with a dab of black. Mix it to a dark brown. Why brown? Brown will not be as "harsh" as straight black is on the eye. Gray will work well for all-white aircraft. Now, add just a little water for better "flow". But caution: too much water will lessen the intensity or ability of the paint to do its intended job. Get a brush and "paint" the mixture along and over the model's panel lines. Do one wing, one surface, at a time, NOT the whole thing at once. Let dry for ten minutes or so. Now, cut an old cotton t-shirt into 2" squares. Lightly moisten a square, then proceed to lightly wipe off the paint you just applied. A light touch will not remove the paint in the panel lines. For best realism, I always wipe in one direction, that is the direction of the airflow over the aircraft. If the kit has decent panel engravings, this method I just described works fab-u-lous. Now here's the caveat: For best results, apply your decals before using my "secret" recipie, and hit those decals with decal set, so they seat down into the panel lines. Then, seal the entire model with a gloss (or semi-gloss) clearcoat. If you detail wash over a flat finish, you will have much greater difficulty wiping away excess tempra paint. If you detail wash over unprotected (un-clearcoated) decals, you may damage your decals. When you are finished with detail-washing, and everything's lookin' groovy, (and dry), shoot a final clearcoat (either gloss or flat, whichever you require) over the entire model, as the tempra paint wash is water-based, and any subsequent sweaty palm handling may wash away your detailed lines.
The beauty of this detailing method is that it can be washed off and put on as many times as needed to get it right. It's kinda fail-safe. And at around $4 for a large bottle of tempra paint, you can detail a fleet of aircraft for next to nuthin'.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for lunch with the Dali Lama.