I have resurected the PM Nesher from the graveyard and after painting it it is completely barron of panel and elevator detail. Initially I wasn't bothered about the lack of panel lines, as I am not steady enough to scribe them. But, the wings look like they have no Flaps/elevons, and that is just silly. I thought about carefully scribing with an old airbrush needle along a steel ruler which is of similar width to the flaps, but that could just destroy the paint. Or I could do the same method but with an engineering pencil, after I have matt clear coated. I know horse and barn door etc. Cheers.

Here is a picture of how it looks now, just a bit too smooth really.

Actually I have heard of people using pencils to draw in panel lines or highlight them. You have to follow up with a clear coat to get it to stay and not rub off later. I imagine softer lead should work better but I haven't tried it. I would suggest trying this first before taking a chance on ruining your paint job. 
The problem I always have with a ruler or straight edge on a model is having them slip around as I'm trying to draw or scribe a line. I know about the label tape method but it might pull your paint off. There must be a way to apply a rubber like backing to a metal ruler, scale or straight edge.

Quote from: kerick on August 26, 2024, 12:50:47 PMActually I have heard of people using pencils to draw in panel lines or highlight them. You have to follow up with a clear coat to get it to stay and not rub off later. I imagine softer lead should work better but I haven't tried it. I would suggest trying this first before taking a chance on ruining your paint job. 
The problem I always have with a ruler or straight edge on a model is having them slip around as I'm trying to draw or scribe a line. I know about the label tape method but it might pull your paint off. There must be a way to apply a rubber like backing to a metal ruler, scale or straight edge.

Cheers Kerick, i could if possible use some tamiya tape along the opposite edge, and wrapped around the wing edge, as the ruler I will use should be the right width. I shall see when I tackle the job.

I use a small steel ruler too, but I tape it to the model so it doesn't slip. Of course that only works on flat, or nearly flat surfaces.

I've got both the Tamiya hooked panel line scriber and the Trumpeter one too, which protrudes less than the Tamiya one. One way or another one of them usually works OK.

. 5mm pencil lead...electrical tape ..it's thick..won't lift your paint and removes easily...also sticks and bends beautifully.
Also a good high quality eraser/rubber to remove an booboos.
3M electrical tape is my fav for this sort of stuff .

Quote from: Wardukw on August 27, 2024, 01:06:31 AM. 5mm pencil lead...electrical tape ..it's thick..won't lift your paint and removes easily...also sticks and bends beautifully.
Also a good high quality eraser/rubber to remove an booboos.
3M electrical tape is my fav for this sort of stuff .

That sounds like a perfect plan for the mirage, as I lined up the narrow ruler, and its too wide.i know from now on to either have a go at scribing, or cut the flaps and glue tgem in the downward position. 

Quote from: chrisonord on August 27, 2024, 02:09:59 AM

Quote from: Wardukw on August 27, 2024, 01:06:31 AM. 5mm pencil lead...electrical tape ..it's thick..won't lift your paint and removes easily...also sticks and bends beautifully.
Also a good high quality eraser/rubber to remove an booboos.
3M electrical tape is my fav for this sort of stuff .

That sounds like a perfect plan for the mirage, as I lined up the narrow ruler, and its too wide.i know from now on to either have a go at scribing, or cut the flaps and glue tgem in the downward position. 

Glad to be of help Chris mate ..one thing I did forget to mention for ya ruler and this helps out for everything..self adhesive 400/600 grit sand paper..stick it to the back of the entire ruler..no more slipping .
It's brilliant when cutting styrene I can tell ya 

Quote from: Wardukw on August 27, 2024, 03:03:47 AM

Quote from: chrisonord on August 27, 2024, 02:09:59 AM

Quote from: Wardukw on August 27, 2024, 01:06:31 AM. 5mm pencil lead...electrical tape ..it's thick..won't lift your paint and removes easily...also sticks and bends beautifully.
Also a good high quality eraser/rubber to remove an booboos.
3M electrical tape is my fav for this sort of stuff .

