Hi all, can anyone please tell me the best way to re-scribe from raised panel lines to recessed. Is there any equipment to help in getting straight lines or can anyone offer advice on the subject. Ive never done it before and want to try it on my next model.
Cheers leo
Dymo tape, flat steel (flexible) ruler, electricians tape, draftsmen eraser guides…etc.
Tools, well over the years I have found that no single tool is the answer…like a good ink pen you need to find the one that works best for the individual and fits comfortably in ones hand. I have also found that there are times when you need different tools to accomplish different tasks/effects. Some I purchase, some I fabricate myself.
I have one blade I use quite a bit… It fits in the #11 handle and has a curved tip. I use it like a rocker knife to put the panel lines in, then scribe them a bit deeper with the back-side of the tip of a #11 blade… The cut with the curved blade gives me a way to scribe without worrying about the knife “jumping” out of the cut and scribing a line where I don’t want one.
As far as keeping them straight, I use masking tape as a guide and don’t try to go too far in one pass…
Leo,
I use a re-ground dental pick most of the time. To smooth out the new panel line I use a round pointed toothpick burnisher with one end cut off at an angle(the burnishing end). Burnishing levels any minute ridges left by the scriber. I then use the sharp end of the toothpick to enhance the panel line.
Jim
Ain’t that the truth. Every time I get impatient and try to go all the way to the end of the panel, my blade goes off at some angle.
Don’t try to cut too deep in one pass either. A light mistake is a lot easier to fix than a deep mistake.
Thanks for all the great tips guys, but just one more question. When sanding the raised panel lines, do you guys do only one at a time then re-scribe it or do you sand down all the panel lines. The only problem I see with that is if you don’t have a scale plan you might be guessing. Hopefully someone can elaborate.
Cheers Leo
I usually do one line at a time. Incorrectly placed lines all get sanded off first, then rescribed in the correct location.
JIm
I only re-scribe the panel lines I sand off… Being a mere mortal, I see no point in messing with the others, and I don’t care about a mix of raised and recessed lines… I’m not a rivet-counter, so I don’t care about scale plans, either… Besides, I’ve never seen a judge walk around the tables with drawings… [:D]
In 1/48 scale and smaller I don’t worry about rivets that much. If they get sanded down or off I don’t worry about it. With a few exceptions IMHO rivets can’t be seen most of the time anyway so why worry. If panel lines are real obvious and are seriously out of place on the model I will rescribe them, if I have good references, and sand down/fill the old lines. I guess how far one wants to go with all this scribing and sanding is more of a personal taste.
Jim
you make a good argument Jim.
Leo
No one mentioned one of my techniques:
When changing raised to recessed I usually only do one line at a time, but before I start a section I tape thin paper to the model and use a stick of chalk to make a copy of the layout just in case. I do this so that if I have to walk away or get distracted I have a guide of what was there before (even if I decide not to follow it).
UMM-USA sells a custom scriber tooled to precision in Europe. It is the same tool developed by John Vojtech, multiple Best in Show winner at recent IPMS nationals. You can contact them for more info.
I use dymo tape and a sewing needle chucked in a pin vise. I usually use the raised lines as a guide. If there is an incorrect panel line, I will scribe it in its correct place. I go against the grain it seems…I scribe the entire model before sanding off the raised lines. Once I have sanded everything and cleaned out the newly scribed panel lines, I run liquid glue over tham to knock down any ridges on either side…then I am done.
It’s what I do and works for me.
I have a squadron scribber and just picked up two dental picks at the local park and swap.