Painting recessed panels

I've used entirely too many different techniques for that kind of thing, but I, too, sometimes go back to a pencil.

However, I usually wind up using a combination of things: pencil, wash, pastels etc. I can't use one technique on the entire model, it starts to look sterile and too uniform. But that's just me!


Fade to Black...

Jeez, I just use a pencil!

my favorite way to do panel lines is as follows:
1. after all pre-paint prep has been done, prime with flat black.
2. then, spray your base color coat at a slight angle as to not get any in the recesses.
(you can spray at a 90 degree angle as well for subtlety)
3. if there are any other colors, apply them until you have a uniform coat.
4. with each color represented, i mix a lighter and darker shade.
5. i thin the paints ( i use tamiya acrylic exclusively) to about 80% thinnner (tamiya),
20% paint. (i have a omni 5000) i get very close to the subject and barely
pull back on the trigger. with the darkened colors, i skirt around the panel lines until i can barely see the color. with the lighter colors, i kinda mottle the middle of the panels. do as much as you desire. i enjoy this process although its not the only way to do it. it is a little long winded but it gives me disirable results.

Hey Brian,
Smudge wash is basically taking water based paint and mixing it w/ distilled water or any other mixing agent for water based paints. Actually you can use enamels as well but I prefer water soluble paint.
Below are the steps that should help you apply the "Smudge Wash" for your panel lines,details and the like.
1. Make sure your a/c has a gloss coating(or semi gloss) on her inorder for this method to work. You can go ahead and put you decals on before you apply the wash. Basically you kill two birds w/ one stone. (No birds injured in the typing of this post)
Putting on the gloss coat(or semi) also helps to protect the under lying colour so the wash method wont harm the painted surface.
2. I use a mixture of water based paint thinned w/ distilled water(you can also add a lil dish detergent). I prefer to use "scale black" when I go to high light.
3. Using a fine artist brush, start applying the wash over the panels and other surface detail that you see fit(including landing gear)
4. Let the wash dry for about 5 minutes or so then go back over the affected areas w/ a soft moist cloth or Q-Tip.
5. You can always reapply this method as many times as you would like or up until you get the look that you want.
6. Once all is said and done, spary a flat coat so it can protect the wash and the decals.
The color that you use for the wash also can depend on the color(s) that you use for the a/cs scheme.
In general though "scale" black or a dark gray would work out perfectly in any scheme that you would use.
This sounds like theres a lot to do but it really aint nothing to lose sleep over . If I can do it, so can you my friend.
Actually experimenting on a old model/ test bed model is the best way to go. Its amazing to what you can come up with. Like I said this is how I apply the was and there are many other methods as well. So try it and if it does not work for you do not give up but experiment until you are satisfied.
If you have any questions please feel free to e mail me at Falcon42177@yahoo.com or Falcon174th@aol.com
Flaps up, Mike

Click on the link in my signiture, when the page opens scroll down to "The Basics Of Weathering" and that should answer most of your questions. Probably next week there will be a new tutorial covering salt paint chipping and washing raised panel lines.