Fixing panel lines

I have heard about using stretches sprue to replace sanded off panel lines, but never tried it. I've also read that you can just cut a new one in with a sharp #11, it'll leave a raised ridge on either side of the cut, that looks like a raised panel line. I think the best bet though, is to use acetone nail polish remover and a q-tip, that way you don't have to sand anything off. I wish I'd known about that technique when I'd started my F-18, I've lost lots of detail on the surface (and it wasn't great to start with)from sanding. The model isn't nearly as good as I'd hoped it would be, but I've learned and improved, so I can build something nice before too long I hope.

If you're just testing, try every method you can on a different part of the model and see which you like best. Let us know how it comes out.

madda

Nail polish remover and a Q-tip? What exactly does that do? ( I have a general idea, but would like specifics. I am facing a similar problem with rased panel lines. Thanks!)

Dana, as long as its a test model remove the raised lines and scribe new ones. It's not really hard to do with a little practice and patience.

As for as the nail polish remover and Q-tip. Use the Q-tip wetted with the remover to smooth the seams before the putty sets.

Dana,
I have been working on a 1/48th scale revell f-4 phantom since
October, and it also has raised panel lines. Since the model is gray, I have been able to draw the lines back on the surface where panel lines have been lost. To facilitate the process, 3M fineline 1/8 inch vinyl tape is used as a straight edge that the pencil rides against. For rivets, small drops of crazy glue applied with the tip of a pin (this takes some practice but it works!) Hope this helps-BT.

Claymore68-I assume you mean scribing them on with a razor?

Brian-Basically you're drawing them in with a pencil after all of your painting is done? How do you produce good weathering with no lines to catch the wash?

Thanks guys.

just buy a scriber....it will give employment to a few third world factories as well.....you can find then even under 10$ and will do a good job.....
give me the tools and i will do the job. ( or as Archimedes said talking about fulcrums give me place to stand and i will move the earth)

Haven't actaully built anything with raised panel lines, thankfully, however where I have had to replace recessed lines, I always use a triangular jewellers file.

All you do is draw the line in in pencil, and then, very gently at first run the top ridge of the file up and down the line. Do this a few times and you soon end up with a small but well defined indentation which the file then naturally follows. Just keep going until you get the correct depth of indentation.

It sounds scary but I have seen it described elsewhere on the site and have found that with a little practise it works even on 1/72 panel lines.