So, in tackling some seams on my RoG Phantom I had to obliterate some panel lines. I’m happy either way, but some modelisimo gizzmologist has surely figured out how to replace them? Help greatly appreciated!
i remember i found a couple of write ups on this. styrene strips were used to repair raised detail.
You could use masking tape and paint. Lay the tape down on both sides of the panel line, leaving just a small gap between the tape, where you want the line…spray a few layers of paint to build up the line.
The few times that I recreated raised panels lines I used streched sprue. Stretch the sprue to the appropiatte thickness and then glue to the surface with the most minimal amount of glue.
A method I have used with very nice results is by scribing a line with the point of a #11 blade. Using a straight edge as a guide scribe the line holding the blade at about a 45 degree angle. This will raise a small line of the plastic. When painted it will usually fill the cut side enough that it is not noticed. Get some sheet styrene to price 1st. Use Dymo tape for rounded areas like fuselages and wing leading edges.
The sprue method works great. I stretch the plastic till I get the size I need then secure it past the repair area with tape. Apply thin ca along the repair area, let dry, trim and sand to feather in the repair.
know it’s not totally relevant to your question ,but I am building a 1/72 Puma Helo with loads of raised rivets that needless to say get sanded of near the seam lines.
I replaced them with white wood glue aplied with a very fine needle. I just dip the needle in the glue and toutch the area they are lost. It might not be as perfect as the kit’s rivets but atleast is looks a bit better than the smooth sanded area LOL!
Theuns
Hey professor,
One way to replace sanded off raised panel lines is to use a product from Archer’s. They offer fine resing panel lines and rivets bonded to clear decal film. You basically cut out the length you want and apply 'em to the surface like normal decals. I’ve used them with good results on a few of my builds.
Check 'em out in action.
There are pix in this thread about halfway down page 19 here: >>On my Phantom’s stabilators<<
Here are pix in this thread toward the top of page 6: >>On a curved fuselage surface<<
Once under paint, they’re virtually indistinguisable from molded panel lines: >>Painted jets<<
Some purists may think these resin details are “cheating,” but I think it’s easier than some of the other options, especially since the thickness of my stretched sprue is rather inconsistent. This eliminates that problem for me.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
-O
Wing_nut’s method is exactly what I use, and it works better than you would expect in most cases. The trick is to not be dead-center to the remaining raised line, but to make the cut ever so slightly offset to one inside “corner” of one side of the existing raised line, so that the raised lip of the cut is centered to what remains of the raised line.
Gaston
P.S. A bit of light sanding of the sliced/raised line helps fill-in the deep cut-in side of the line with sanding dust, which does help the paint “fill” the “engraved” look on one side, and at the same time it reduces the cut’s raised plastic “lip” to a height matching the rest of the original raised line.
I often don’t angle the cut near 45° too much, but closer to 70-90°, as it can raise too much plastic in a “lifted-looking” way.
G.