I'd like to say thanks to brandydoguk (Martin) and draw your attention to our newest aircraft article on Armorama. Martin describes, and shows, his method of accenting panel lines on aircraft. Please feel free to leave your comments/feedback here.

Panel Lines With Pencil

Excellant artical Martin, it clearly outlines your method. Have you tried sealing the finish, with another coat of varnish? Have you thought off trying it with different colour pencils?
Mal

I don't know about airbrushing a flat coat to seal this finish, but I tried brushing varnish over pencil some years ago and it just spread the graphite out of the panel lines and all over the surface of the model.

Hi Martin

Excellent article! I'll be trying this on the next one!




Dave... I'm not surprised! The same thing would happen with pastels... these techniques really do need a spray-gun or airbrush to seal them. Using a brush will pick up the pigment and smear it in the direction of the brushstroke (which could be good... if you could control it...).

All the best

Rowan

An excellent article.
And a lite spray over it seals well.

As a side note, years ago at my club there was a guy who built 1/72 scale only.
He would sand the plane totally smooth,(back in those days, just about every kit came with raised lines and rivets,...LOTS OF RIVETS!) and then draw all the panel lines on
in pencil. Always had the neatest panel lines on the table.
If I recall correctly, he would lay them out with masking tape, then use the tape as a guide
for the pencil. Spray some flat top coat, and then do the same thing with the tapes going the other direction.

Yes Mal, I have airbrushed matt varnish to seal the weathering. It slightly darkens the efect but removes the slight sheen from the graphite. I then do any staining from gun ports and leave it unvarnished to give some variation.


I haven't tried different colours, although I once read an article where a guy used blue pencils to weather the fabric wing areas on a corsair to excellent effect.

Another brilliant feature from "our" Martin.....

I've used the pencil method in the past a time or two but more out of panic or desperation...Now I can try and do it properly thanks to this splendid guide.

Thanks Martin...
At this rate you'll make excellent modellers out of us all....

Cheers
Peter
:-)

Martin, thank you for a clear, concise exposition of this method. It’s one I’ve been thinking about trying, but really didn’t know enough to actually attempt it. No excuses for me now.

Peter is right. If you’re not careful, you will make excellent modelers of us all !!


:-) :-)


Mike

That is a great article...god job Martin you method is other way to do of accenting panel lines on kits.
Thank a lot and all the best for you friend.

From South America Venezuela.
Leal Antoniazzi Pedro.
[email protected]

Thanks brandydoguk

I used this technique on my XWing from Fine Molds
I love it






I applied a light coat of dullcote and as far as I can see its wonderful

I suppose this technique can be used on armor models as well? I've brushed powdered graphite on bare metal and engine parts before, also with good effect.

probably could be used on armor
It's kind of an "eye of the beholder" thing

But I sure thought it was great on my recessed panel lines.
Had to sand the pencil lead to keep it's ability to fit in to 1/72 scale panel lines, but I think the results were worth it.

Just used this technique for the first time on Dragon's SU-24. I'm really happy with the dirty uneven results that it gave me, although I would just mention that you should keep the size of the brush to a minimum unless you like having smudges everywhere (which I actually like, especially from viewing distances). It's also really easy to put fingerprints on it.

Stephen

i've used this techniq before but i found it difficult specially when you run the pencil in the panel line (probly i got a shakey hands). i substitute the pencil with ink (rotring ink or any water base ink for tech pens). this is my techniq doing panel lines, in a small container (medicine cup) of water, add few drops of ink, 4-5 will be enough and add few drops of liquid soap. the soap will break the surface tension and you wash will flow freely down your panel. dont make your wash too dark because it will be difficult to control. on the first pass, the panel will be light in color, wait for few minutes to dry then you can repeat the whole process again. dont over do it, its better to add than to erase. but, the good thing about this wash, you can erase it with soap and water if you didn't like the result. you can also use your wash to represent oil streaks.

Hai,

I can't see the pictures that come with this article.

I can see all other armorame pictures so I guess that soemthing is wrong with this page

The images appear as a red X but if you click them they show properly as a pop-up picture.

Hi all

Updating the images in Features is one of the big behind the scenes projects. The problem came about with the Gallery changes. We've been quietly working our way through several hundred old Reviews - and Features are next on the list.

Thanks for your patience on this one.

All the best

Rowan