That sounds like a perfect plan for the mirage, as I lined up the narrow ruler, and its too wide.i know from now on to either have a go at scribing, or cut the flaps and glue tgem in the downward position. 

Glad to be of help Chris mate ..one thing I did forget to mention for ya ruler and this helps out for everything..self adhesive 400/600 grit sand paper..stick it to the back of the entire ruler..no more slipping .
It's brilliant when cutting styrene I can tell ya 

Brilliant, I will have a look for some next time I am out and about, much appreciated 

No way you'll succeed in scribing or cutting without f**king up that paint.
I would draw on  ailerons/flaps/flaperons/stablirons/control surfaces with a mechanical pencil and then clear over the top.  No need to draw on other panel lines IMO.

To get straight lines I use a 40cm aluminium ruler with a soft rubber underside.  No idea where I got this from.  I may have souvenired it from a previous job.  (I seem to have got a bit of stuff that way).  There is often not enough room for the ruler in which case I use the edge of a photo etched stencil.  This has the advantage of being easy to conform to curved surfaces.  Failing that I use Dymo tape which I have to remember to destick on a portion my greasy epidermis before applying to the model lest it rip out chunks of paint and filler.  Again.

I have a couple of scribing tools but I favour a #11 blade.  I very lightly mark the line with the tip of a brand new blade.  I then flip the knife over and scribe the line deeper and wider with the back of the tip of the blade.  If I want it even wider I then switch to an older #11 with the tip snapped off and scribe with the back of the tip.
I find the hardest part of scribing lines is dealing with the plastic which ridges up at the edges of the trench.

Quote from: zenrat on August 27, 2024, 04:19:43 AMNo way you'll succeed in scribing or cutting without f**king up that paint.
I would draw on  ailerons/flaps/flaperons/stablirons/control surfaces with a mechanical pencil and then clear over the top.  No need to draw on other panel lines IMO.

To get straight lines I use a 40cm aluminium ruler with a soft rubber underside.  No idea where I got this from.  I may have souvenired it from a previous job.  (I seem to have got a bit of stuff that way).  There is often not enough room for the ruler in which case I use the edge of a photo etched stencil.  This has the advantage of being easy to conform to curved surfaces.  Failing that I use Dymo tape which I have to remember to destick on a portion my greasy epidermis before applying to the model lest it rip out chunks of paint and filler.  Again.

I have a couple of scribing tools but I favour a #11 blade.  I very lightly mark the line with the tip of a brand new blade.  I then flip the knife over and scribe the line deeper and wider with the back of the tip of the blade.  If I want it even wider I then switch to an older #11 with the tip snapped off and scribe with the back of the tip.
I find the hardest part of scribing lines is dealing with the plastic which ridges up at the edges of the trench.

Cheers Fred
I am not steady handed enough anymore to attempt scribing stuff , let alone something I have painted. I will have a look for a rubber backed ruler, or if I have something similar, I can glue some rubber sheet to the back of it. Something with a bit of give in it would be perfect for stuff like wings. I had better start stocking up on putty if I start scribing stuff again.

You can always add an extra panel line or two, maybe make a few look as if they were drawn by Esher if you want, to help confuse the JMN's   

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on August 27, 2024, 05:35:18 AMYou can always add an extra panel line or two, maybe make a few look as if they were drawn by Esher if you want, to help confuse the JMN's   

Gondor

 

If you can't find a rubber-backed ruler, Chris, try looking for a cork-backed one, does the same thing.

And another vote for drawing on the panel/flap/aileronelevon lines.

Quote from: Old Wombat on August 27, 2024, 07:20:27 AMIf you can't find a rubber-backed ruler, Chris, try looking for a cork-backed one, does the same thing.

And another vote for drawing on the panel/flap/aileronelevon lines.

Cheers, cork backed would be a good alternative too. I have ordered a new .5mm pencil, as mine is about 1mm.