Recommendations for highlighting panel lines?
Ben B
over the next few years of practice. Right now I'm taking it one step at a
time (I've played with overcoating models with clearcoats after applying
decals (seems like a "duh" thing to not have done before), filling crevices
between parts with various substances, junk like that) and am wanting to
start making my planes look a bit less sterile. Though I plan on
implementing more techniques as I go along model to model, right now I'm
concerned with just how to go about highlighting panel lines. Is it
primarily done with simple washes? Is there a better technique for working
with raised panel lines versus recessed panel lines? I concern myself
primarily with aircraft models, though any additional tips suited for other
types of kits, such as ships or armor, would also be welcome.
Ben B.
Sunil
For flats I would recommend artists chalks. Find a set at an art store that
has various shades of gray from almost white to black. Pick the shade you
want and rub it on some sandpaper. Using a fine brush pick up some of the
chalk dust and rub it into the panel lines. Don't rub too hard and try not
to get too much chalk in the "against the wind" direction... if you know
what I mean. Then, using a large soft brush, brush off the chalk in the
direction of the wind. The brush I use is a 3/4 round brush that I found at
an art store.
The key to weathering is subtlety so don't over do it.
Wash can be useful for very deep panel lines like control surfaces and wheel
wells but I would not use it for ordinary panel line.
BTW, this technique works best on flat paints.
Sunil
www.lockon.f2s.com
"Ben B" <podg...@mailexcite.com> wrote in message
news:93job8$ioj$1...@news-int.gatech.edu...
Charles Metz
I, too, recommend artists' chalks, which are usually labeled as
"pastels" in artist-supply shops. However, it's *extremely* important
to make sure that you get chalk-based -- *not* oil-based -- pastels.
FWIW, I'm appending below an updated version of an article on this
subject that I posted here about a year and a half ago.
Charles Metz
-----------------------------------------
Using chalk-based pastels to accentuate panel lines on (and weather)
model aircraft
In my opinion, by far the easiest (and safest) way to accentuate panel
lines and, more generally, to "weather" aircraft is to use chalk-based
(NOT — repeat, NOT — oil-based) Artists’ Pastels and a paper "blending
stick." [IMPORTANT NOTE: Oil-based Artists’ Pastels will permanently
stain the surface of your model and can’t be "feathered" properly.
Chalk-based pastels are more common, but be careful to get the right
kind.] Artists’ Pastels and paper blending sticks can be purchased at
any good artists’ supply shop, but sets of chalk-based Artists’ Pastels
in various shades of gray and in various earth-tone colors (which are
the two color groups you’ll use most in modeling) are also available by
mail-order from MicroMark (who have a web site at
http://www.MicroMark.com/index.html). The great advantages of using
Artists’ Pastels are that (i) they’re very easy to control and (ii) you
can remove what you’ve applied and start over if you screw up. The
paper "blending sticks" come in various sizes; I recommend the smallest,
which is 2 or 3 inches long and tapers to a rather sharp point, but
larger blending sticks can be useful in some situations (e.g., for
applying exhaust stains).
The basic idea is to rub the tip of the paper blending stick lightly
along a pastel stick of appropriate color and then run it lightly along
a panel line or across a smooth area you want to weather. In the former
situation, this will put pastel dust into the panel line (if it’s
engraved) and will smear some on each side of the panel line; you can
then run a "Q-Tip" along the panel line to lightly wipe most of the
pastel dust off of the surface of your model while leaving much of it in
the panel line (if it’s engraved). You should be striving for a subtle
effect here, so start lightly, finish going over the entire model, look
at the results with a fresh eye a few hours or a few days later, and
only then decide whether you want to darken the shading. You’ll be able
to remove most or all of the pastels you’ve applied by rubbing and/or
washing with water if you don’t like the affect you’ve achieved, but try
hard not to apply too much in the first place. After you’re sure you’ve
obtained the effect you want, you can apply a clear coat to "fix" the
pastel dust to your model if you wish to do so. However, this isn’t
really necessary unless the model will be handled where the pastels have
been applied, because pastel dust clings to some degree by itself.
Artists’ Pastels also work well for exhaust stains and for "oil
blow-back" stains. To simulate oil blow-back stains that emerge from
between engine-cowling panels, use low-tack masking tape to mask the
forward panel at a panel line; use a fine paper blending stick and black
or dark-gray pastel dust to run a fine line rearward from the tape,
starting your line on the tape; and then remove the masking.
Although I rarely bother to do so, you can mix pastel colors if you wish
by scraping a bit of dust from each of two or more pastel sticks with a
knife blade, mixing thoroughly, and then applying with your paper
blending stick.
As with any new technique, you should practice before using this method
on an important model. However, pastels are very easy to apply and very
"forgiving," so you’ll probably need only a little practice before you
develop a clear sense of control. Just remember: keep it subtle.
Charles Metz