dsamuel

Following on from my previous post (before it was lost when the forum was hacked), someone gave me some excellent advice on brush painting large surfaces - Thanks for that.

My next question is....
I am now building a 1:72 airfix tornado F3. I am surpised on how little detail is in the airfix kits compared to the revell kits, and the parts don't seem to fit together quite as well. Is this true of the brand? or just a one off.
Also, the panel lines are raised. If the panel lines were recessed, I understand how I could wash over them to highlight them. Does this work with raised lines? or do I need to dry brush them.

I think I will need lots of filler along where the fuselage halves join. It will be difficult to sand this back without removing some of the panel lines.

Cheers,
Dave

Bunkerbarge

Hi Dave, I'm glad you saw my post regarding brush painting before it got lost.

Airfix kits, as with many other manufacturers rehash old kits and so the moulds could end up being quite old. Some Airfix offerrings are better than others but that goes for Revell just as much. The latest 1/72 u-boat kits are superb but old 1/72nd Revell aircraft were not as crisp.

Unfortunately a lot of manufacturers go for raised panel lines, quite incorrectly, simply as they are cheaper to produce. If you want to really make the most of the model you should remove the raised lines and re-scribe new recessed panel lines but that is a lot of work and maybe more than you want to do. If you will have to do this anyway when you fill the fuselage then maybe it is worth thinking about.

As for applying washes to raised detail look at my own Revell U-boat build thread where you will see that is exactly what I have done there.

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2410

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rjwood_uk

i have the recently re-issued Revell 1/48 F-105. it too has raised pannel lines but its quite big and quite detailed and i have thought about removing and re-scribing but it would be a lot of work and im not sure im up for it quite yet.

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Lips McGee

As far as raised lines, you can use makeup pencils (easy fellas, I'm married - they belong to her, I swear). Typically they are a darker color and when sharpened, go on very well on top of a dull coat.

Re-scribing can be a lengthy process, but in my opinion greatly enhances the quality of the end-product. What I'll typically do is start the scribing process early, say while I'm building a cockpit or something. While I wait for parts to dry, or for a few minutes after each building session I can scribe a bit. As long as you have all the research done, the old lines removed, and the lines already drawn on the model, this is much easier and I find it reduces the feeling of an arduous process.

After assembly, of course, I typically need to rescribe sections of lines where I sanded or puttied, but this pales in comparison to waiting for the whole model to be done.

PS - match up fuselage halves and wing halves before scribing lines that go all-the way around, this way you don't end up with mis-matched lines.

Kitbag

Something I am sure has been raised in these august forums previously, but it is worth pointing out the obvious: If you stand any distance away from a real aircraft much of the detail we slaver over on model kits just isn't there. Sure, large panels are fairly clear - on Tornado that would be the radome, maxi skirt, large access panels along the front of the fuselage, wing sweep fairings doors around the engine area etc, but the rest is not visible. Just my 2pence worth, but it does make life a deal easier!
If you are going to do it I favour putting the major assemblies together, get any filling sorted, then run a very sharp blade around the existing (raised) panel lines just deep enough to cut into the plastic. Finally rub down the raised lines and clean it all up. Gets a bit awkward if you also have to work around lumps 'n bumps, but I guess thats part of the fun.

dsamuel

Good point kitbag.
I spent ages detailing the inside of the cockpit on my first model. The truth is, once the canopy is on, you can't see it.

My latest one has a plain matt black cockpit.

Cheers,
Dave

pilex7

Hi,

Eventually you can first paint all raised lines with black color. After all remaining painting with sand paper 1000 - 1500 carefully sand along panel lines. On the photo below you can see all panel lines as a result of this method. It works fine especially for flat area, for curved ones it is not so easy and now I am trying to find another method to finish my work.
Second photo shows model during sanding.

Sorry for my English.
Regards

rjwood_uk

Hi pilex.

nice work there.

is that the academy 1/48 with the cutting edge ukraine airforce demo bird decals?

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...One finished model...5 O'Clock in the morning!

pilex7

Hi rjwood_uk,

Actually it is Italeri Su-27D in 1/72 scale with raised panel lines and this my first “real” model. I am struggling with it for some time exploring any modeling techniques. There are no any decals yet.
I've put some photos from construction phase into my gallery, so you can have a look at them.
From this place I would to say some greetings to the UK modelers.
I was bidding Begemot decals on eBay a few month ago and when price raised to around 8 pounds I sent a short note to other auctioneer (who is from the UK) that I am not going to bid anymore. Then I explained that I need only Ukrainian markings and maybe we can share the price. To my surprise he sent me to Poland this part of decals and refused to get any money from me, even for shipping. Nowadays people are usually more self oriented so for me it is really a great story and I apreciated it.

Best Regards
Wojtek