Highlighting raised panel lines...

THIS IS THE WAY I DO IT
For the raised panel lines:
Preshade the lines' pattern with a dark color according to your top color, i.e. if you're using light gray as top coat, try a dark shade of gray (don't use black it self, the effect will look too strong). After preshading the whole model apply a coat of future. Later apply the top coat, taking care of the preshading effect. Once you're done use sand paper, very fine grit (1000 at least) and sand the raised lines... the panel lines will come to life. Do it gently to avoid important re-touch.

About the decals
When you're washing, you want to apply the decals before the wash. In this case you should apply the decals later and try a pretty gentle dry brush, using the same color used to preshade, on the raised lines with decals.

Good luck

mario that sounds like a great way to approach the raised panel lines...do you have any photos of how this technique has worked?

merideth

Mario,

It sounds great, but at 1/72 scale, that's a lot of line to paint by hand. Maybe I could do it with a small brush. I'll have to think about that.

Are there other techniques I could try? I'm just looking for ideas. In any event, thanks for the advice.

Warm regards,

-Drew Ames

You can also gently rub some graphite over the raised panel lines. A number 2 pencil will do nicely. The graphite will highlight the panel lines and the detail, without touching the surface of the model. You just need to make sure the pencil point is 'perpendicular' to the panel line. This has worked pretty well for me before.

Thanks, Ponch.

Regards,

-Drew

how about the engrave panel lines ??? any idea ??

Unfortunately I don't have any photos to share with you for raised panels.
But belive Merideth It works great!.

Drew
I have to admit that I never build 1/72 scale. Airbrushing is the best way to make preshading. If you want to brush then you will have to use chalk pastels of a darker shade following tha raised lines patterns. Then seal the pastels with dull coat (in this case I have to recommend airbrushed or canned, so your brushing won't rub the pastels). This I have not tried but it shuold work.

Well my way to incrase panel lines its to take a white oil then i put a LITLE over the xxx point pencil, then try to clean almost all the white oil off the pencil, (Note: white oil its very potent u just need VERY VERY FEW on ur pencil) well after having ur pencil Charged, pass it all over ur panel, now as can u see, it is now ALIVE!! so run for ur life hehehe, well after all that, put few black paint in a recipient and then add some water ( or thiner or alcohol) well after ur panel its very very dry add the wash, now u will have an amazing panel, this technique works just GREAT in all my Bf-109 messersmith's, PeAc3 OuT

HEY,
This has nothing to do with what you have been talking about but it will make the aircraft look more weathered. I read that if you take your hobby knife and use it to drill a small hole(don't go all of the way through). Then You paint the inside of the hole silver and drybrush around it with black it will look like a bullet hole.Hope this helps.

Randy

hmm..i'll try this...hopefully i succeed....

-may the force be with me-